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PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Claret Connor held a meeting with Dutch St. Maarten United Bus Drivers Association last week, where a number of issues and topics related to public transportation were discussed.

Association President William Alexis told The Daily Herald that he appreciates the Minister sitting down to speak to the group as soon as he got the chance to – some two weeks after a request, which included time off-island – and said that Minister Connor showed a "good vision" and that he wanted to work towards continuity. He also confirmed the points discussed.

According to a release from the Press Secretariat, Connor informed the association that the Transportation Department is currently working on a policy document, and that the issues presented by the association during the meeting would be addressed in the policy. This policy document will be ready in 2016.

The association was also informed that a working committee will be established to include department personnel and other stakeholders as an avenue to address on-going concerns.

The first point for discussion was the establishment of a bus terminal in the Philipsburg area. The association is of the opinion that the terminal would alleviate traffic congestion on Back Street and Cannegieter Street. Minister Connor said that such a terminal would lead to an improvement in services for passengers and will bring relief to congestion issues.

In line with this point on infrastructure, Alexis later told this newspaper that the lack of bus stops, which has been an issue of contention, is also causing another problem in that some drivers are less inclined to want to pick up elderly passengers along the road, because they take longer to board and increase the chance of the drivers getting a police fine.

The second point discussed is the lowering of the speed control bumps in the district of Middle Region as the height of these bumps is causing damage to the busses when looking at the load factors.

The association says that attention is also needed where it concerns gypsy drivers, and they have noticed an increase particularly on the Sucker Garden route. There have been some cases where bus drivers have been threatened with a weapon. The bus drivers' association has assured the Government that they are committed to servicing the route in Sucker Garden and Middle Region.

The route identification system was another topic discussed. The association indicated that they have a planned programme ready to be implemented.

The association also brought to the attention of the Minister where several bus drivers are not licensed to service the Marigot and French Quarter routes. Bus drivers, who are non-nationals but hold residency permits for the Dutch side of the island, are prohibited from serving the French parts of the island.

The association mentioned that the French authorities frequently control the busses and when a driver is found to be transporting passengers without the proper documentation, they are seriously reprimanded and are told to turn around and go back to the Dutch side.

According to the bus association, this puts bus drivers of the Dutch side in a difficult relationship with the French side authorities.

Also present for the meeting was the Minister's Senior Policy Advisor Louis Engel.