It’s been a few years since I first heard talk of Uber, a ride-hailing service, being introduced in Saint Lucia. As I listened with great pain to a news story about the possibility of this soon becoming a reality. I couldn’t help but think about what it could mean for our economy, but most of all, for our local taxi drivers.
I write as the son of a former taxi driver, and as someone who has used Uber and similar services like Bolt and Lyft in several countries.
First, let me remind you of something from our past. In the late 1990s, consideration was being given to a regional air carrier flying guests who had landed at Hewanorra International Airport to the then Vigie Airport, to “save them the hassle” of the 75-minute drive to their hotels in the North.
I remember as a child listening to my father discussing this with his brother, also a taxi driver. The one thing that has stayed with me from that conversation was his sense of helplessness. His livelihood was being threatened, and I felt helpless, too, knowing that I would have been affected as well. Thankfully, that plan never materialised.
I write because I do not want to stand with that same feeling of helplessness again. My father is no longer alive, but I write on his behalf; I write on behalf of his colleagues who are still in the sector; and I write on behalf of some of their sons, who have continued in their fathers’ footsteps to provide for their families. I also write because I feel indebted to them; I was a recipient of a scholarship from the Southern Taxi Association during my secondary school years.
Let me outline why the introduction of Uber, or a similar service, would not be good for our economy:
- Direct competition with local taxi drivers.
This service would compete with our established taxi drivers and significantly cut into their income. The Uber platform is open to almost anyone who meets the company’s requirements, increasing the supply of drivers and intensifying competition. - Limited alternatives for displaced workers.
Taxi drivers forced out of the industry would have to upskill to find work elsewhere. Our economy is small, and employment options are far more limited than in larger, more developed countries. And even in these economies, displaced taxi drivers have difficulty getting reasonable employment. - Reduced local earnings.
Uber’s fares are often much lower than traditional taxi rates. This would mean less foreign revenue filtering into our economy through the taxi sector. - Repatriation of profits overseas.
Uber collects a 15-30% commission on every trip. That means a significant portion of revenue generated by both visitors and locals would be sent to an international company – money that could otherwise circulate within our own economy. Less disposable income locally means less spending at vendors, small businesses, and supermarkets. - Gains for some, losses for many.
While Uber may offer opportunities for some to earn additional income, it would come at the grave expense of those whose livelihoods already depend on providing this service. Here is the reality. - Several countries have expressed regret.
Several countries and jurisdictions, including Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, Taiwan, Japan and Pakistan, have expressed regret, imposed bans, restricted, or rolled back ride-hailing services like Uber, often due to competition, regulatory, safety, or labour concerns. In many of these places, the companies were not welcomed, faced legal challenges, or were forced to exit entirely.
Some may argue that we need to keep up with the times and that taxi drivers should adapt and get used to platforms like Uber. But the reality is that there is a learning curve – sometimes a steep one. In a former job, I taught university professors, accustomed to traditional classrooms, to transition to online platforms like Blackboard. Even for seasoned intellectuals, this was a struggle. Some were never able to make the transition.
I therefore urge our authorities to deeply consider the repercussions of such a decision on a large group of people in our country and our wider economy. Let’s not make such a decision that could hurt our economy or hurt our people. Let’s work instead to improve our taxi sector. Let us continue fighting and working together to make Saint Lucia the best it can be, protecting the vulnerable. And as we lift our flag with pride, may it always symbolise how we lift each other up – the land, the people, the light.
Well said my brother
I concer
The mood is red. Stop trying to fight down our PM. There people have spoken and we want PJP to lead us wherever he wishes.
I read the news item about the introduction of Uber right here on this website. I may be wrong, but I thought the company was reaching out to REGISTERED LOCAL TAXI DRIVERS. So it seems to me that the very people being championed here are the ones set to benefit from this initiative.
I know that in the UK it’s less stringent a person with a driver’s license and a vehicle can sign up to be an Uber driver but I thought that Uber in SLU was specifically targeting registered Taxi drivers. I actually thought it was a good move for them since the report said that some Taxi associations had already registered.
I’d love to hear the response of the Taxi drivers and Associations on this topic.
This is valid topic for discussion in the interest of all.
I totally agree with you but many people fail to realize the impacts on public transport both positive and negative! The influx of used cars is a direct response to a failed public transport system; one that has had a senior minister heading for decades..in my opinion he is beyond incompetent. So uber may help the suffering of people I see on the bus stops in Castries every afternoon after a long day of work, in the rain sometimes all into the darkness…that is just unacceptable. So this the loop hole that Uber appears to want to satisfy. Maybe Taxi drivers need to stop bowing to the foreigners and offer more services for locals. They are fixated on only catering for visitors…had they not been so greedy after the US dollar vs EC dollars from locals then maybe all our transportation issues would have never existed ( no traffic jams from all those imports, no waiting for busses after work, maybe less accidents too cause Taxi drivers are more trained and professional than these bus drivers).
