Taxi Association Pushes Back as Swyft App Disrupts Antigua’s Transport Scene
A new ride-hailing service is shaking up Antigua’s transport sector, sparking a public clash between tradition and technology.
Swyft, a taxi-hailing app launched this year, promises faster, more reliable rides for both locals and visitors. But Gregory Athill, president of the National Taxi Association, says the app threatens not only taxi operators’ livelihoods but also a culture of personal service that has defined the industry for decades.
“We have a heritage, we have a culture where we have an experience, a relationship with people,” Athill told Observer AM. “That’s something that we want to continue on Antigua and Barbuda”.
Athill’s strongest criticism centers on how Swift was introduced. He said the government licensed the company before consulting industry stakeholders. Only after registration, he recalled, did Swyft representatives reach out to taxi associations.
“They went into the government, they registered, and then they came to us and said, they would like us to be a part of it,” Athill said. “The three organizations at the time said, these are the concerns that we have. And we are not comfortable”.
The lack of early consultation, he argued, denied operators the chance to help shape the rollout and protect the structure already governed by the Chancellor Board and taxi regulations.
Another flashpoint is whether the app may open doors to unlicensed vehicles. Swyft insists its system verifies drivers’ taxi permits, registrations, and insurance before allowing them on the platform. But Athill said advertisements have already shown “C-plate” vehicles — not licensed taxis — picking up passengers.
“People’s always gonna say what they want you to hear, and we are not fooled by that,” he said, stressing the association’s refusal to accept the app under current conditions.
For Athill, the stakes are existential. “It’s one of her, it’s 700 of us,” he said, pointing to the hundreds of operators who depend on the regulated system. “We have to do what we have to do as taxi drivers and operators in this country”.
While Athill defends the traditional system, many callers to Observer AM expressed impatience with the status quo. Listeners described difficulty finding taxis after hours or during the off-season, accusing some drivers of overcharging or refusing locals in favor of tourists.
Others said the app reflects global trends already embraced in places like Trinidad and St. Vincent. One caller argued that taxi associations should “innovate instead of fighting progress” and consider teaching members how to use the app to benefit from its operations.
Athill, however, remains firm. For him, the issue is not just competition but respect for regulation and the survival of an industry built over generations. The association, he said, will “stand its ground” until its concerns are addressed.
Swift’s principals are expected to appear on Observer AM to respond to the criticism. Their defense may determine whether the app becomes an accepted part of Antigua’s transport system — or remains locked in a standoff with the island’s taxi drivers.
