Marigot/ Philipsburg:--- Several taxi drivers both from the French and Dutch side of the island are planning to boycott the Marigot market place now that the Vice President of Economic Affairs and Transportation has unveiled his 25 point new rules for taxi drivers.
According to information reaching SMN News three taxi drivers from the Dutch Taxi Association have been fined for illegal parking, while the car rentals that do not have an allocated parking space is left untouchable.
Some of the drivers said they cannot even leave their vehicle parked while they sit under the tree or say hello to someone else. “One of the drivers was fined because he went to see someone by the Anguilla ferry stelling.” While the new rules states that any driver who is found to be carrying more than the legal amount of passengers would also be fined. The DSTA members want to know if the French is speaking about their legal limits or if the Dutch side is inclusive. The legal limit on the French side for the French side is nine compared to 14 on the Dutch side with D licenses.
Some drivers also from the French side spoke to this media house anonymously saying they themselves would boycott the French side, mainly Marigot since the French does not do anything to enhance tourism. What is amazing one would believe the Collectivity would show the licensed taxi drivers some respect by sending them the rules, but to date no one from the COM ever kept a meeting with the drivers to at least let them know what is coming to them. “one of the drivers said this is a total lack of respect from government.”
The drivers said they are over burdened with taxes on the French side even though most of them do not make one dollar on this side of the island.
One of the drivers who were fined said they are now going to work according to the treaty which said that drivers can pass through Marigot but not stop for shopping. The driver said already the French side is more expensive for shopping and their currency is working against them, information they would readily pass on the tourists who are touring the French side of the island.
SMN News contacted Clyde Hook of the Dutch Taxi Association (DSTA) for a comment Hook said he did not see a copy of the rules that were implemented, he said the French side Government did not see the need to send the DSTA a copy of their new rules instead drivers are being fined without a warning. Hook said not even the French and Dutch liaison officer did not notify them of the changes. Hook said he did receive complaints from his drivers but he would not make a statement pertaining to the actions they would take unless he sees the rules himself.