More jobs coming as gov’t signs ‘redevelopment’ deal with Peter Island
Premier Andrew Fahie has signed a redevelopment agreement with Peter Island Resort and with that is the promise of more employment opportunities for locals.
David Van Andel, director of the resort, signed on behalf of Peter Island (2000) Limited, whose closure because of the September 2017 hurricanes led to hundreds of job losses of its employees.
“I promised you during the 2020 budget address that my government will work with resorts like Peter Island Resort to return to service in order to accommodate our overnight visitors, which gives an additional boost to our post-disaster room stock,” Premier said in a recent government media release.
“By adding this development, you the people of this territory can see that we will be much closer to our desired medium-term room stock target of 5,000 as outlined in the 2020 budget. This will further increase the economic activity in the Territory and will benefit all stakeholders in the industry.”
Millions will be circulated
Upon completion, the resort is expected to have 52 rooms and suites as well as three villas, the release said.
“The reopening of the hotel’s main sections will be done in December 2021 [and] this development is expected to project $18 to 22 million into the Virgin Islands economy per annum,” it added.
Hundreds to benefit
Fahie, who is also the Minister for Finance, said both the construction and the hospitality sectors would directly benefit from the redevelopment of the resort.
“During the construction phase, this development will create approximately 160 local jobs. Upon completion, the resort is expected to contribute no less than 50 jobs to the Virgin Islands economy. There will also be internship opportunities for hospitality students which Virgin Islanders majoring in the field can take advantage of,” Fahie said.
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Thank you Premier.
So what is in this deal? Whenever developments come on stream they seek approvals and go on with it. Why is this different? What’s in the deal? Why aren’t the details published?
You can’t do nothing about the time frame, let’s hope and pray that people can hold on until then. And when that time comes, you have to hope again….that you actually do benefit whether directly or indirectly.
Good for the few.
Nonetheless, some still await changes in the labour wages code.
The time has come and past for the end maximum profits at the expense of slave minimum wages.
LDB, Peter and all other need to be made to pay more to the employees.
The VIP and other future govrnments to follow need to get futuristic and serious and address this issue sooner or later.
The cost of living versus the take home wages are out of balance. People cannot continue living like this.
How can you pay a mother six dollars an hour and then turn around and expect her to pay six dollars for a bread, three dollars for a can of milk, twenty dollars for a box of chicken, fifteen dollars for a bag of rice, and clothe, shoes, rent and sleeping wuarters are not included, and the consumer exploitation goes on and on, and expect people to remain docile forever?
One day the link will break and peole will not be able to with stand the pressure anymore, and it will break They will either rebel, leave or riot.
And government and employers cannot and should not expect employees to be docile contented modern day slaves any longer.
Serious economic wages reform and pricing control need to be enacted soon before the crisis hits.
Soon, people will begin to rebell in many forms.
Can’t never please some of you
YOUTH, you are right, some have grown tired of being economic slaves since since the of physical slavery.