GREAT BAY--Member of Parliament Dimar Labega says information provided by the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) during the 2026 budget process has strengthened the case for urgent reform of St. Maarten’s Passenger Transportation Ordinance.
Labega, who is working on amendments to the legislation governing passenger transportation, said the Minister’s responses give Parliament and the public a clearer picture of the problems affecting the sector, including outdated laws, staffing shortages, inconsistent government records, administrative delays and the need for stronger enforcement.
According to the information provided by the Minister, Government has started reviewing and cleaning up public transportation records to determine which operators are active and which applications are pending, incomplete or no longer being pursued. Permit records, vehicle documentation, tax requirements and the operating status of permit holders are also being checked.
The Ministry has further identified past inconsistencies in how permits, vehicles and operator information were recorded. It is now strengthening cooperation between the Inspectorate of Economic and Transport Affairs (IETA), the Department of Economic Licenses, the Receiver’s Office, Motor Vehicle Inspection and other government entities involved in the sector.
Labega said these steps are necessary, but they also demonstrate why administrative improvements alone cannot solve the longstanding problems facing public transportation.
“The work being done to correct records, verify permits and improve cooperation between departments is an important step forward. But once those records are corrected, we still have to deal with the law itself. We cannot build a modern transportation system around outdated legislation,” Labega said.
The MP noted that the Minister has acknowledged that several major issues remain unresolved, including the transportation fare structure, the way permits are allocated, route management, accessibility for vulnerable groups and the overall modernization of the passenger transportation system.
The Ministry has indicated that a full review of fares, permit allocation and route management has not yet been completed. These matters are expected to form part of the broader Public Transportation Reform Project and will require additional policy work, legal changes and consultation with stakeholders.
Labega said this is where Parliament must play its role.
“My proposed amendments are intended to help move the discussion from identifying problems to putting solutions into law. Operators need clear rules, fair procedures and a permit system they can understand and trust. The public needs transportation that is safe, dependable and accessible,” he said.
Labega also pointed to enforcement figures provided by the Ministry as further evidence that reform cannot be delayed. From June through December 2025, IETA issued approximately Cg. 30,200 in fines within the public transportation sector, compared with approximately Cg. 12,250 during all of 2024.
Violations included operating without the required permit, expired vehicle documents, failure to meet vehicle and service standards, unlawful fare practices and private vehicles being used for commercial passenger transportation.
While stronger enforcement is necessary, Labega said Government must ensure that operators who want to comply are supported by a system that is clear, efficient and properly coordinated.
“You cannot demand better compliance from operators while leaving them to navigate a system with conflicting records, outdated procedures and unnecessary delays. Enforcement and reform have to move together,” Labega said.
The MP welcomed plans to introduce clearer application requirements, standard identification for operators across government systems, deadlines for incomplete applications and greater use of digital systems.
He said digitization should become an important part of the amended transportation framework, particularly for permit applications, renewals, recordkeeping, compliance checks and communication between government departments.
Labega also highlighted the Ministry’s acknowledgement that more work is required to address the transportation needs of senior citizens, persons with disabilities, students and other groups that may require additional consideration.
He said transportation reform should not focus only on permits and enforcement, but also on the quality of the service people receive.
“A public transportation system must be designed around the people who depend on it every day. That includes our workers, students, seniors, persons with disabilities, residents who do not own vehicles and the visitors who use our transportation services,” Labega said.
The Minister has identified limited inspection capacity, staff shortages within the Transport Section, fragmented information, outdated procedures and outdated legislation among the main challenges currently affecting the sector. Government has also indicated that additional personnel, modern inspection equipment and digital systems will be needed.
Labega said those findings provide an opportunity for Parliament and the Ministry to work together on a wider reform package rather than treating each issue separately.
He intends to engage the Minister of TEATT and relevant policy and transportation officials as his legislative work progresses.
“The Ministry has started important internal work, and I want to build on that. If we combine better administration with updated legislation, stronger enforcement and modern technology, we can finally put St. Maarten on a path toward a transportation system that works better for operators and the public,” Labega said.
Labega said the objective of his amendments will be to establish clearer rules, greater transparency, stronger accountability and a legal framework capable of supporting the Ministry’s long-term plans for a modern, safe, reliable and sustainable public transportation system.
“This should not become another transportation discussion that continues for years without meaningful change. The problems are well known. We now have an opportunity to modernize the law and build a system that serves St. Maarten for the years ahead,” Labega concluded.
