PHILIPSBURG:--- TEATT Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten says her ministry is checking taxi and bus permits as part of a broader transportation cleanup, while acknowledging that the work will not resolve St Maarten’s congestion before the approaching tourist season.
In an interview on Live with Lady Grace in the Breakfast Lounge, the minister said government records show more than 600 taxi permits, but only 399 operators are currently confirmed as compliant. For buses, she cited roughly 300 registered permits and 120 compliant operators. She cautioned that a permit appearing in the records without completed confirmation does not, by itself, establish whether the vehicle is operating illegally or even on the road.
The confirmation process checks paperwork, insurance, vehicle details and whether a plate is properly linked to its permit. Heyliger-Marten said the exercise had exposed gaps between government departments and incomplete records that her ministry must also correct.
Operators who have not completed the process will be given two weeks to explain their circumstances and provide the necessary documents, she said. Unresolved cases will go to the Transportation Committee for assessment. The minister said permits unused for more than six months may be considered for revocation under the traffic ordinance, while affected holders would have an opportunity to contest a decision. She hopes to report on the outcome by early December.
Heyliger-Marten tied the permit review to congestion and the economy. Too many vehicles competing for passengers, she argued, can add to traffic while making it harder for licensed drivers to earn a living. But she acknowledged that TEATT does not control road infrastructure and cannot solve the problem through permits alone.
Her ministry has requested information about technology that could help ease congestion. It is also considering a temporary moratorium on vehicle imports, though the minister said such a move would require a full assessment first. She described plans to examine parking across Philipsburg and explore additional parking facilities, including a proposal at the former post office site. Those proposals remain under consideration.
The minister also raised concerns about some private or VIP transport operators using ordinary vehicle plates without the insurance required to carry paying passengers. At the same time, she said the transportation system must adapt to visitors’ and residents’ demand for reliable rides, including outside conventional taxi hours.
Planned changes include driver training in customer service and promoting Sint Maarten, along with a proposed digital system that could help government monitor trips, fares and service complaints. Heyliger-Marten said an app would still require a procurement process; it is not yet operating.
Bus reliability is also part of the proposed reform. The minister said future rules should make routes and service times clearer so residents can depend on buses. She criticized drivers who stop in the roadway or compete for passengers, while saying the changes would require research and consultation with taxi and bus operators.
Asked how economic growth would reach ordinary residents, Heyliger-Marten said stronger visitor numbers must eventually be felt “in your pocket.” For now, her transportation plans face a practical test: whether cleaner permit records, reliable service and better parking can make movement easier for residents, workers and tourists.