Uber urged to suspend operations in Saint Lucia until regulatory requirements are met
Published on February 16, 2026
Dr. Ernest Hilaire - Minister for Commerce and Tourism
The Government of Saint Lucia has given Uber an ultimatum: suspend operations until all regulatory requirements to operate in Saint Lucia are met.
The Commerce and Tourism Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire says discussions are continuing with Uber, the National Taxi Union, Minibus Associations and the National Council on Public Transportation.
Dr. Hilaire told the press last week that Uber was “not fulfilling regulatory requirements to operate in Saint Lucia”.
He explained that Uber:
- Needed to obtain a trade license before they can operate in Saint Lucia
- Needed to register with the Inland Revenue Department for ‘purposes of payment of taxes owed to the government by operating a business in Saint Lucia” and
- Required to be certified under the Tourism Development Act
Dr. Hilaire says Government has communicated to all stakeholders that Uber was operating illegally. “We believe that they need to reset” the Minister suggested. Uber promised to have a follow-up meeting to discuss government’s concerns in greater detail. Dr. Hilaire says Government’s decision will be guided by the concerns of the National Taxi Union, as government has a particular interest in the transportation with the tourism industry depends heavily on the taxi sector.
“Any player that comes into that space [must] fulfil all the requirements set out by legislation’ Minister Hilaire noted and admitted it appears that Uber was continuing to offer its services in Saint Lucia in defiance of calls to suspend and revealed that government was ‘weighing all our options at this point in time”.
The Commerce and Tourism Minister reiterated the call for Uber to apply for a trade license.
