Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism the Hon. Mr. Edmund Bartlett CD, has said the contribution of companies like Sandals Resorts International (SRI) to the development of the region must never
be taken for granted and has urged greater stakeholder support for such brands.
Minister Bartlett made the call at the recent Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Action Network on Post-Disaster Recovery in the US Virgin Islands where participants included former US President
Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton.
The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Action Network on Post-Disaster Recovery brings together leaders from across sectors to develop new, specific and measurable plans that advance recovery and promote long-term resilience across the region.
The severe hurricane season of 2017 did impact some of the islands where Sandals has resorts.
However, the company carried out necessary repairs and had these plants back up and running
in record time. This ensured minimal fallout in the affected countries such as in the Turks and Caicos Islands where tourism is a key pillar of the economy.
Minister Bartlett pointed out that the investment made by companies like Sandals in regional
development cannot be underestimated.
“The global tourism sector now faces an unprecedented degree of uncertainty and volatility that policymakers must respond to in an aggressive, consistent manner. We have to protect our tourism market, particularly our indigenous stakeholders, who have helped to bring the
world to our shores.
A number of locally-operated and owned service providers have added
significant value to the Caribbean economy.”
He added, “One company, in particular, Sandals Resorts International, has helped to put the Caribbean on the map and therefore it is our responsibility as a region to recognise what these
indigenous brands, including strong brands like Sandals have done to build our economies.
Weshould stand behind them and enable a greater appreciation of their significant and continued value and sustainability.”
Sandals Resorts is the number one Luxury-Included resort in the world, having been voted World’s Best 23 consecutive times at the World Travel Awards. Having won nearly every accolade in the industry over the past three decades, the company is considered the region’s only SuperBrand. Sandals employs some 14,000 team members across the Caribbean and is not
only a major contributor to the economies of several islands where it operates, but is also a leading foreign exchange earner and one of the highest tax payers.
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of course Mr. Bartlett would say that. He is a yardie himself. Which other “companies like Sandals” should we also support? Sandals also has a reputation for trying to “bully” Caribbean governments. Of course Sandals should be supported, but Sandals should pay fair too.
Well I guess the minister has not been reading the many issues the Islands are facing with Sandals. Even Barbados Mia Motley had to say the other day, sorry but we cannot give anymore. Sandal is exploiting its Caribbean brothers and sisters. And foreign-exchange is hardly coming in, as everything from Sandals is centralized in Jamaica. Even to pay a small farmer they need to send the bill to Jamaica for approval. And everyone has to wait 90 days before they can get paid. And tour operators has to give Sandals a large percentage of the tour as commission that they provide to Sandal’s guests. And the insurance they have to take out should have Sandals as beneficiary. So you pay the premiums and Sandals gets the benefits. Pure extortion if you ask me.
The worst kind of “advantage” is from your own. You would expect this behaviour from descendants of those who once enslaved our ancestors. “If your own doesn’t kill you, you will live forever”
Butch the biotch is one big bully pretending to be a “Caribbean man”
“Barbados’ prime minister announced at a conference this week that her government is in the process of designating a “select committee” to review concessions given to businesses in the hotel and tourism sector. The announcement from Mia Mottley follows news of an impasse with all-inclusive resort operator Sandals Resorts, regarding concessions granted by the previous administration.”
DEJA VU? Only Harold Lovell who lacks a backbone allowed Sandals to hoodwink him into holding on to gov’t revenue. Thank God that situation has changed.
“A class action lawsuit has been filed against Sandals Resorts International, claiming that the company has engaged in deceptive tax collection practices for DECADES.”
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