A new ride-hailing service in Antigua and Barbuda is drawing criticism from traditional taxi operators, who fear the platform could threaten their livelihoods.
Swyft, described as an Uber-style app, lets passengers book rides and pay online. While customers have welcomed the convenience, taxi associations say the service risks undercutting licensed drivers.
United Taxi Company president Gregory Athill said operators had “invested heavily to comply with government requirements” and questioned whether Swyft was being held to the same standards. He warned the entry of outside competitors could worsen what drivers already view as an unfair market, with unlicensed taxis in circulation.
Swyft insists it is operating legally, stating on its website that all drivers hold certified taxi permits from the Antigua Department of Transportation.
The government has not commented on the company’s launch, but taxi drivers say they are prepared to press for action if their concerns are ignored.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
Driftwood want alllll and nobody fu get none!!
You can survive on the overpriced charges you hand you good (M.P) friend when he utilizes your service. You’ll be fine. Everybaddy haffu nyam!!
The Uber type taxi service is registered and they operate legally. Why doesn’t that taxi association want everybody to eat bread? You should embrace them and guide them on the do’s and dont’s of the system instead of bashing them
If they are so concerned, why did the taxi association refuse to work with so many ride sharing services that approached them in the past? People want convenience. Not taxi drivers who refuse to answer their phones all the time.
Competition is good!
So wait!!!!!! Nobody else suppose to make money through taxi service. Does the association have a monopoly on taxies here.
Man just move your backside and allow people to have options on where and how they spend their money
In this life new things will always happens,and some with challenges,we have to face reality,but differently if the taxi association seem to have a problem with this new service,and just have to find a way to improve on their servicees to visitors,and their customers…
Taxicab companies that don’t adopt to new technologies such as APPS will become a relic of the past.
Here’s my thing. If not all most of them local taxi drivers only nice to locals when things bad. They only see in US$. I have actually heard on more then 3 occasions in groups , “A US we want, who me nar pick up no locals and US dey fe mek”. There was even a time leaving from Fort James , where a taxi just drop off some tourist and heading back town and flagged the taxi asking, How much to the taxi stand where I know he operates from , the man said in a continuous motion he don’t have the time and speed off. It was only the almighty that made a friend drove by the same time and got thr ride to town. And guess I saw running behind tourist with him map looking frustrated, Oh them come ya and na want to spend as he expressed to a nearby vendor. I smiled. All that to say I am open to other ways and means of getting around.
I deserve and reserve the right to spend my scarce financial resources in ways which best match my PERSONAL comfort and affordability.
Instead of objections and opposing the move; the local taxi associations need to get with it and embrace the changes as they are inevitable, imminent and necessary. They need to work at making their service more competitive, reliable, positive and user friendly. These rideshare platform make getting rides easier, simple and straightforward. Plus sharing rides with others is way cheaper than the traditional way that we are accustomed to of using our own taxi. Instead of fighting, local taxis 🚕 must embrace change and work towards being competitive and reliable.
We’re (Swyft Taxi) happy to provide clarity on the fact that we are using registered taxi drivers only. So we are as a matter of fact, not taking a dime away from taxi operators. Call me
Change is inevitable and fighting it is a futile exercise. The taxi association needs to understand that the world will not stop changing because it does not suit their monopolistic desires. It is not only about what they want. They need to adapt or get left behind and go out of business.
So, anyone who competes with the Taxi Association must be stopped and put out of business? What nonsense is that? This is a free market economy where businesses compete and only the fittest survive. If the taxi association cannot compete then “guh long”. Demanding that their competitors be shut down is absolute BS!
The world is moving toward digital convenience. Customers today want easier booking options, transparent pricing, and cashless payment systems. If the local transport sector is to stay competitive, then some form of modernization is almost inevitable. In truth, the public’s enthusiastic response to Swyft is not a rejection of taxi drivers, but a reflection of gaps in the service model that riders have been asking to see filled.
The real question, then, isn’t whether Swyft should exist, but how to level the playing field. If ride-hailing apps are here to stay — and it seems they are — regulators need to ensure that companies like Swyft are held to the same licensing and safety standards as traditional operators. On the other hand, taxi associations may need to explore ways to adapt, whether through partnerships with digital platforms, shared apps, or new customer-focused services.
Ultimately, this doesn’t have to be a “winner takes all” situation. If managed properly, Antigua and Barbuda can have both a thriving traditional taxi sector and new technology-driven options. But it will require fairness in regulation, openness to change, and a willingness by all sides to rethink what the transport market should look like in the years ahead.
They need to have several seats. Competition is good. U know a taxi man requested 70 to go Willikies when no busses are running. Highway robbery that is. So let Swyft come in and have a cheaper rate to go east and then taxi man dog dead.
I’ve tried calling taxis during cruise season and it’s hell to get them to come for you.
