Govt freezes licences for
new car rental companies
~ To combat road congestion ~
PHILIPSBURG--The worsening traffic situation in St. Maarten is one of the primary reasons behind Government’s recent decision to place a moratorium on the issuance of licences for car rental companies.
The Executive Council made the decision on February 19. Applications for car rental licences made after that date will not be processed. Applications made prior to February 19 will be processed, but Transportation Commissioner Louie Laveist said that did not mean they would be granted.
He told reporters during Wednesday’s Executive Council press briefing that the moratorium was similar to that placed on bus and taxi licences in the past. The moratorium is in place “until further notice.”
He said the moratorium was intended to curb the worsening traffic situation on the island. The Island Government had issued a number of licences in the past that are not in operation. Laveist said the decision had also been taken so that government could assess the current situation in the market and “get a grip” on things. He said a rental company was allowed to have 200 cars in its fleet.
“There are a number of requests that have been handled or that are in process [of being handled] and [these applicants] can look forward to a response from the Executive Council on those requests shortly,” Laveist said.
