Marigot: --- The Saint Martin United Taxi Drivers Association (SMUTA) has already begun talks with the Collectivity of St. Martin to obtain the concession for the paid parking on the Marigot waterfront. According to the association’s president Raymond Bryan. The idea was brought forward by Vice President in charge of public transportation Daniel Gibbs. Bryan said even though the parking is not completed yet the idea is being worked upon. He said the parking will be controlled by the local government but the concession would be given to SMUTA. Bryan said this new parking space would not hinder taxi drivers from parking elsewhere where there is legal parking.
Bryan further explained the Collectivity is working on restructuring the Marigot Waterfront and they would be creating a paid parking space to which taxi drivers that wishes to use the area has to pay Euros 15 per month. When the parking is complete the fees would have to be paid to SMUTA. Bryan said the same procedures that are being used at the A.C Wathey Cruise facility and the Princess Juliana International Airport would soon be implemented in Marigot.
Asked about the controversy with the new rules that were implemented by the Collectivity Bryan said the SMUTA are aware of the rules and is in full agreement with them. He said the SMUTA is the one that notified their members but agreed that all taxi drivers on the French side were not notified because they are not members of the SMUTA.
Bryan said he is urging all registered taxi drivers on the French side to become members of the SMUTA. He said so far the association has only 40 members while there are about 200 registered taxi drivers. “Right now the Collectivity made it clear they would not be dealing with individual drivers instead they are looking to deal with a registered body that represents taxi drivers and I am urging the non members of SMUTA to join the association. He further explained that some of SMUTA members are in possession of radios which were sponsored by the tourist office.
The SMUTA president said the Collectivity already agreed that taxi drivers should have the radio system since they are providing a service to the community. “Because of this the Collectivity would be providing the financing for some more radios which would be given to the members of SMUTA. There are monies at the Collectivity which can be used by taxi drivers but if they are not together then they cannot benefit.” Bryan said he is presently working on the paper work to submit to the COM regarding the financing of the additional radios.
According to some of French Taxi Drivers who spoke to SMN News said that the SMUTA is not providing work for taxi drivers and yet drivers have to pay to be part of the Association. One driver said he has been working at the Princess Juliana International Airport and is a member of the Airport Taxi Association (ATA) where he has to pay his dues. Furthermore, the radios the SMUTA is talking about the drivers have to pay for the radio. “I know several of SMUTA members had to turn in back their radios because they were not making monies to pay for the radio. I can tell you many days taxi drivers working in Marigot have to go home empty handed because they did not get a job. Things are very hard with taxi drivers during this slow season and government along with SMUTA is not making any of this easier for taxi drivers.” The driver explained.
Another driver said the reason taxi drivers are not getting work is that the Collectivity gave out permits to some Metropolitans to work water taxi in Marigot. He said a ‘white” man is operating two yellow boats from Habitation to Marigot while the other works from the Airport to Marigot. The long time taxi driver said this is taking away work from the taxi drivers yet they expect taxi drivers to go over on the Dutch side and pay to work and come and pay them too on the French side. “It seems as if Daniel Gibbs and his associates don’t know that taxi drivers have to pay bills, including rent, food and they also have children to support in school”. The taxi driver said angrily.
Raymond Bryan a former deputy mayor who held the transportation portfolio agreed much more steps could have been taken to properly inform all taxi drivers of the rules. He agreed that the Collectivity could have notified each driver by sending them a letter as well as copy of the rules. Bryan said the persons working in public transportation cannot do everything and as such they put up sign boards with the new rules on Marigot Waterfront where he believed all drivers could see them. Bryan agreed that communication should have been sent to the Dutch counterpart who would have notified their drivers of the changes.
In the meantime, several members of the Dutch Taxi Association informed SMN News that they are planning to take actions against the type of rules that are implemented on the French side. One DSTA driver said he already stopped taking passengers to the market place, he said he has chosen other routes which are far better and with less hassle.
