Last modified: 2022-12-31 by rob raeside
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image located by Jason Saber,
2 January 2021See also:
‘SXM Unity Flag
The 'Unity Flag' is considered by many to be the national
flag of St. Martin Island (St. Maarten/Saint Martin), a 87-square-kilometre (34
sq mi) Caribbean island, divided roughly into two halves between the French
Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the two parts are roughly equal in
population too. The division dates to 1648. The flag was created in 1990 to
represent both sides of the island, and all St. Martiners as one nation. The
design of the flag, and the symbols used, depict the island itself and its
history. It stands for freedom, unity and local pride.’
Posted by Shabi
Fiurnei, St. Martin, Caribbean, on FOTW Facebook page
26 December at 15:15
·Philipsburg. Sint Maarten
NB Although it is not always obvious
in the images, the two blue central horizontal stripes seem to be of different
hues, the upper, lighter, the lower, darker. This is more evident in some of the
pictures.
image located by Jason Saber,
2 January 2021
The significance of elements of the flag is explained on a plaque on the island [click on image for larger version]:
image located by Jason Saber,
2 January 2021
This symbol, designed in 1990, has been officially adopted on September 29,
2022, as the "joint symbol of the affirmation of the unity and identity of
Saint-Martin" by the territorial council of French Saint-Martin.
Sources
:
1.
http://www.soualigapost.com
2.
https://www.le97150.fr
On August 23, the President of the
collectivity of Saint-Martin, Louis Mussington, and the Prime Minister of Sint
Maarten, Silveria Jacobs, met to reflect on "the importance to be given to the
St Martin Unity Flag in [their] respective administrative context". Considering
that "the two national communities [have always lived] in peace and harmony for
centuries", that "the inhabitants of the island have repeatedly demonstrated
their attachment to the question of the cultural unity of this territory", they
agreed to adopt "a cultural symbol which would be common to both parts of the
territory". And by mutual agreement, they suggested that this symbol be the St
Martin Unity Flag, unveiled on August 31, 1990.
During the September 29
meeting of the Collectivity Council, six territorial councilors did not take
part in the vote. Daniel Gibbs proposed that the whole population be associated
with the choice of the flag, as had been the case in Guadeloupe and Martinique.
"We are not against the unity but against the way the choice of the flag is
proposed". The Economic and Social Council (CESC) requested the withdrawal of
the deliberation for similar reasons. According to its president Julien Gumbs,
"if the common flag is a project of a symbol of cultural unity shared by the
CESC", the latter has "serious reservations about the methodology". He regrets
that no "work to identify a base of common values shared by all inhabitants",
has been achieved. He would have preferred "a collective approach". "It is a
long and rigorous work that must be carried out so that each inhabitant
considers himself a party integral part of a community. From this work at the
territorial level will come out this base of shared values which can be
symbolized on a flag"."
Territorial Councilor Dominique Louisy (Majority)
insisted on “the cultural and historical character” of this flag which
represents both sides of the island. “By adopting it as a joint symbol, no one
else will be able to appropriate it”. Louis Mussington closed the debate which
lasted almost 1h15. The president of the Collectivity does not share the opinion
of his colleagues to consult the population on the choice of the flag. He thinks
the inhabitants have already adopted it.
“The referendum took place on
September 16, 2020, there were thousands of us in the street in Bellevue” (= at
the border between the two parts of the island), waving this flag, he recalled;
September 16, 2020 having been the day of the organization of the march to
protest against the closure of the border during the health crisis linked to
Covid-19. "This flag is not a political flag, but a symbol," he said. “We are
entitled to assert our identity. We exist as a people and as such we have the
right to adopt a symbol" which expresses this pride of a common identity.
President Louis Mussington wants this flag to be hoisted on November 11, the
territory's common feast day. "It is a strong cultural symbol that will also pay
tribute to the historian Daniella Jeffry who participated in the creation of
this flag and to Dr Hubert Petit who was the mayor of Saint-Martin between 1959
and 1977. Do not see anything political in this symbol, but it is a strong and
symbolic act for the cultural identity of the Saint-Martin."
Olivier Touzeau, 21 October 2022