Inequality to be addressed, says PM
The unfair environment created by the concessions offered through legislation to the tourism industry cannot be allowed to continue.
That’s according to Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, who, as she acknowledged the inequality created through the Tourism Development Act, made it clear that the Ministry of Tourism, under the leadership of Minister Kerrie Symmonds, will be looking “early on” to address the situation. The goal, she indicated, will be to bring about “greater equity as well as fairness and transparency in the management of those concessions”.
Her comments came as she told tourism stakeholders attending the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association’s Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, that the concessions have unfortunately created three classes of hoteliers in this country.
“Those like Sandals that get everything without consultation and hold it in bond; those who have to come to the Ministry of Tourism, and I believe every two weeks the Ministry of Tourism is taken up with having to push paper which is nonsense; and then those who don’t get anywhere near the Ministry of Tourism or anywhere near the concessions because their cash flow is such that they have had difficulties in being able to meet basic statutory requirements. As a result, therefore, they are precluded from being a beneficiary of any of those concessions,” she said,
PM Mottley maintained, “This cannot be the way, this cannot be the Barbados way to which I just referred.”
Responding also to a question from the floor on the concessions granted to Sandals, PM Mottley, referring to Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, head of the Sandals Resorts International, said she is prepared to dialogue with the Jamaican national on the issue. At the time Sandals entered the market, while its presence was welcomed by the Mottley led Barbados Labour Party, then in Opposition, and the tourism sector, concerns were raised about the level of concessions that it was given in comparison to the existing hotels.
“I want to carry you back to a speech I made to the Chamber of Commerce, when I indicated in 2014 that I think Mr. Stewart might have to become a Barbadian. I didn’t know how much I’d need him to become a Barbadian, but we do need him to become a Barbadian. And rest assured, Barbados is a country governed by the rule of law, but by the same token Barbados is a country that [is] fuelled by consultation and conversation, and I have every confidence that [with] a conversation that sets out what the issues are, what we face and what we have to do to go forward, we can get people to do the right thing in this country,” she said.
The Prime Minister continued, “And let me say therefore, I look forward to meeting with Mr. Stewart on behalf of the Government and people of Barbados and at the very least, let’s start where we need to start, with the room levy. So I look forward to that conversation as we move forward together.”
(JRT)