- Guadeloupe (overseas department of France) Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues Print This Frame Guadeloupe Introduction Top of Page Background: Guadeloupe has been a French possession since 1635. The island of Saint-Martin is divided with the Netherlands (whose southern portion is named Sint Maarten and is part of the ...www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/gp.html