MARIGOT:--- Holders of Drivers licenses that were issued on St. Maarten prior to December 31st 2012 and were hoping to have those licenses exchanged for a French Drivers’ License would have to wait a bit longer before the program could kick off.
Several persons were at the Collectivity of St. Martin on Thursday hoping that they could submit their request to have their licenses exchanged only to be told that the program had been pushed back for the second time.
Vice President Steven Patrick told SMN News in an invited comment that the reason the program has been delayed is because the department that has to process the application is still without office space since hurricane Irma destroyed the main building that once housed the department in Galisbay. Patrick said that a location has been identified for the relocation but that the offices still has to be prepared before the employees could begin working.
Patrick said that while he understands that people are frustrated he assured the program will kick off hopefully before the end of July 2018 and that when the program does kick off applicants will have the six months in which they could request the exchange of their licenses. He said that all persons interested in the exchange should use the time they have now to ensure they get all the necessary documents to submit their request when the program kicks off. Further to that VP Patrick said as soon as the department is ready the Collectivity will begin a one month media campaign to get everyone that has a Dutch drivers’ license issued before December 31st 2012 exchanged for a French one.
