Uber is now officially available in Saint Lucia. The global ride-hailing company announced on January 27 that its Uber Taxi service has gone live, allowing both visitors and residents to request rides via the app with licensed local taxi drivers across the island.
Uber says the service is designed to integrate with Saint Lucia’s existing taxi sector, using licensed drivers rather than private vehicles.
“Saint Lucia welcomes visitors from around the world, and this launch brings a familiar, app-based way to get around the island,” said Jorge Cordero, general manager for Uber in Saint Lucia.
“Uber Taxi connects tourists with licensed local taxi drivers, with upfront trip details designed to make exploring Saint Lucia more seamless.”
Through the app, riders can view driver information, see estimated fares before confirming trips, and track routes in real time. Uber began inviting taxi drivers to join the platform late last year in preparation for the launch.
“The response in the market has been strong, and taxis are already available in the app to complete trips,” Cordero said. “We’re also in ongoing conversations with transportation companies and taxi organisations to support onboarding.”
Last week, Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister Ernest Hilaire disclosed that while Uber had formally expressed interest in operating in Saint Lucia, no meeting had yet taken place between the company and the government. It remains unclear whether the parties have since met.
At the January 19 pre-Cabinet press briefing, Hilaire indicated that he was open to dialogue with all stakeholders and noted that, as far as he knows, existing laws do not prevent Uber from operating on the island.
“If Uber is a technology platform, I don’t know that the law prevents anybody from joining any service that can market and promote and facilitate their business,” he said.
Previously, a cross-section of taxi operators, particularly those represented by the National Taxi Union, expressed their reservations about the company’s entry into the local transport market, describing it as being “possibly detrimental”.
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