Politics of the Collectivity of Saint Martin Politics of the Collectivity of Saint Martin Saint Martin was a French commune for many years and formed part of Guadeloupe, which is an overseas "région" and "département" of France and is therefore in the European Union. In 2003, the population of the French part of the island voted in favour of secession from Guadeloupe in order to form a separate overseas collectivity (COM) of France. On 9 February 2007, the French Parliament passed a bill granting COM status to both the French part of Saint Martin and neighbouring Saint Barthélemy. The new status took effect once the local assembly
1991–92 South Pacific cyclone season French territory of New Caledonia during March 4, as a category 3 severe tropical cyclone. As a result of passing over the mountainous island nation and increasing vertical wind shear, the system transitioned into an extratropical cyclone over the cooler waters of the Tasman Sea. The extratropical remnants of Cyclone Esau subsequently made landfall on New Zealand's North Island during March 8, before they were last noted during the next day over the South Pacific Ocean. The system caused minimal damage and one death as it affected the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and New Zealand. There was no damage