This island is not part of the third world, even though the appearance of some neighborhoods seems to be in conflict with this statement. In general terms, many of the island's natives live a comfortable middle or even upper class life.
The economic success of tiny St Maarten with a policy of open borders turned it into a magnet for workers from neighboring islands, all looking for jobs to create a better life for their families at home. The majority of residents on St Maarten/St Martin are expatriates from other Caribbean islands. Most plan to stay only a short time, a year or two at max. There is no desire to beautify a temporary residence, used only for resting after a 16 hour workday. Now, many of these folks find themselves in the same spot twenty years later and will never leave the island. But it is this feeling of a transient live which leads to neglect of some of the Caribbean quarters. Both sides of the island have proper minimum wage legislation, social services, mandatory insurance and labor protections laws.
There are good business and job opportunities on the island and especially qualified professionals can benefit from the active economy.
The Island's Visual Appearance
St Maarten/St Martin has regions of stunning natural beauty, with superb vistas over the turquoise Caribbean sea - on a clear day all the way to St Kitts and Montserrat. There are valleys with untouched vegetation and truly tropical ambiance. Many of the white sand beaches are secluded, offering total privacy. But there is no denying that the island is densely populated and economic success has a price by creating urban sprawl and rush hour traffic.
Supplies
Because St Maarten has no customs duty and importing any kind of goods can be done with reasonable cost, the stores are well stocked with all kinds of consumer goods and luxury items. As a matter of fact, St Maarten is a shopping destination for consumers from many other Caribbean islands and not only popular with the cruise ship crowd.
