The risk of buying property in the Caribbean is that a percentage of land has a no clear title.
I like to search and find articles about the history of SXM...
Here are a few...
Mr. LAWAETZ was able to acquire title despite the very complicated laws governing inheritance and ownership of property. The entire French section was deeded over from the family of Madame Henri VIALENC and deeds to the Dutch part came from two owners, the BEAUPERTHUY family and a member of the PETERSEN family.
http://www.elitesxm.com/lowlands-history

"To understand the affair, we must go back to January 21, 1861, the day of the death of Pierre-Daniel Beauperthuy. He was the owner of a number of plots of land, mostly located in Orient Bay, French Quarter, and the Dutch part. He had notarized deeds, some of which dated in 1852 and 1854. He died without having organized his estate amongst his six children." more in link below

http://www.soualigapost.com/en/news/5199/justice/why-beauperthuys-saint-martin-have-sprung-action

http://www.soualigapost.com/en/news/5148/justice/some-beauperthuy-heirs-demanded-11-m%E2%82%AC-collectivit%C3%A9