PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – As a tourist destination, island service to our visitors is the most important thing. These are the people who contribute to our economy.
But when you have a police officer who wants to show he has power over everybody this happens.
This officer decided to park a police pick-up in the middle of Front Street because some jewelry store worker complained that the Taxi Dispatcher was allowing taxi drivers and civilians, who have airport-arriving guests, to frequently stop in front of a hotel located on Front Street.
One cannot have tourists dragging their luggage from the Courthouse to Horizon Hotel, Holland House, Passagrahan, or any Airbnb located on Front Street.
Cruise passengers, who sometimes are elderly folks, get sick, and a passing taxi can easily pick them up and return them to the ship. The Police do not understand and know the work of other government departments. They just look at the law, and no one can tell them differently. Jewelry store owners and workers take advantage of their “friendship” with police to harass other people, who are just doing their job.
721news is providing our readers with a video, and picture of the police pick-up blocking the way, causing an ambulance on an emergency call to divert to Back Street. It is not clear if the ambulance was heading to the cruise ship port or somewhere on Front Street.
It is easier and faster for taxis leaving from the taxi stand across from the Courthouse to return cruise passengers to the ship.
On a busy day they will be stuck in traffic behind the same police station, which is already under pressure from traffic entering town from Pointe Blanche.
The private tour company which provides tourists with tours through Front Street sells these tours on board some of the ships. There are many factors which could play a role in this police officer deciding to block the street with his patrol vehicle just to make his point. However, this was one less patrol on the road to guarantee safety of visitors and residents. Additionally, Police are also short on patrol vehicles.
Taxi drivers cannot be blocked from entering Front Street to render their taxi services to our airport and cruise visitors.
Business associations and private securities in Philipsburg need to avoid involving themselves by trying to influence how people go about executing their job. A taxi moving on Front Street is not doing anything wrong. They are out looking for their daily bread just as you are doing.
