According to information provided to SMN News, the former government headed by Frantz Gumbs could not deliver the French driver's licenses to the holders of the Dutch Driver's licenses that were renewed for a period of one year because the former Prefet Jacques Simonette and Acting Prosecutor Jacques Louvier intervened and conducted an investigation which showed that the licenses were actually obtained on Saba and not St. Maarten. The investigation showed that those persons who obtained their licenses in Saba years ago had an opportunity to exchange their Saba driver's license for a St. Maarten driver's license. The investigation also concluded that the holders of those licenses did not do the proper examinations to obtain their licenses. Therefore, the licenses they hold is not equivalent to a European Drivers License such as the French.
Due to the unclear situation, the holders of the Dutch expired licenses which is over 800 in total decided to block the roads so that the French administration could do something for them since they would be driving on the road with an expired drivers licenses and should they be involved in any accidents then their insurances will not cover them.
SMN News learnt that the Prefet Philippe Chopin and someone from the Collectivity of St. Martin approached the drivers who blocked the roads before 5am and made an agreed that the Collectivity will grant the holders of these licenses a letter permitting them to drive on the road until another agreement is reached with the Government on the Dutch side. A representative at the Prefecture of St. Martin confirmed to SMN News that Prefet Chopin is the one that intervened and managed to have the protesters move their vehicles until the Collectivity of St. Martin could come to an agreement with the Dutch side. According to well placed sources at the Collectivity of St. Martin, some of the holders of the Dutch driver's licenses got their licenses since 1983 and even though they knew that these licenses were not going to be renewed, they made no effort to obtain a French driver's license by following the regular procedures.
SMN News was also told that the Collectivity also agreed to send out a press release on the road blocking but up to press time no release was made available to the media.
I am writing this comment as someone who pa**ed the exam on the French side.
The exam on the French side is much harder than that of the Dutch side. The cost is approximately 1200 euros for cla**es, which includes exam fees. The board is pa**ed via computer and the person who gives the exam is flown in from Guadeloupe, so there is no possibility of cheating. Out of 40 questions, you are only allowed to get 5 wrong. I got two wrong when I did the exam.
After all of that, when you pa** the exam you get an international French license that does not expire.
I had to explain the above for people to understand why I believe that the Dutch license should not be exchanged for the French. I too could have opted for the easy way out by going to the Dutch side and pa**ing the cheaper and easier exam. Fact of the matter is that some people on the Dutch side should not be driving, there are way to many instances where people get knocked down on the road. I have rarely heard of this happening on the French side. I believe these people should be given a grace period to go to driving school and pa** the exam on the French side. You are French, you live on the French side, do the exam on the French side. The exam is harder but it makes you a better and safer driver. I have had my license for 7 years now with no accidents. Another thing, when you are on SXM on either side you need to have a license for the island. If you come from elsewhere to live here you need to get an SXM license for the side on which you live.