A second senior official has resigned from the National Taxi Union within days, with Vice President Isidore Brisefert stepping down just one day after Public Relations Officer David Shakes Christopher left his post.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Brisefert said he resigned with immediate effect, citing serious concerns about President Terry Valcin’s leadership style and the direction of the union. Christopher made similar comments when he announced his departure on Tuesday.
In his resignation letter, Brisefert said he could not support what he described as a lack of consultation and collective decision-making.
“After careful reflection, I can no longer continue to serve within an organisation where the leadership style of President Terry Valcin has increasingly reflected traits of dictatorship rather than democracy, consultation and collective representation,” he said in his statement.
He questioned how decisions were made within the union, claiming that issues important to taxi operators were often decided without sufficient discussion or consideration of differing views. According to Brisefert, this led to growing frustration among executive members.
“As vice president, I have always believed that leadership must be rooted in fairness, openness, teamwork and respect for the voices of members,” he said.
Brisefert also said the union had struggled to unite members and expand its influence, claiming that the input of executive members was frequently overlooked. He said taxi operators needed stronger and more inclusive leadership.
“Our taxi operators deserve leadership that listens, includes and fights for their interests. In these challenging global times, members need unity, transparency and representation they can trust,” he said.
Despite stepping down, Brisefert thanked members who supported him and said he would continue advocating for taxi operators in another capacity.
When Christopher resigned, he said his decision had come after considerable thought and reflected wider concerns about how the organisation was being managed. He said the union’s core values had weakened under the current leadership, making it difficult for him to remain in his role.
The latest resignations come amid ongoing leadership tensions within the union. Former President Lucien Joseph had previously questioned the legitimacy of Valcin’s leadership before resigning in 2022 following a no-confidence vote. The union later held its Annual General Meeting and Conference of Delegates in March 2025.
President Valcin has declined to comment on the resignations. He told St Lucia Times he intends to address the matter in detail at a meeting scheduled for June 1.
At that meeting, union leaders are also expected to discuss several issues affecting the sector, including the possible launch of a taxi service app and discussions surrounding transportation platforms such as Uber.
