By Andrew Dick
PHILIPSBURG--President of the Dutch St. Maarten United Bus Drivers Association (DSUBA) Alexis Williams will be stepping down as president after his two years as head of the group in February. The election will see the change of the association’s entire board, and candidates are currently being requested to come forward.
Williams will not be seeing re-election due to many issues plaguing him during his presidency. Focus right now for the president is making sure that all bus drivers comply with the law, place the tariffs visible for the clients to see and for them to also place a sign in their bus stating “pay as you enter” as soon as possible.
“We have been fighting for this issue for a while, and it’s time that it is implemented. Passengers should pay when they enter; this will help solve many hurdles like stops in the middle of the road, because change has to be given to passengers or making people late to go to work or to their preferred destination,” he said.
Several bus drivers are not licensed to service the Marigot and French Quarter routes. Bus drivers, who are non-nationals, but hold residency permits for the Dutch side of the island, are prohibited from serving the French part of the island. French authorities frequently control the busses and when a driver is found to be transporting passengers without the proper documentation, they are seriously reprimanded and are told to turn around and head back to the Dutch side.
“The reasons for me not going for the position have to do with a number of issues. I feel threatened, illegal bus drivers look like they want to hurt me or kill me. When they have more controls, they send me threats and think that it’s because of me they have controls. Why do they think that? I am doing what I was elected to do, which is to straighten up the bus transportation business,” said Williams.
Witchcraft is also one of the reasons why he wants to leave the post. “You know how many times I found baby powder in my bus and at my house? Dead animals, but my faith in God carries me. I am from Haiti. I come from a family who believes strongly in that, but people who try to hurt me are not successful with it.
“One time at my house, I saw a man come and place all kinds of stuff in front of my door, and tried to maybe scare me off,” he said.
The president of the association said that it is time to hand over the mandate and thanked all persons who cooperated with him for the past two years. Williams would stay on as advisor if he is asked by the general membership, which consists of 300 busses.
“There is no control and every time we get promises from government, they either change or they don’t do anything about the changes. We as a board had plans for the industry, but cooperation between all bus drivers is lacking,” said Williams.
The association will be calling a general membership meeting next month. An election date will be set and candidates will be selected.
