Does anyone know of a good starting point for finding a job
on St.Martin? Websites, books, ect... Thanks!
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You will have a much better chance of finding a job of Dutch St. Maarten than French St. Martin. As you know, the island is shared by both flags. I say this because French St. Martin requires you to speak French, while the Dutch side requires only English. I don't think it will be difficult to get a job in tourism, particularly in the restaurant/bar field or in a hotel. You'll have to go there and ask around because you probably don't have the proper paperwork in place right now. A good suggestion would be to work for the many jewelry stores in Philipsburg, one of the primary cruise ship ports of call in the Caribbean. The only difficulty is that many of the stores are owned by Indians and the Indians typically only hire their own family or acquaintances. I have never seen a foreigner work for an Indian jewelry business. But if you do have work experience in retail you will be a hot commodity in the non-Indian businesses because you'll be able to establish rapport with the N. American customers easily. Many foreigners work for charter boat companies or in tour companies which organize day trips. I would start by calling those tour companies or by calling either Colombian Emeralds International or Diamonds International and asking if they need sales people. Get a good guidebook which lists lots of hotels and just ask around. You'll definitely find something but it might require a trip there before you actually get hired.
Unless you have Dutch or French citizenship, you will need
foreign national working papers for work on either side of
the island. Unless an employer can show that no locals are
available who can qualify for the job, these will be
impossible to get. For obvious reasons, locals are
preferred. You can be self-employed, but there are
restrictions here also - you have to be contributing to the
local economy by providing employment for locals as part of
your business, for example. I suppose it may be possible to
find someone who will employ you illegally. Unless you know
someone, I expect that you would have no chance
legally or otherwise unless you were there in person.
I don't think R. Bailey has ever been to this island. If he
has been he would realize that 70 per cent of the work
force is illegal. YES MOST OF US HERE DO NOT HAVE PAPERS...
and I edit a magazine here. This is the last pirate
freeport left in the Caribbean. And there is PLENTY OF WORK
in high season. Just arrive like I did 12 years ago in
November with a backpack and you'll do fine. Hunt down and
stay at Crazy Lucy's (real name Morning Glory Guesthouse)
on the Dutch side and haggle her down... sthen hit the
streets, check out the Herald and St. Martin's Week
newspapers for work. YOU WILL FIND IT.
Sorry Mr. Bailey. But I have been here a long time and
everything you wrote is BULLSHIT.
Richard Kastelein
Managing Editor
What's ON magazine
St. Martin
F.W.I.