Philipsburg:--- As the cooperation between the French and Dutch side intensives Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams said 157 persons (residents of French St. Martin) have applied for the renewal of their Drivers Licenses which was granted on the Dutch side of the island. The Prime Minister said even though she indicated in her letter to the President of the Collectivity that these special licenses will be valid for a period of one year she wants to re-iterate to the license holders that they cannot renew their licenses when it expires.The governments of both sides came to an agreement where the Dutch side would renew the licenses so that the holders can then take their valid driver's license and have it transferred to a French Drivers License. The Prime Minister said she made the announcement to make sure there is no misunderstanding when the licenses expires since drivers licenses on the Dutch side are normally valid for a period of five years.
The Prime Minister also explained that after the meeting of the two sides on Friday last week, contact was made after the meeting to establish proper communication lines especially during emergencies (hurricanes).
The Prime Minister said one of the main concerns of the Dutch side is communication between the two sides during emergencies. She said right now as things stand they do not who to ask what during hurricanes and that she said was established shortly after Friday's meeting. The Prime Minister said the French state has certain responsibilities when it comes to disaster management and that was not clearly understood by the Dutch side. The Prime Minister said one of the decisions that were taken by Disaster Management is to grant hurricane passes to businesses and establishments that are on the Dutch side.
Prime Minister Wescot Williams said that there is cooperation between the two sides but the French State is insisting that some sort of structure be put in place. She said that there are several areas that have effects on citizens on both sides of the island which falls under the responsibility of the State and not the local government on the French side.