St. Martin News Network

Philipsburg:---The coming New Year will bring some important changes for the St. Maarten Roadside Service. Effective January 1st the new name will be the Caribbean Accident and Roadside Service (CARS) and it will service motor policy holders from all Insurance companies on the island. These details were revealed last week at a signing ceremony at which ENNIA, Fatum, Aska, New India, Gulf and NAGICO all signed on to the new service.
"The transition from St. Maarten Roadside Service to Caribbean Accident and Roadside Service (CARS) is a necessary one, it was always intended to have the service opened up to all the motor insurance companies on the island," explained the Chairman of the local branch of the Netherland Antilles Insurance Association (NAVV) , Mr. Eric Ellis, from NAGICO. He said, "It will no longer be a NAGICO exclusive service, the time is right for all motor insurance companies to be on board." Documents of agreement were signed by Guy Cozijns of Ennia, Eric Ellis of NAGICO, Franklin Patrick of Gulf, Alex Maynard of New India, Linda Moise of Fatum, Robertino Betrian of ASKA. Henry Ellis signed on behalf of the Caribbean Accident and Roadside Service (CARS).
Relevant authorities such as the Department of Transport and the Police have also been informed of the changes and the companies which are now a part of the service
The insurance companies will take part of the costs for the CARS services for their account. The other part will be covered through an administrative fee to be charged from January 1st. This annual fee of Naf 31 will be added to the administration expenses on the policy by the Insurance Company;

Policy holders can look forward to a new and improved level of service. There will be the same familiar faces on board. Among the improvements are new vehicles and a mobile unit which is outfitted with a desk to enable greater customer comfort when filing accident details with the Caribbean Accident and Roadside Service. Insurance companies will also be able to get their information within 24hours of the report and plans are in place to move towards real-time reporting to insurance companies.
Installation of a new data processing package called Vision is one of the improvements planned. This software will enable accurate and timely capture of information which will then be forwarded to the police, Inspection department and other relevant authorities. It promises to be of great assistance in fighting crime, dealing with repeat offenders on the road and for underwriting purposes by insurance companies.
The insurance companies present embraced all the changes and expressed their eager anticipation of the January 1st transition to Caribbean Accident and Roadside Service (CARS).

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