APRIL 21, 2026 — The French Overseas Collective of Saint-Martin has formally initiated a multi-stage participatory process to establish its first flag, reports Outremers 360°.
It aims to address its status as the only Caribbean territory without its own official banner.
Announced by President Louis Mussington and members of the territorial executive on April 15, the project seeks to create a distinct symbol for the French side of the island, which has operated as an autonomous overseas collective since 2007.
While the French tricolour remains the sovereign national emblem, local authorities argue that a specific territorial flag is necessary to represent Saint-Martin at regional summits, sporting events, and cultural gatherings where other Caribbean nations and French overseas regions are already visually represented.
The initiative, branded as “My Saint-Martin Flag,” is structured to involve both the local population and the diaspora throughout 2026. According to the proposed timeline, citizen workshops and online consultations will take place through June, followed by a design competition in late summer.
A consultative public vote is scheduled for October, with the final design slated for adoption by the Territorial Council in November.
Valérie Damaseau, the first Vice-President of the Collective, stated that “this initiative aims to fill a long-standing void. It is about allowing our population to take ownership of its identity and to proudly represent Saint-Martin throughout the world.”
Presently, the local government frequently utilizes an unofficial flag featuring the island’s coat of arms centered on a white field, while the “Unity Flag” is often used to represent the shared identity of both the French and Dutch sides of the island, says France-Antilles Guadeloupe.
However, neither carries official institutional status within the French administrative framework.
