Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten has a total of 480 taxi licences and 263 bus licences on the roads. There are 39 large “tour†buses with “T†(tour bus) licence plate numbers and a total of 31 “G†licence plate numbers. This is based on numbers given to Parliament’s Permanent Committee for Transportation by Transport Minister Claret Conner on Thursday.
He also informed MPs the moratorium on the issuance of bus and taxi licences remains in place until a study on the state of the industry is conducted. The recommendations of that study will determine the way forward with regard to licences.
Since the moratorium has been in place, there has been no deviation from the issuance of new licences. Conner said since the moratorium only transfers of licences from one holder to another have been affected and in some cases corrections to licences were made by the ministry.
Prior to 2012, there were 211 bus licences, 321 taxi licences, eight “T†(tour bus) licences, and five “G†licences.
In 2012, 14 bus licences were issued, 69 taxi licences, nine “T†licences and 13 “G†licences.
The following year, 38 bus licences were issued, 87 taxi licences, 20 “T†licences and 12 “G†licences.
In 2014, only three taxi licences, two “T†licences and one “G†licence.
No licences issued since the implementation of the moratorium in February 2014.
Breaking down the licence issuance by minister, Transport Minister Romeo Pantophlet (2012-2013) issued the most licences – 150. He signed off 38 bus licences, 67 taxi, 23 “T†licences and 22 “G†licences.
During his term, Transport Minister Franklin Meyers (2010-2012) issued 92 licences. Those licences were for 14 buses, 69 taxis, six “T†and three “G†licences.
The former Transport Minister Ted Richardson (2013-2014) issued three taxi licences, two “T†licences and one “G†licence before he implemented the moratorium.
Some 280 persons have requested various transportation licences.
In the committee meeting, chaired by Member of Parliament Tamara Leonard (United People’s party), MPs discussed the licensing process with the minister, as well as tackling the “gypsy taxis†and regulating the transportation system.
