Tourism Legends Awards: Lucien ‘Nobee’ Joseph

Joseph began his professional journey in 1976 as a mechanic at Sunsail in the then Rodney Bay Marina. In 1981,  he transitioned to working on the Cunard Countess Cruise Line as a dishwasher. Through hard work and dedication, within a year, he  was promoted to the position of chief dishwasher, overseeing a team of six.

Six months later, he was promoted to the position of  Kitchen Steward, and two years later, he was then promoted to the position of  Breakfast Chef in the main kitchen.

He was at the time the first Saint Lucian to be transferred to the Satellite Café aboard the ship as the head chef, where he was responsible for preparing breakfast and lunch daily. Eager to expand his experience, Nobee requested a transfer to the Sea Escape cruise line which operated three-day cruises from Miami to the Bahamas, where he took on the role of that of a waiter and remained in that position for two years.

In 1994, Nobee returned to Saint Lucia and ventured into the transportation sector purchasing a van and worked as a minibus driver for six months. He secured a taxi peg  as a taxi driver at the Rodney Bay Marina.

He joined the Holiday Taxi Cooperative and after  eighteen months, was elected to the board as the secretary. Within another twelve months, he ascended to the role of Vice President  and then President until April 2019. In 1998, Nobee sought to change the face and elevate the tourism taxi industry by successfully contesting and becoming the President of the National Taxi Union.

He was further elected as a director on the Saint Lucia Tourist Board (SLTB) where he worked closely with the government to implement reforms that secured concessions for taxi drivers.

During this period, he was appointed as the president of the Holiday Taxi Cooperative and played a pivotal role in transforming the cooperative into a company. Nobee was known for his spirited debates and advocacy for the rights of Tourism taxi drivers. He is credited with  transforming the Tourism Taxi sector on Saint Lucia, elevating its standards and ensuring that taxi operators received benefits and recognition. His advocacy efforts led to significant policy changes.

He challenged the Destination Management Companies in the persons of Carmelita Xavier, Pauline Barnard, and Erwin Louisy, ensuring that rates and standards for taxi drivers were upheld. His reputation as a strong advocate for the Tourism Taxi sector grew rapidly leaving a lasting impact on the industry.

His journey from a mechanic to a renowned leader is a testament to his dedication, resilience, and unwavering commitment to improving the livelihoods of Saint Lucian taxi drivers and shaping the country’s tourism landscape.