I know a taxi driver with two vehicles- the better one for tourists and the other one for locals.
Mek dem suffer now. Dem done rob locals with ridiculous prices and bad services, it’s about time they get some competition.
Blessed Love What a lovely idea if Women were hired as license drivers inclusive and I feel women will feel safe too as passengers Think of the pump attendence Hired for safe transaction @ modt gas stations Folks today want pleasant safe honest services etc..Most comments share the truth ..Since we are speaking about here..
Blessed Love
Blessed Love À RESEND ? waited for queue notification to reappear? TO Cassandra Ryan Congradulations..my reply/ comment removed? Paraphase LOVELY ideA Suggested the employment TO include WOMEN Drivers registered licenses for safe secure travels women passengerz would appreciate this service.Women pump attendents employed at Most gas stations can contest to this realm Honesty safe travels.
I think this is a much-needed and long-overdue service for Antigua. The way visitors travel has changed significantly many are no longer staying in traditional hotels where transport is easily arranged, but rather in Airbnb-style accommodations and private villas. These guests often don’t feel comfortable driving themselves, yet find it difficult to direct taxis to unfamiliar locations or to consistently get rides when they need them.
A service like this fills a critical gap, making it easier for visitors and locals alike to move around fairly, safely, and conveniently.
I also think it’s absolutely fair and appropriate that only licensed taxi drivers are allowed on the app. It maintains a level of professionalism, ensures safety, and keeps the industry within the hands of those who are already certified and regulated. This way, the benefits are shared by both the drivers and the passengers, while improving the overall transport experience on the island.
This service is not only welcome, it’s essential for where Antigua is heading as a modern destination.
It’s about time… imagine walking through town after midnight and not one taxi in site… or you try to stop one and they look you dead in the face and say I’m not working or I’m not going that far… taxi drivers do not like locals they thirst for the USD currency… just bye this 2025 going into 2026 this is necessary
This venture is a good one, because its so hard to get a taxi most of the time.
I dont know of a taxi company that u can call to get a taxi, I could be wrong, but as i said i dont know of any.
Most of the time especially if there is a cruise ship, the taxi drivers would refuse the trip, especially if its a short one. They would rather sit there and wait, hoping to get a tourist, before taking a job from a local or a short distance trip that they could make $20ec and sometimes they would wait in vain.
I was living across from the airport, where they have the carwash, just in that lane, where its only one house there, and sometimes i need a taxi and i would walk out to the carwash where a lot of taxis would park, mostly i would be going to jumby bay dock and they would refuse, which would prompt me to walk down to the airport and sometimes i wiuld be lucky to get one but the would want to charge me $35ec. Not gonna lie a few times i just go with it, but there were times when i try to negotiate but the verbal abuse that come with trying to negotiate was/is astounding.
They behave as if i was begging a free ride.
Not unless it’s the quiet season, would they take those jobs.
From what i gather, majority of these taxis mostly do tours.
I pray that this new venture works because it will make a huge difference.
The taxi association should see this as an opportunity to adjust their polices and also for taxi drivers to embrace a more modern way for operating.
Local civilians money matter as well.
As the Jamaican proverb says:- “every mickle, mek a muckle!” Hope i got it right
Response to Swyft Taxi Launch in Antigua and Barbuda
The launch of Swyft Taxi has sparked mixed reactions, with some praising the convenience of the new ride-hailing app while others—particularly traditional taxi operators—express concern about the impact on their livelihoods. Both perspectives are valid, but the conversation cannot stop at fear of change.
We must recognize that the transportation industry worldwide has been evolving. In major tourism destinations, platforms like Uber, Lyft, and Bolt have become standard. Tourists—our lifeblood—expect the same level of modern convenience when they arrive in Antigua and Barbuda. If we say that “tourism is everyone’s business,” then it is only natural that we position ourselves to meet the needs of today’s traveler.
Rather than resisting innovation, our local taxi associations should view this as an opportunity. Imagine if associations came together to build their own app, designed by Antiguans for Antiguans, ensuring that certified local drivers benefit directly while keeping pace with global trends. This would not replace traditional services, but rather enhance them—offering choice, flexibility, and confidence to both residents and visitors.
At the same time, we call on the powers that be—those who travel abroad and have firsthand experience with ride-hailing systems—to lead by example. They can reassure taxi drivers that adopting such technology is not about erasing tradition, but about strengthening it in the 21st century marketplace.
If we fail to adapt, we risk falling behind, and it will be no one’s fault but our own. The arrival of Swyft Taxi is not something to fear, but a wake-up call to innovate. Our taxi industry can either embrace change and thrive, or resist it and be left behind.
Natasha Bramwell
Discover the joy of group travel with Party Bus Miami. Offering Miami Party Bus Rentals for all occasions, from weddings to proms, we provide unmatched service. Book Affordable Party Bus Miami for your next celebration.