Allez, the Saint Lucian women-owned ride-hailing platform, is marking five years in operation with plans for major regional expansion.
The company, founded by Mellissa Preville and Safiya Paul, will celebrate its fifth anniversary on April 18, 2026. For its next phase of growth, it is preparing to expand into several Caribbean territories, including Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla and Montserrat.
Allez was one of the first ride-hailing services in Saint Lucia, launching in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company moved into Dominica in 2025.
“It was always part of the vision… to expand to the rest of the Caribbean and eventually the African continent. We never set out for Allez to just stay in Saint Lucia,” co-founder Mellissa Preville told St Lucia Times.
Over the past five years, the company has faced challenges, including rising local competition. Earlier this year, many expected the global platform Uber to dominate the market in Saint Lucia due to its international presence.
While Paul and Preville initially viewed Uber’s arrival as “another competitor”, they said it ultimately benefited Allez, as more Saint Lucians rallied behind the local brand.
“The most amazing thing about this was: so many locals were pushing Allez and talking about Allez. That made us feel like we were doing something right. More people started researching and finding Allez,” Preville said.
She added that Uber’s entry into the market gave the company a “competitive edge” by increasing visibility and interest in ride-hailing services overall.
Looking ahead, the founders are optimistic and encourage drivers in new markets to join by downloading the Allez Driver app, creating an account, and uploading required documentation. Services in the new territories will go live on April 18.
“What differentiates us is excellent customer service. We are on top of ensuring that we assist persons with getting connected and the places they need to be,” Preville said.
I have used their service on three previous occasions. The last time, while I was waiting, a driver called to say he was caught up in traffic. It’s just like the big name service. I didn’t know Allez was locally owned. I am even more devoted.