GREAT BAY--Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten has warned that taxi, bus and other transportation permit holders who have allowed their licenses to remain dormant could face revocation as government advances its cleanup of the public transportation sector. With only 407 taxis and 130 buses having complied with the recent documentation deadline, the Minister says the exercise is exposing longstanding weaknesses in the system that government can no longer afford to ignore.
Speaking during Wednesday's Council of Ministers briefing, October 28, Heyliger-Marten said the Ministry has entered the verification phase of its transportation cleanup, which involves reviewing submissions, confirming permit holders' operating status and identifying licenses that may no longer meet legal requirements.
The Minister emphasized that the exercise is not simply an administrative effort to update government records. It is intended to determine who is legally operating, who is complying with permit conditions and whether licenses are being held without being used, potentially preventing other qualified persons from entering the sector.
According to the Minister, government records contain more than 600 registered taxis and over 300 buses. However, the figures confirmed following the documentation deadline show compliance by only 407 taxi operators and 130 bus operators.
The Ministry has also confirmed documentation for 48 tour operators, 15 permits in an unregulated category and 50 car rental permits.
Heyliger-Marten stressed that the figures remain subject to final verification and should not automatically be interpreted as the number of operators whose licenses will be revoked.
The transportation section is currently reviewing more than 100 email submissions received between late September and October, responding to over 200 WhatsApp messages and arranging approximately 100 remaining confirmation stickers for vehicles whose status has already been verified.
She acknowledged complaints from operators who have experienced delays in receiving responses but appealed for patience, explaining that the volume of administrative work has placed considerable demands on the department.
Some submissions require further documentation or clarification, while other operators have been difficult to contact. The Minister encouraged permit holders with outstanding matters to remain accessible and respond promptly when contacted.
The Ministry expects to complete the review and administrative closure during the first week of November. The verified information will form part of an updated transportation database and final report.
Dormant licenses face closer scrutiny
Beyond the documentation exercise, Heyliger-Marten delivered a warning to permit holders who have retained licenses without actively operating.
She pointed to an existing provision in the transportation legislation under which a permit may be revoked if it has not been used for more than six months.
According to the Minister, this provision has not been consistently enforced, allowing permits to remain dormant while other individuals seeking to enter the transportation sector are unable to obtain opportunities.
"We have turned a blind eye to a specific sentence in the law that simply says if you have not been operating your license for more than six months, it can be revoked," she said.
The Minister expressed frustration with individuals holding transportation licenses without using them, while others have vehicles ready and are prepared to operate.
She said the situation also represents lost economic opportunities and potential government revenue.
However, Heyliger-Marten emphasized that revocation will not be automatic. Individual circumstances must be assessed in accordance with the law, including any justification a permit holder may provide for not operating.
Those matters will be reviewed by the Public Transportation Committee, which is expected to be reinstated. The committee's recommendations will guide subsequent decisions in accordance with the applicable legal framework.
The Minister nevertheless made clear that the cleanup will have consequences where the law provides for them.
"Some people might get bruised," she warned, explaining that government must be prepared to apply the rules if it is serious about restoring order to the sector.
She stressed that the review will not be limited to taxis and buses but will also cover car rental companies and other permit categories governed by the transportation ordinance.
Outdated legislation and weak enforcement
Heyliger-Marten also revealed that amendments to the transportation ordinance are being prepared, with a draft expected to reach her this week.
She described the existing legislation as outdated and inadequate for the level of regulation and enforcement required today.
The Minister said the cleanup exercise has highlighted how fragmented the system has become, with weaknesses in permit administration, compliance monitoring and enforcement against unauthorized transportation activities.
She acknowledged complaints from legitimate operators about unregulated drivers competing for passengers without meeting the same requirements.
Under the current system, inspectors can issue fines of approximately $500 for certain violations, but the Minister questioned whether these penalties provide a sufficient deterrent when offenders can repeatedly return to the roads.
She also noted that revenue from such fines is directed to the crime fund rather than the Ministry's operational resources, limiting the direct benefit to transportation enforcement.
Heyliger-Marten said the proposed legislative changes will seek to establish stronger and stricter enforcement mechanisms, improve accountability and give government the authority needed to regulate the sector effectively.
She also raised concerns about the lack of coordination between permit compliance and the payment of required fees, explaining that inspectors do not always have access to the information needed to verify whether operators are meeting their obligations.
The Minister indicated that her vision includes a more integrated system in which government departments can reliably verify the compliance status of transportation operators.
Changes being considered for 2027
Looking ahead, the Ministry is reviewing proposals to improve the annual confirmation process beginning in 2027.
These include introducing an earlier confirmation period, placing greater emphasis on vehicle standards and establishing clearer procedures linking transportation permit confirmation with road tax obligations.
The objective is to explore a coordinated process in which the necessary transportation requirements are addressed before operators proceed with their road tax arrangements.
Heyliger-Marten cautioned that these proposals remain under review and that further details will be communicated once decisions have been finalized.
The updated transportation database is also expected to support the reinstated Public Transportation Committee by providing more reliable information about licensed operators and their compliance status.
The Minister thanked the transportation section and its inspectors for the extensive administrative and verification work undertaken throughout the exercise, acknowledging that much of the effort has taken place behind the scenes.
She also recognized operators who complied with the documentation requirements and cooperated with government.
Heyliger-Marten maintained that the cleanup must ultimately produce more than an updated list of license holders. It must establish a transportation system in which permits are properly monitored, regulations are enforced and legitimate operators are not disadvantaged by those who disregard the rules.
The Ministry, she indicated, is pursuing the administrative cleanup, legislative amendments and enforcement improvements simultaneously, with the broader objective of creating a more organized, transparent and dependable public transportation sector.
