The change of Status on the French side wasn't brought abut by the change of Status on the Dutch side. The French side long time ambition of change of Status started about 20 years ago and were motivated and brought up first by a majority of people coming from France mainland and who establsihed themselves on the island. Of course this couldn't have happened without the obvious support of the local population, but on the otherhand people have to realise that on the Frenchside the local population is not anymore the "majority" and basically you have more French Metropolitan living than real local St Martiners...Also,with the change of Status the Frenchside achieved what the Dutchside still didn't.
The basic dfference of "Collectivity Territorial" and "Commune de France" are first constitutional... Under "Commune de France" St Martin depended from Guadeloupe which a Departement d'outre Mer (Oversee County) and each Departement de France (County) is divided in Commune (Town). The Collectivity Territoriale is directly linked to the State and have a semi autonomy (not independance...). The main autonomy issue is about taxes... Guadeloupe or France do not decide anymore of the local taxes, and the collected money stay in St Martin coffers.... Regarding income taxes, being a resident of St Martin Collectivite give some advantages to compare with not being a resident of the collectivity. There is a 40% abatement... on the otherhand some risk are involve as I suspect that the property taxes may go up like a rocket very soon whatever our local governement is promising. We are still undertemined about our EU status, because at the time of our separation with Guadeloupe and assention to our new status, it was forgotten to notify officially the EU counsil in time.. since then no subvention are coming (they wer coming before through guadeloupe...) and few other things have to be renegociated...
To say the truth, personally I was against this new Status... When we live in a time where country are coming together to unite and generate a better economy, I found it foolish that a little rock want to go on his own... Same goes for the Dutch side. It is my opinion that they should go for more supervision and choose to go fro Commune de Holland the same as what Saba choose and what the French side was previously in regard to France
Kind Regards,
Philippe
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