I do not support Uber here, I understand why they want to come!!!!Taxi doesn’t have to be for foreigners only!!
While I agree to every point you have made sir. We also need to consider the consumer. If we call for a taxi service esp in the south of the island at anytime esp at night, we wont get one. If we called the ‘airport’ taxis they wont come out. Cause the taxi drivers most times do not want locals on their ‘clean’ taxis, even if we asked. As a matter of fact we dont even know airport taxis running trips to locals.
Remember in the beginning I said I agree to your points..this is your view.
But think of the views of the people who are stranded (no buses) after work after 11pm or so, awaiting to go to rural areas. Would your association be ready to serve us during that time. What about the 4:30am to take persons to the main areas to get on public transportation. The general short trips from the supermarkets to rural areas. Buses stop running long before people decide to go home under any circumstance. People have created their lives around the ‘last bus service’ esp in the south. Persons will not always get a lift or feel comfortable to wake up a friend to drop them off. Bus drivers are not obligated to taking people to the their door steps, unlike taxi drivers. While I hear you, it is necessary to hear us. Think of Dennery down to Vieux Fort and then on to Choiseul. Not everyone can afford a private vehicle. Persons are restricted to going places because of not being certain how they will get back home. The ripple effect is businesses such as bars, restaurants and evening chillaxing places will be shut early.
So dont make it look like yall are readily avaiable. While there is a taxi service/association, and I speak for the south it is not available to us, and if you are then avail yourself. It is not because uber wants to come through that your talk about yall etc. Last I read uber is asking for qualified drivers. So I guess this is a time for you and your colleagues to make some extra money. If anything you taxi drivers will make the most out of the uber era if you are prepared to take it on as a second job. All the best.
Insert from previous comment *looking for qualified TAXI drivers*
Well like it or not we have to get with the times. Why can’t both coexist together ? Why can’t the general public have the “right’ of choice to pay for personal individual services as opposed to boarding overcrowded sometimes reckless minibuses with little compliance to the road rules and compilences ? The mini bus ride is too deeply embedded in our culture I don’t see this fading away anytime soon even with the introduction of Uber or other ride shares companies, we always reject competition and embrace monopoly and it’s all done by design to keep certain individuals on this rock rich and the rest always the working poor, the backbone of this nation . You wrote about the circulation of
I stand in agreement 🤝
As long as buses operate as they please, as long as taxis mainly serve tourists, as long the Ministry of Transport remain ineffective, we will appreciate Uber or any form or organized transport with checks and balances!
I don’t believe any taxi association would have a problem in providing the services to the locals. Once they are willing to pay the stipulated price. You go to Jeremy Street at anytime of the day you get a taxi. When mini bus don’t operate at late nights whose to be blame. Are you all forgetting the crime rate being targeted at taxi drivers and minibus this is no way to justify a first world operation to a third world one when you displace individuals what are they falling back on selling drugs. When you all fully understand the sector then speak
Some of us can’t see past our noses:
Questions to be asked and answered.
1. What prevents Uber from expanding it’s business offering to all drivers in the near future and in turn collapse an entire industry?
2. Most taxi drivers have mortgages, families and other financial obligations that, should the Uber company succeed, will eventually cause strain on these financial commitments and eventually lead to default. What assurances can be given to prevent the obvious economic backlash from the reduction of economic activity caused by this Uber venture.
3. We do have local services similar to Uber, owned by St. Lucians. Why not invest in the development of these services instead of allowing a company like Uber to gain unrestricted access to our market and disrupt our fragile economy.
4. Uber takes their commission first which we can class as an economic drain, money is taken from an already vulnerable economy. What concrete assurances do we have that Uber’s entry into our small market will produce a net positive effect on our economy for a particular amount of time before the exploitation begins.
5. Has the protective legislation been drafted to be put into place which will protect our people and economy from the obvious exploitation which will ensue after the implementation of the Uber service?
These are only some of the many valid questions which should be asked before we come to a decision to allow a shark like Uber into our economic waters.
I hope that persons rallying behind this are also okay with a foreigner coming into St. Lucia, taking their jobs at a much lower rate, leave St. Lucia and work remotely for the rest of their employment and them having to develop new skills, at whatever age, just to be able to feed themselves.
You’re missing the point! The business case behind all this uber talk is strong and justified! Our land based transport sector is a mess, no direction, no strategic solution to the many problems, no buses on afternoons, gridlock in the north as every dog and cat has 2 vezels and 1 CHR! One viable solution is to use what’s already on island to serve commuters. Your post is selfish as you are only checking for yourselves and not for the general public who desperately need some relief.