r supply is dependent on desalinization of sea water

Geography - note:

the island of Saint Martin is the smallest landmass in the world
shared by two independent states, the French territory of Saint
Martin and the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten

People
Saint Martin

Population:

29,376 (July 2008 est.)

Ethnic groups:

creole (mulatto), black, Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asia),
white, East Indian

Religions:

Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Protestant, Hindu

Languages:

French (official language), English, Dutch, French Patois, Spanish,
Papiamento (dialect of Netherlands Antilles)

Government
Saint Martin

Country name:

conventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint Martin
conventional short form: Saint Martin
local long form: Collectivity d'outre mer de Saint-Martin
local short form: Saint-Martin

Dependency status:

overseas collectivity of France

Capital:

name: Marigot
geographical coordinates: 18 04 N, 63 05 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during
Standard Time)
daylight savings: +1 hour

Independence:

none (overseas collectivity of France)

National holiday:

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789); note - local holiday is Schoalcher Day
(Slavery Abolition Day) 12 July (1848)

Constitution:

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system:

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Suffrage:

18 years of age, universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007),
represented by Prefect Dominique LACROIX (since 21 March 2007)
head of government: President of the Territorial Council Frantz
GUMBS (since 7 August 2008)
cabinet: Executive Council; note - there is also an advisory
economic, social, and cultural council
election: French president elected by popular vote to a five-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council is
elected by the members of the Council for a five-year term
election results: Frantz GUMBS elected president by the Territorial
Council on 7 August 2008

Legislative branch:

unicameral Territorial Council (23 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 1 and 8 July 2007 (next to be held July 2012)
election results: percent of seats by party - UPP 49%, RRR 42.2%,
Reussir Saint-Martin 8.9%; s