For over 15 years, Kendal Neverson has built his career as a taxi driver, greeting countless tourists as their first point of contact when they arrive in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. What began as consistent but modest work shifted dramatically in 2024, when a major new hospitality development opened on the island chain, opening unexpected new doors for local workers like Neverson.
A trusted member of the local Taxi Association, Neverson has long anchored his work in three core values: professional service, warm hospitality, and a deep sense of national pride that he brings to every trip he guides. When news first broke that international resort brand Sandals planned to open a new luxury property at Buccament Bay, Neverson admitted he felt uncertain about what the development would mean for independent local drivers. It did not take long, however, for that uncertainty to give way to tangible new opportunity.
To manage airport transfers and on-demand guest transportation, Sandals launched a rigorous competitive selection process to partner with qualified local drivers. In an official press release announcing the initiative, the resort confirmed Neverson was among the local transportation professionals selected to join the resort’s service network.
For Neverson, the impact of the resort’s launch on St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ tourism ecosystem has been nothing short of transformative. “From the moment Sandals began operations here, St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ tourism sector has moved forward incredibly quickly,” he explained in the release. “Our industry has grown drastically, and it has been a huge step up for taxi drivers, especially those of us working on transfers between the airport and the resort.”
Unlike the inconsistent demand many local drivers faced prior to the resort’s opening, the steady stream of international guests visiting the new property has translated into reliable, consistent work for Neverson, while also giving him the chance to welcome travelers from every corner of the globe. As one of the first local residents visitors interact with when they step off the plane, Neverson takes this responsibility deeply seriously, and says the resort’s commitment to high service standards has shaped his own approach to work.
“When it comes to Sandals, everything centers on upholding strict standards,” he said. “That’s a lesson I’ve absorbed and continue to put into practice every single day on the job.”
Beyond the direct benefits for transportation workers like himself, Neverson emphasized that the resort’s presence has rippled through nearly every corner of the local economy. From agriculture and fishing to small retail and other local businesses that support the tourism sector, multiple industries have seen growing demand as visitor numbers climb.
“It has truly been a pleasure having Sandals here on our island,” he said. “It has brought new opportunities across so many different sectors, and helped lift up our entire tourism industry. For me, Sandals represents progress and higher standards across the board. If we want to keep benefiting from the growth of tourism, we have to keep improving our own service and professionalism. When visitors come here, they experience our whole country through the people they meet, like me.”
In highlighting Neverson’s story, Sandals noted that his experience is far from unique. It serves as a powerful reminder that the economic and social impact of tourism development stretches far beyond the walls of the resort itself, creating tangible, long-term benefits for entire local communities.