Ground-breaking for Swali Cab’s ‘La Maison des Taxis’ in French Quarter

Swali Cab and Genesis taxi association board members at the ground-breaking jollification in French Quarter.

Swali Cab President Jean-Paul Rousseau (left) with Genesis Taxi Association President Nathaniel Wyatt.

MARIGOT–The newly-formed Swali Cab Taxi Association held a ground-breaking jollification ceremony in French Quarter last week Saturday for the future “Maison des Taxis” that will be situated on land adjacent to the Delta Petroleum gas station on the RN7.

The Association was formed about a month ago and has some 50 members so far. The private land owned by the Wescot family is being rented on a renewable contract. For now, the association will work out of a mobile office.

The Association’s objective is to have a closer taxi service for the local population and elderly as well as tourists, at lower cost, to improve quality of transportation and to exploit the untapped tourism potential of French Quarter.

“It’s a good location close to the Dutch-side border and to tourism activities,” noted the Association’s technical adviser and director of projects, Raymond Helligar. “We notice tourism buses constantly passing through French Quarter on the way to Orient Bay and back, but none of them stop here.

“Yet, French Quarter has its own tourist sites such as Moho Rock, Old House Museum and sugar plantations Grand Fond and Deux Frères, the history of the Arawaks and so forth.

“It’s time the people from French Quarter benefit from tourism, so we will be doing our part to develop the district. We will be putting together historical tours and packages to highlight French Quarter’s history. And it will increase the business for the Dutch side as well. Once it is all set up we will promote it and have it up on our website.

“We are going to be working mostly with an application where you call for a cab, like Uber. We want to be more attractive by lowering our costs. It’s not a coincidence that we are close to Delta Petroleum, hoping to make a deal with them on gasoline costs.”

He explained that French Quarter historically has been at the “heart of transportation” in St. Martin with a whole list of former taxi drivers who used to operate there such as Tata Jean Brooks, Oswald Rohan, James Fleming, Louis Brooks, Jean Chittick, Panto Hunt, and many more.

“We will establish a sort of hall of fame to honour those taxi drivers who were pioneers in transportation,” he added.

As ambassadors for tourism, Helligar wants taxi associations “to shine more” and be proactive, and not wait on Government to install infrastructure; one reason the project in French Quarter was started. Swali Cab counts the Dutch-side Genesis taxi association as a supporter.

“We are setting the pace and moving forward. Since we started others are following. It’s healthy competition and we are exploring ways of exchanging and working with the Dutch-side associations. That’s why we are working closely with Genesis. Our motto is lead, follow, or get out of the way. Simple as that. We are working in the interest of tourism and all taxi drivers,” he said.

Swali Cab is working with various partners, one of which is First Auto car dealership. Helligar said the company is offering very good prices on fuel-efficient diesel nine-seat Sanyung vans and helping with financing.

“We are also working with an insurance company on obtaining ‘loss of business’ coverage for drivers. Once members are paying their dues, this will be paid for by the association,” he said. “That’s for protection against, God forbid, if we have another Irma situation.”

Swali Cab Association comprises President Jean-Paul Rousseau, Vice-President Germain Isaac, Treasurer Bernard Rollan, Assistant Treasurer José Fulrade, Secretary Thérésa Helligar, Coordinator Alain Landry Girard, and Technical Adviser Helligar.

The association thanked Julien “Juco” Brooks moving equipment, Bernadette Davis for the breakfast, Willy Brooks and wife for the delicious lunch, Joyce Helligar for drinks, Thé Chine Connections for ice and water, Algire Carty, the Wescot family, ECOFIP, Tai Ghzalale, Loca Systèm, Gill Moriniere, Charles Leblanc Moriniere, and First Auto.

Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/76289-ground-breaking-for-swali-cab-s-la-maison-des-taxis-in-french-quarter