PHILIPSBURG — Taxi permit holders are up in arms about the 120 licenses the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication issued at the end of last year. The permit holders published a manifesto that contains seventeen questions about this issue.
They claim that in October and November of last year the ministry issues 120 additional licenses and ask: “What is the legitimate reason for this and how will this affect the existing taxi operators?”
The manifesto states that 200 additional permits were granted in 2011 and another 100 in 2013. The license holders inquire whether a feasibility study was done, “considering economic reports on tourism sector and visitor numbers.”
According to the manifesto, there are 500 current licenses, the ministry has added 120 to this total, while there are 300 taxi licenses on the French side. “What measures are in place to ensure that these additions do not over-saturate the market?”
The taxi permit holders furthermore wonder if one day their permits will have an economic value that could serve as collateral for obtaining loans. “Are there plans to offer subsidies to taxi operators during low seasons, such as assistance at gas pumps or supermarkets?”
The taxi permit holders also refer to legislation going back to 1969 that states that taxi permits were intended for born Antilleans. “Have there been any recent changes to this legislation and if so, what are the current criteria for granting taxi permits?”
Additionally they ask whether there are any permit holders that do not have a Dutch passport.
In 2018 a new threat to the local taxi-economy surfaced when (then) MP Rolando Brison discussed the possibility of introducing a ride-sharing service like Uber on the island. “It was unanimously opposed,” the manifesto states. The taxi permit holders ask about the results of a feasibility study into this option and ask who will be responsible for the costs associated with the (potential) introduction of Uber.
Yet another beef the taxi permit holders have is with the fact that some civil servants have a taxi permit. Therefore, they want to know which legislation allows civil servants to obtain such licenses.
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The Dutch St. Maarten Taxi Association (DSTA), which operates from the cruise terminal at the Port of St. Maarten, recently held a significant meeting with the TEATT Minister of Transportation, Mrs. Grisha Heyliger-Marten, together with other taxi associations operating on Dutch Sint Maarten. This meeting focused on critical updates regarding taxi tariffs and the issuance of new taxi permits.
Maya Friday, the DSTA board president, informed StMaartenNews.com that discussions with Minister Heyliger-Marten included a proposal for a slight increase in the taxi tariff. Specifically, there will be an increment of $1 on several routes, including those to the French side, which had been removed in the updated tariff of March 2022. Additionally, the board discussed removing the “ride sharing” concept that was also introduced in the same 2022 update.
Another crucial topic was the issuance of new taxi permits by former TEATT Minister Arthur Leo Lambriex. The issuance of these new permits has sparked complaints among existing taxi permit holders, who are concerned about market saturation and the impact on their income.
See related document: Subject Questions Regarding Taxi Permits Regulation
The minister clarified that the newly issued permits would not be revoked for individuals without a Dutch passport, as a policy had been established to include those with residence permits. However, there were concerns within the taxi associations about rumors suggesting that these permits were distributed in 2023 to curry favor ahead of the political elections in January 2024.
The DSTA, along with other taxi associations such as the St. Maarten Airport Taxi Association and the association of Independent Taxi Drivers, is actively addressing these issues to ensure fair and sustainable operations for all members.
Photo caption: Taxi association presidents during their meeting with TEATT Minister Heyliger-Marten.
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This update above highlights the ongoing efforts by the Dutch St. Maarten taxi associations to maintain a fair and profitable working environment for its members while addressing regulatory changes and new policies in the taxi industry.
