Global ride-share and delivery company Uber is today (March 29) announcing its intent to set up in Kingston, Jamaica, as it seeks to deepen its roots in the Caribbean. 

In an email to Jamaican users, Uber said it is celebrating its reach to more and more countries around the world, adding Jamaica to an ever-growing list of markets.

“Soon Uber’s app will be available in Kingston and you will have a new alternative to earn moving around the city,” the company said.

Checks by Our Today in Apple’s App Store confirm Uber’s availability in Jamaica, as the company further allows citizens to begin registering as drivers and riders by collecting personal data to include photographic, licensing and insurance information. 

Attempts to get a comment from the Ministry of Transport were unsuccessful.

Already, Jamaican Twitter users are expressing a mixture of excitement and apprehension at the prospect of Uber in Kingston. 

Many argue that for a US-based company to come into the capital and take a sizeable share of local business, especially when Jamaica has a rich history with route taxis and ride-sharing, is unfair and opportunistic.

“Mixed feelings about Uber coming to Jamaica. Why do foreign companies have to come and take residence here? Why do jamaicans only have confidence in foreign brands? Are we not capable enough of running/managing companies like these? ((genuine questions)),” @hassertive explained.

Others feel that Uber, with its mostly private clientele, will present a new safety concern as some question how secure one would feel with a ‘white-plate’ motor vehicle showing up at anyone’s gate. 

More still, question the legality of the upcoming service as the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) currently penalises ‘robot taxi’ drivers who routinely operate with white-plates. 

Some also are criticising the potential appeal of Uber, when Jamaican-made apps such Get There, launched in 2018, received little to no support. 

“If y’all let our Jamaican app “Get There” fail, just to welcome and make Uber successful, imma be so disgusted. Support Jamaica, build Jamaica,” one Jamaican user tweeted.

The California-based Uber Technologies Inc., has several services including ride-hailing (Uber Ride), food delivery (Uber Eats), package delivery (Uber Elevate), couriers, freight transportation (Uber Freight), as well as an electric bicycle and motorised scooter rental through a partnership with Lime.

The company, which operates in more than 80 countries worldwide, first sprang Caribbean roots in Trinidad and Tobago in 2016.