[Many thanks to Peter Jordens for bringing this item to our attention.] This article—“French gain water rights in Oyster Pond, jurisdiction over Captain Oliver’s; Dutch get 7,109m2 land mass”—from The Daily Herald (Sint Maarten) is related to our previous post “Border issue finally settled.” Here are excerpts:

[. . .] After nine years of deliberations the French and Dutch have agreed to changes to the borderline between Dutch St. Maarten and French St. Martin, with the French gaining water rights in a section of Oyster Pond, including jurisdiction over Captain Oliver’s Restaurant and Marina, while the Dutch will gain 7,109 square metres of land mass over several border points. The changes will not affect the current square mileage in Dutch St. Maarten (16 square miles) and French Saint Martin (21 square miles). [. . .]

The treaty outlining the new demarcation will be signed on May 26 by Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs Silveria Jacobs on behalf of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Minister of the Interior Gerard Darmanin on behalf of the State of France. The treaty will take between six months to a year following the signing before entering into force. [. . .]

In elaborating on the changes, Jacobs told reporters that the border along the road in Cupecoy and the border along Marigot Hill Road will shift north in favour of the Dutch. The Dutch will retain authority in the Higher Bethlehem area and the border along the road in Belle Plaine will shift west in favour of the French. Additionally, the border along the road leading to Oyster Pond will shift north in favour of the Dutch and Oyster Pond, which was the greatest contention at the time, will now be based on the principle of equidistance, which is internationally recognised, to be shared equally between French Saint Martin and Dutch St. Maarten. [. . .]

“The largest change is in Oyster Pond: the border now runs through the middle of the pond, thereby giving equal share of the water to both sides. The southern part of Oyster Pond will be retained by St. Maarten (Kingdom of the Netherlands) and the northern part to St. Martin (French Republic). [. . .]”

As Captain Oliver’s is the only company to which Dutch St. Maarten had issued rights, the changes mean that revenue in terms of taxes, etc., from Captain Oliver’s, currently not in operation since being damaged during Hurricane Irma in 2017, will now shift to the French-side government. All the other landowners along that line do not have permission from the Dutch government to establish marinas. [. . .]

Background

Jacobs explained that there have been disagreements related to the border on the island since 2014. These disagreements came about when the French contested the Dutch claim over all the water in Oyster Pond. This led to several instances of direct confrontation between authorities of the two sides of the island and unfortunately strained the long-standing relationship between the two governments.

The French filed a petition with the United Nations in December 2017 signalling the existence of an international border dispute on the island. This triggered the need to come to an agreement, as the deadlock that ensued after the petition would have led to arbitration, which would not answer the need for a comprehensive approach to the entire border. November 2021 saw the government of Dutch St. Maarten adopt a more compromise-driven approach that proved to advance discussions and move the island closer towards the end goal.

“Following nine years of deliberation, we will finally put to rest the border issue on Saint Martin. Technical experts are working diligently to finalise the new iteration of our map, as there are 348 points that need to be transformed and placed on the map,” said Jacobs.

She stressed that the realisation of the treaty legally establishes the boundaries of the southern and northern territories of the island but does not undermine the oneness and unity that is spoken of among the people who call this island home. “The realisation of this treaty, in fact, has several benefits for all citizens of our island. Clarity on the borderline removes ambiguity and facilitates our long-term planning and development,” said Jacobs.

She stressed also that the treaty will be advantageous for cross-border cooperation. “Re-engagement on the border has led to reopening of a broader French-Dutch relationship and cooperation in areas that will benefit the population – education, health, and security agreements are slated to be signed next month, for example. The treaty makes provisions for the establishment of a joint border commission and a cooperation platform to facilitate the continued cooperation between the governments on both sides. The treaty also makes provisions to promote cooperation on all cross-border land and inland waterway connections of common interest. In the negotiations, Dutch St. Maarten is ensured the right to access, freedom of navigation, mooring, freedom to conduct artisanal fishing in both Simpson Bay Lagoon and Oyster Pond,” she said.

Jacobs explained earlier in the press conference that reports that an agreement had been reached on the location of the border between St. Maarten and Saint-Martin have been in the media from both Kingdom level and from France since the end of 2022. She said these public discussions were deemed premature, as the proposals had not yet gone through the proper channels of approval; the agreement had only been reached at the technical level and still had to be approved at the Ministerial level, on St. Maarten and in the Kingdom Council of Ministers.

The approval process between the two states was finalised in March this year. Jacobs said she had found it prudent to wait until all documentation and steps were finalised before making any public statements.

“It is important to note that from the inception and at every stage, the government of St. Maarten was in the lead and wholly involved in determining the mandate.

“The negotiations, as per Kingdom law, were led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Relations, the Ministry of Defence, as well as both the local and Dutch Cadasters; along with inputs from the various Ministries including VROMI [Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure – Ed.], TEATT [Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication] and Justice. The negotiation team consisted of representation from both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Foreign Relations,” she said.

She promised to share the map as soon as it becomes available. Health and security agreements are slated to be signed next month, for example). “The treaty makes provisions for the establishment of a joint border commission and a cooperation platform to facilitate continued cooperation between the governments on both sides. The treaty also makes provisions to promote cooperation on all cross-border land and inland waterway connections of common interest. In the negotiations, Dutch St. Maarten is ensured the right to access, freedom of navigation, mooring, freedom to conduct artisanal fishing in both Simpson Bay Lagoon and Oyster Pond,” she said.

For full article, see https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/french-gain-water-rights-in-oyster-pond-jurisdiction-over-captain-oliver-s-dutch-get-7-109m2-land-mass