Dear Editor,
I am writing out of deep frustration and disappointment regarding an ongoing issue that has been plaguing the theoretical driver’s exam process in St. Maarten. As someone who has personally experienced this, I feel compelled to speak up not just for myself, but for the many others who are likely facing the same obstacle.
It is utterly unacceptable that the Internet at the location where the theory exam is held continues to cut out every single day, as confirmed by the very employees working there. Let that sink in: every day, the Internet goes down, and as a result, exams cannot take place. People take time off from work, make arrangements, study hard – and then are told they cannot proceed because the system is down, again.
Sure, there’s an option to reschedule, but here’s the catch: you don’t get a fixed date. Instead, you receive a phone call on the day the Internet happens to be working to ask if you’re available. This means you’re left in limbo, constantly on standby, and never knowing when you’ll actually be able to take the test. It’s an unreliable, stressful, and frankly unfair situation. How can one properly prepare for an exam that may or may not happen on any given day?
It is no wonder, then, that the traffic situation in St. Maarten is as chaotic and unsafe as it is. If this is how difficult it is just to take the theory exam, we can only imagine how many people are getting their licenses without being properly prepared or tested. This isn’t just a bureaucratic inconvenience – it’s a public safety issue.
I call on the government and responsible authorities to take this matter seriously. Fix the Internet. Fix the system. Provide a functioning, scheduled, and dependable process for taking this crucial exam. We deserve better, and so does the safety of our roads.
Sincerely,
A frustrated but hopeful citizen
