TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Taxi drivers upset

SMN news story I actually don't understand what this is about, but if I'm a cruise ship passenger, I'm not going to be too happy about someone coming up to me and putting some kind of arm band on me and telling me which taxi driver I can use!! And refusing to take someone to the French side??

Yeah, that would be my response. No band on me.

Probably be a road blockage or something soon to protest.

Wendell

i have to say things seem to be going the wrong direction in so many ways down there right now. Wonder how long before i cant take it. Bad enough i have to breath in the damn dump all the time

The DSTA sounds like a real piece of work - squeezing out competitors and bullying their customers into using only DSTA affiliated cabs. This will test Dutch/French cooperation if the Dutch side government allows licensed cab drivers to refuse to take customers to the French side. I can't see the French side government taking that lying down.

The DSTA website promises "Qaulity Taxi Service". Qaulity indeed!

Sounds to me as though this is one more black mark against the island government and the taxi drivers association for protecting one specific industry at the expense of another, only in this case it's not the taxi association against the rental car owners but the association against other licensed taxi drivers. Could that possibly be the right conclusion to draw from the article posted?

Uber?

You guys. They are protected by government. That's why they operate the way they do.
Bad Cheers
irina

Corruption, that all I have to say ...

it's worse in St.Thomas, what a cartel. $15 pp for a 2 mile 5 minute trip

Years ago on our first trip to SXM we exited the airport, stood in line and when we told the cab driver we wanted to go to Port de Plaissance he refused to take us. We realized later that it wasn't a "milk" run and he could take fares to 3 places in the time it took him to take us to Port de Plaissance. The man looking after the cab line wanted to know why we wouldn't get in the cab and we told him. He yelled to a young man - Johanne and we got in his 9 passenger van which was owned by his uncle who owns Bada Bing Bada Boom strip joint. Johanne took one other passenger and when the other passenger inquired about cold beer, wine and cigars Johanne took us all to Le Grande Marche and while the other passenger was getting his cigars and booze Johanne toured Judy and I around the market making useful suggestions. We will never forget his kindness and caring and, sadly, I don't think this would happen on SXM today. And worse, we've lost track of Johanne.

Not sure what this is about and I forgot to ask Junior last night.

One continuing problem is the "gypsy" taxis. While they probably can not not work the pier/harbor as I doubt they could access it, they are a problem in town and elsewhere.

I have seen more than usual and even here at Royal Palm, there are routinely 2 or so hanging out. "Taxi" sign in the window but resident plates. I questioned one about it and he gave me a number of a taxi and when I asked my friends about that number, totally different description of the guy. I am going to mention this to Royal Palm.

Reading and re-reading the article, I got the impression it was a UNION issue. The other drivers apparently have licenses from the government, so are not gypsies, but they don't belong to the union.

SXM news story Sorry it sure looks like to me the union is way wrong on this one..

Not sure what the deal is but I heard about some altercation.

I did talk to the new manager here at Royal Palm and hebasically doesn't care about gypsies working here. Said there was not much he could do and it is the "way of the island". I then asked who was responsible if a guest asked for a taxi and the resort called or put them in a gypsy. Not much response at that point.

JD--I really don't think this is a gypsy situation. The original story said that the taxi drivers in question have a license from the government.

Could very well be.

There is though a huge gypsy taxi problem on the Dutch side and I would personally not get in one.

It is good to be mindful of that, yes. But this appears to be a different situation.

I spoke with a long time taxi driver friend about this. His take is there is an agreement between one of the port agents that books tours for cruise ships and also one of the taxi driver unions. The agreement to transport people from the pier to Sunset was for $16pp round trip. Some drivers were supposedly collecting $8pp on the way out but then on the return some were doing it for $5pp. I am not sure if Sunset has anything in this or what the actual facts are but there was supposed to be a set price for trips sold on the ships and also one of the taxi unions. Some drivers became upset as they thought the variance in pricing made them look like they were cheating people and I guess the wristband thing came about.

I am sure there is more to the story but this is my summation of it from a short conversation this morning.

Huhm, OK, still seems like to me the taxi drivers are wrong, making agreements with the ships to keep prices artificially high..

One of the port agents that books tours with cruise lines set the price and the taxi drivers just followed. No idea what the entire story is but usually beach runs and popular destinations are pretty much set prices.

Sorry, rates set by whom? If it's set by the SXM government, no problem. Set by the cruise lines?? That I have a problem with..

Regardless, I can't see the cruise lines being too happy with taxi drivers refusing to take customers to the French side. Someone could still convince me otherwise, but all I see so far is that the taxi drivers union is wrong..

Basically like a tour booked on the ship. The ship works with a port agent for a tour, what it includes and the price that the ship sells it for. I think the ship must sell a trip to Sunset and back for $16pp. Could be on a bus or a larger taxi.

I am not saying it is right or wrong, just relaying what I was told.

OK. Still not sure how that figures into them refusing to take people to the French side, etc.

Any updates on the taxi situation?

Only a bad update.. SXM talks

Can't blame the non member taxis for not wanting to honor another taxis fare that they would get nothing out of. I would have just taken the prepaid wrist band off and paid another taxi to take me back to the ship where I would then demand a refund for the return trip from the excursion department on the ship.

Agreed, I don't blame the non member taxis either. I would be pretty angry at the situation, but as you say, I would just pay again and complain to the ship.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />My My My we agree on something. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />
I can see a great day in the making. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Don't get used to it!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

I'll take what ever I can get. I think it happened once before too. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" />

Thanks, but not what I was wanting to read.

Right, another black eye for the island.

Not good at all.

This is quite a change from just last month. We were there on a cruise and they had signs such as this posted for all cruiser-typical destinations. One-way fares.


(click)

gary

Has the taxi problem been resolved?

Does anyone have any updates on the taxi problem or has it been resolved? We will be down on a cruise in a couple of weeks and want to go to Orient Beach but don't want to go if they are still having problems.

I haven't seen anything in the paper recently, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's been resolved. I think the major issue revolved around trips to Sunset Bar and Grill though. Perhaps JD can talk to one of his taxi driver friends to see if they can give an update?

As of now, there is nothing new that I am aware of but I will try to make a call and find out. Since there has been nothing in the paper, I am hoping it has settled down.

I would not think going to Orient Beach would be a problem as there are always a lot of taxis going to/from there and the pier.

Ok, thanks.