PHILIPSBURG: Hundreds of transport permits remain outside the figures confirmed in the government’s ongoing cleanup, with Minister of TEATT Grisha Heyliger-Marten warning that inactive permits could face revocation following individual review and recommendations from the Public Transportation Committee.
At Wednesday’s Council of Ministers press briefing, Heyliger-Marten outlined a broader effort involving permit verification, amendments to the transportation legislation and plans for a more dependable transport system. She also announced talks with ATV tour operators this week on road obstructions, routes, and safety.
The minister was the only member of the Council of Ministers present at the briefing.
Only 407 taxis and 130 buses confirmed so far
Heyliger-Marten said 407 taxis met the confirmation requirements, compared with more than 600 taxis recorded in the system. For buses, 130 had been confirmed against more than 300 registered.
Other confirmed figures were 48 tow operators, 15 permits in what she described as an unregulated category, and 50 car-rental permits. Verification was ongoing, so the figures were not final.
The gap between registered and confirmed operators does not, by itself, establish that every outstanding permit has been revoked or that every operator concerned is currently operating illegally. The minister said unresolved cases require assessment.
Section Transport is reviewing more than 100 email submissions, responding to over 200 WhatsApp messages and arranging approximately 100 remaining confirmation stickers for vehicles whose status has been verified.
Some operators have completed their documentation, while others have been difficult to reach. Heyliger-Marten urged people with unresolved matters to remain accessible and respond promptly when contacted.
The committee expects to complete the administrative review and close out the process during the first week of November. The resulting database and report will support the committee’s work and give government a clearer picture of who is operating.
Inactive permits could be revoked
Heyliger-Marten said the committee, expected to be reinstated soon, will consider requests from inactive permit holders to resume operations. Reinstatement will not be automatic.
According to the minister, existing legislation allows revocation if a permit has not been used for more than six months. She accused previous administrations of failing to act on that provision, leaving permits dormant while other people were ready to work.
She said explanations such as illness or hospitalization would need concrete documentation. Decisions would follow the committee’s recommendations and the law, rather than a blanket action against everyone outside the current confirmation totals.
The exercise extends beyond taxis and buses to other businesses covered by the transportation ordinance, including car-rental companies.
“You want me to do a cleanup? We’re going to do it by the law,” she said.
Legislative changes and stronger enforcement
Heyliger-Marten said she expected a draft amendment to the transportation ordinance this week, describing the present framework as outdated and insufficient for the enforcement government wants to undertake.
Responding to questions about unauthorized passenger transport, she said repeated fines had not deterred offenders. She cited fines of 500 guilders as an example and said inspectors lacked adequate information about whether penalties had been paid.
She also said fine proceeds went to a crime fund rather than returning to support the ministry’s operations. Those comments formed part of her explanation of the weaknesses she wants addressed.
The minister expressed a preference for a “three strikes” approach. She presented it as her vision, rather than an adopted enforcement rule.
Her stated programme has three components: completing the cleanup, amending the legislation and developing a dependable transportation infrastructure. No final timetable for the full programme was announced.
ATV meeting to address obstruction and safety
The minister said ATV tour operators would meet with her and representatives of VROMI and Justice this week. Although she initially referred to “tomorrow,” she later clarified that the meeting would take place this week, without setting a precise day.
The agenda includes road obstruction, route suitability, safety and security, and the requirements governing operators and tour participants.
“Our roads are shared spaces,” Heyliger-Marten said, pointing to workers, schoolchildren, emergency vehicles, public transport and visitors all depending on the same network.
She said tourism businesses should succeed, but their activities must coexist with residents’ daily lives. Similar tourism operations will be addressed in the coming weeks.
Asked whether groups of vehicles need police escorts, she said she was researching the issue and would raise it during the discussions. She did not confirm a specific convoy threshold or announce a new escort requirement.
The minister also appealed to motorists to stop blocking intersections, overtaking dangerously and driving recklessly, warning that one collision can bring traffic to a halt.
Changes proposed for 2027
Proposals under review include an earlier confirmation period, greater emphasis on vehicle standards and clearer procedures for unresolved permits.
One proposal for discussion with the Minister of Finance would require operators to obtain their confirmation letter before proceeding with road-tax obligations. Heyliger-Marten stressed that the proposals had not yet been finalized.
She also referred to a separate compliance initiative being considered for January 2027, but left its details for the Minister of Finance to announce.
The next measurable steps are completing the administrative review, the committee’s assessment of unresolved permits, drafting legislative amendments, and discussing them with ATV operators. Wednesday’s briefing announced those steps; it did not announce mass permit cancellations or an immediate ban on ATV tours.