Official name

Land Sint Maarten

Form of government

Parliamentary democracy with control over internal affairs, including aviation, customs, communications and immigration; the Netherlands is responsible for external affairs, such as citizenship, defence and foreign affairs

The executive

The Council of Ministers is responsible to the Staten (parliament)

Head of state

Queen Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard van Oranje-Nassau of the Netherlands, represented by a governor, responsibility in the Netherlands lies with the Home Office

National legislature

The Staten has 15 members, elected by adult suffrage every four years under a system of proportional representation

Legal system

Courts of first instance on the island, appealing to a High Court of Justice operated jointly with Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten and the BES Islands; in civil and criminal matters, the Dutch Supreme Court in the Netherlands will remain the highest legal authority

Elections

As part of the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles federation elections for national governments took place in St Maarten on September 17th 2010; next national elections will take place in 2014

Government

A coalition of the United People's party (UP, 6 seats) and the Democratic Party (DP, 2 seats); the opposition National Alliance (NA) is the largest party, with seven seats

Main political organisations

United People's party (UP); Democratic Party (DP); National Alliance (NA)

Prime minister: Sarah Wescot-Williams

Deputy prime minister: Theo Heyliger

Key ministers

Economic affairs: Franklin Meyers

Education & culture: Rhoda Arrindell

Finance: Hiro Shigemoto

Health, social affairs & housing: Cornelius de Weever

Justice: Roland Duncan

Public works & housing: Theo Heyliger

Tourism: Franklin Meyers

Transport & telecommunications: Franklin Meyers

Central Bank president

Emsley Tromp