SINT MAARTEN - ST.MAARTEN

Sint is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean. With a population of 41,486 as of January 2019 on an area of 34 km² (13 sq mi), it encompasses the southern 40% of the divided island of Saint Martin, while the northern 60% of the island constitutes the French overseas collectivity of Saint-Martin. Sint Maarten's capital is Philipsburg. Collectively, Sint Maarten and the other Dutch islands in the Caribbean are often called the Dutch Caribbean. Sint Maarten occupies the southern half of the island of Saint Martin in the Leeward Islands; the northern half forms the French territory of Saint Martin. To the north across the Anguilla Channel lies the British Oversea Territory of Anguilla, to the south-east of the island lies the French island of Saint Barthélemy and further south are the Dutch islands of Saba and Saint Eustatius. Before 10 October 2010, Sint Maarten was known as the Island Territory of Sint Maarten (Dutch: Eilandgebied Sint Maarten), and was one of six island territories (eilandgebieden) that constituted the Netherlands Antilles. Sint Maarten has the status of an overseas country and territory (OCT) and is not part of the EU.

Before 1997 postal services were a governmental monopoly. That year postal services were privatized by the creation of the Post Nederlandse Antillen NV (PNA). Although at the beginning all the shares were held by the government, in 2003 the PNA was replaced by the independent Nieuwe Post Nederlandse Antillen NV (NPNA), a fully owned subsidiary of Canada Post International Limited (CPIL). Upon postal independence in 2010, the NPNA continued postal services; however, due to declining revenues the NPNA ceased postal services on 3 October 2011. This was part of CPOST's shifting from postal services to more lucrative fields, although the NPNA continued postal services on other Dutch Antilles islands. Postal services on St. Maarten resumed on 1 January 2012 under the newly created Postal Services St. Maarten NV (PSS). Problems with customer service led to a reorganization within PSS in 2017. Since the first issue, Sint Maarten stamps have been denominated in Netherlands Antillean guilders. 

In 2017 postal services were suspended for over a month after Hurricane Irma hit the island on 6 September. In addition to damage to postal facilities, looters stole parcels and gasoline from postal trucks. Delivery was hampered by the number of addresses that were no longer habitable, with occupants displaced. The main post office on the island is located in Philipsburg on Cannegieter Street. 

These envelopes sent by Denis during her visit in Sint Maarten. This is a new country and also has new international country code , using blue UPU barcode labels. The cover posted on July 07, 2016 and I received in my hands on 28 July 2016. Registered mails are costly and rare from Sint Maarten.

The main post office building in Philipsburg, the capital city of Sint Maarten. It is also known as PSSM - Postal Services Sint Maarten under Aeropost network.

This is the way of postmarking in Philipsburg post office. Strange way :)