PHILIPSBURG:--- A bombshell investigation into the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunication (TEATT) reveals a deeply rooted system of corruption, nepotism, and blatant disregard for the law in the issuance of taxi and bus licenses. An official moratorium on new permits, in effect from 2014 to 2022, was systematically violated, with dozens of licenses handed out behind closed doors, often to politically connected individuals.
Documents obtained from within the Ministry paint a damning picture of a two-tiered system where rules were ignored for a select few. While law-abiding citizens were told no new licenses were available, a steady stream of permits was being approved, raising serious questions about who benefited from this flagrant breach of policy.
The evidence is undeniable. During the moratorium, numerous licenses were issued, including PT-0107/18, PT-0188/17, and PT-0130/20. These are not isolated incidents but part of a wider pattern of favoritism that mocks the very foundation of transparent governance. The issuance of these licenses during a government-mandated freeze represents a severe breach of public trust and suggests a deliberate effort to circumvent regulations.
The rot runs deeper than just illegal issuances. The data shows multiple instances of duplicate license numbers, such as PT-0022/18 and PT-0349/18, which appear more than once in official records. These duplicates could be exploited for fraudulent activities, allowing multiple vehicles to operate under a single permit. This points to either gross incompetence or calculated deception within the Ministry’s licensing department.
Further analysis uncovers another troubling scheme: individuals registered as "helper drivers" for multiple, unrelated permit holders.
This improbable arrangement strongly suggests that these positions are being used as a loophole, potentially to reward cronies or allow permit holders to bypass operational requirements. How can one driver work for several different taxi operations at once? The answer is simple: they can't. It's a clear indicator of a system being manipulated for personal or political gain.
The timing and nature of these issuances demand scrutiny of the political administrations overseeing the Ministry during this period. The public has a right to know if these licenses were handed out as political favors, cementing a culture of quid pro quo that undermines fair competition and rewards loyalty over merit.
This is not just about administrative failures; it is about accountability. The officials who presided over this broken system must answer for their actions. A full-scale, independent investigation is no longer a request but a necessity. Every license issued during the 2014-2022 moratorium must be audited, and any political or familial links must be brought into the light.
The people of St. Maarten deserve a government that operates with integrity. The evidence shows a ministry that has failed its citizens. It is time to dismantle this corrupt framework and hold every individual involved, from the clerks to the Ministers, fully accountable for this betrayal of public office.
