PHILIPSBURG:--- A long-simmering transport scandal has boiled over in St. Maarten, revealing staggering levels of corruption, cronyism, and abuse of power among politicians, civil servants, and business elites. An explosive investigation by local media and watchdogs has exposed how the island’s taxi, bus, and tour licensing system has been manipulated for decades — enriching the connected while drowning public transport in chaos.
Decades-Old Corruption, Modern-Day Consequences
Documents obtained by investigative reporters show that since at least 1986, politically connected individuals have been granted multiple transport licenses, far beyond what the law allows. Despite clear legal stipulations that taxi, bus (B), and tour (G) licenses should go to operators who depend on them as their primary source of income, influential players have wielded their clout to amass 8 to 10 licenses each — and fleets of up to 30 vehicles.
Among those implicated are politicians, civil servants, and business owners who double as board members of politically aligned companies. These are not small-time operators: many are deep in government, party leadership, or influential business circles.
Shockingly, spouses of parliamentarians are running tour companies and car rentals. These family-run businesses operate under the same political umbrella, benefiting from a system built to protect insiders.
Even more brazen: close relatives of high-ranking coalition leaders reportedly secured 14 transport licenses through a single company, while politically active on both sides of the island. This means political power is being used to build personal empires, with little oversight or public accountability.
The Case of Claude Omeus: A Red Flag
One of the most alarming revelations: Claude Omeus is controlling 21 bus licenses — not for his own use, but seemingly as a front. These licenses are leased out to operators who, according to sources, “can barely pay their own bills.” The real beneficiaries of the licenses remain hidden, raising serious questions about who Omeus is actually working for.
To make matters worse, the front-line operators — the lessees — are left responsible for insurance and maintenance. They shoulder the risks, yet the profits may not even reach them. It’s a lopsided system that protects the powerful and penalizes the vulnerable.
Institutional Breakdown & Regulatory Failure
Regulatory bodies have largely failed the public. Despite a moratorium on new transport licenses that should have prevented further expansion, licenses continued to be handed out. An internal investigation by the Integrity Chamber and the St. Maarten Audit Bureau (SOAB) found that the Public Transportation Committee, mandated by law, has not functioned since 2009. Without that checks-and-balances body, license issuers operated with virtual impunity.
To make matters worse, opaque decision-making has become the norm: many license applications were accepted even when incomplete, lacking basic documentation such as income proof or medical clearances. Reports suggest that a single senior advisor wielded outsize influence in approving licenses—making decisions behind closed doors without genuine transparency.
Political Earthquake: MP Lewis Lashes Out
MP Lyndon Lewis has been taken to Parliament in a fiery tirade, accusing fellow lawmakers of leveraging their positions for personal enrichment. He pinpointed the Minister of TEATT, Grisha Heyliger-Marten, calling out her family to benefit from the same transport empire he claims was built through nepotism and corruption.
Lewis didn’t mince words:
“Taxi plates … became political currency … while regular citizens were denied …”
He says these licenses “cement loyalty,” reward political allies, and effectively buy influence — undermining the very purpose of public service.
Promises of Reform — But is it Enough?
In the face of mounting pressure, Minister Heyliger-Marten has unveiled a five-phase reform package:
- Data Verification: A full audit of every taxi, bus, and tour license on the island.
- Mandatory Certifications: Drivers must obtain the required certifications to operate legally.
- Legislative Overhaul: New laws to close loopholes in the current licensing regime.
- Digital Dispatch System: A modern platform to streamline and regulate public transport.
- Transport Authority: The creation of a dedicated authority by 2027 to oversee the entire transport licensing process.
The minister has also pledged to revoke non-compliant licenses, potentially stripping power from some of the most entrenched license-holders on the island.
A System in Need of Radical Change
While the proposed reforms offer a glimmer of hope, many are calling for structural transformation rather than just superficial fixes. Some experts argue for the use of blockchain technology to build a transparent, tamper-proof system — one that logs every license, every owner, and every transaction, forever, in a way no political insider can manipulate.
But even the most cutting-edge technology can’t fix a broken culture. This scandal goes beyond transportation: it’s about governance, accountability, and how political power has long been converted into personal profit.
For St. Maarteners, the message is clear: without serious, enforceable reform, the powerful will continue to grab, hoard, and sell public resources — leaving ordinary citizens to struggle for the ride.
IS THE PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE ASLEEP?
Decades Of Alleged License Corruption Demand Answers on Sunny St. Maarten
A stunning stream of documents, testimonies, and internal government findings has exposed what appears to be one of the longest-running abuses of public office in St. Maarten’s modern history — a transport licensing system twisted for private gain while ordinary citizens are pushed aside.
Yet as the scandal widens, one question echoes across the island:
Where is the Prosecutor’s Office?
And why has no one been held accountable — not in 5 years, 10 years, or even 40?
The Alleged Scheme: Powerful Figures, Multiple Licenses, Years of Quiet Benefit
Transport licenses — taxi, bus, tour (G), and others — are, by law, meant to be granted only to people who rely on the activity as their primary source of income.
But for decades, a very different reality took root.
According to documents obtained, multiple politicians, civil servants, business leaders, and board members of state-owned companies allegedly secured 8, 10, or even more licenses — sometimes through front companies.
Some reportedly operate fleets of 20 to 30 vehicles in the transport and tourism economy.
In one case, 21 bus licenses are tied to a single individual — raising immediate questions about fronting, political protection, and financial beneficiaries.
Many ordinary operators say they are forced to rent buses or taxis from politically connected license holders, leaving real drivers struggling while elites profit quietly in the background.
