Castries, Saint Lucia – May 20, 2025 — The National Taxi Union (NTU) has forcefully rejected what it describes as “blatant lies and unfounded allegations” made by its former president, Lucien Joseph, during a recent radio appearance.
The NTU, in a press statement issued Tuesday, responded to Joseph’s public claims questioning the legitimacy of the current NTU Board, led by President Terry Valcin. The Board was democratically elected during the Annual General Meeting and Conference of Delegates held on March 3, 2025.
According to the NTU, Joseph’s remarks undermine the organization’s efforts to rebuild following what they say was a period of abandonment under his leadership. “The Union was left dormant with no banking records,” the release stated, referencing the conditions inherited by an Interim Executive following Joseph’s departure.
The NTU emphasized that in a formal letter to the Ministry of Tourism dated September 2, 2022, all its affiliates unanimously expressed a vote of “No Confidence” in Joseph’s leadership, prompting his resignation.
Adding fuel to the controversy, Joseph accused current President Valcin and Public Relations Officer David Christopher of misusing taxpayer funds during their recent trip to the 2025 Sea Trade Conference in Miami. The NTU flatly denied the claim, asserting that the trip was not only fully funded and approved by the Ministry of Tourism, but also yielded significant business and investment opportunities for local taxi operators—results that have already been shared with the NTU’s membership.
The Union has issued a stern warning to media professionals, calling on talk show hosts, journalists, and media managers to refrain from broadcasting unverified statements, which it says can damage the credibility of the Union and harm the livelihoods of taxi operators across the island.
The NTU concluded by confirming that it is currently seeking legal counsel regarding the matter.
