Unemployment will fall as projects start

“Our unemployment figures have dipped a little bit, (as) we are told by the Central Bank that for 2014, unemployment was at 12.3; for 2015 it stood at 11.3. So we have seen a slight dip, but we need projects like this to be able to pick up and there are a number of projects in the pipeline, including hotel projects,” she said, while pointing to the construction of the Hyatt and the expansion of Sandals.

 

“Once these start to pick-up, we expect that we would see a greater decline in the unemployment numbers,” she said.

 

Byer Suckoo made the comments while in the Upper House on Wednesday, during the debate for the vesting in Barbados Tourism Investment Incorporated of land at Sam Lord’s Castle, for tourism and housing development and beach access.

 

Speaking on the hotel plant, which will still be redeveloped as a Wyndham Grand family resort, the Senator outlined that 40 percent of the 1 200 workers that would be on the construction site would be locals, while 900 jobs would be available in the direct operations of the facility.

 

“And of course, you would expect some spin-offs as well in the tourism and sales and services area. We expect at least another 2,000 jobs would be created so all and all this is a project that is set to  benefit the St. Philip area, our tourism numbers and is set to benefit all of us eventually as we see the employment and the economy grow through it,” she added.

 

Pointing out that the hotel would be a select service property, she anticipated that the project would bring greater activity in that area as well as new opportunities for small businesses to develop. (JMB)