Hi Rainy,
What Elaine said is correct, as what Bruce said too... It si very difficult to work and live here.... I explain :
To start, the economy is not very good, like anywhere else in the world, St Martin/St Maarten is only (mainly) oriented on the tourism industry and when economy os bad lsewhere it become bad here... so a lot of people are having a lot of hard time now, including n the real estate market which depend also from the same economic sector "Tourism"Beside that with a Canadian pasport you will need work permit and residency on either side you choose to establish yourself. On both side the process to obtain them is long, difficult and extremly frustrating. On the dutch side, a new imigration/work permit was implemented last november to make it even more difficult for outsiders to come and work on the island. It is on the table of the new Executive counsil to change it back to the old regulation right now, after complaint of the business community because lately it is more easy to obtain a work permit for your employee if she is an "exotic dancer" than if she is a potntial director carrying MBA and two masters in laws and business... Island priority are evry different than other places priority, and beleive me as a business man on tis island since 20 years, I am still being confronted to ths type of problem everysingle day which become headache trying to obtain or renew work permit for my staff...
So to make it short, on the Dutch side, if it is not impossible to obatin anything right now, it i close to it!
On the French side, it is prety much the same sh*t, it is only easier if you carry an EU passport (doesn't matter if you got English blood or else)... yo need to be European Citizen to waive the immigratio procedure and have the same rigts as the French citizen have...
Kind Regards,
Philippe
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