The ribbon cutting at Sandals Royal Bahamian resort. Photos: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune staff
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Senior Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
TOURISM’S recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic got a boost yesterday when Sandals Royal Bahamian resort and offshore island reopened after the completion of a $55 million renovation that will create 900 new jobs.
A ceremony that included local dignitaries and the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, was held to mark the reopening of the resort.
“This is a significant day for tourism,” said Tourism Minister Chester Cooper. “It’s a significant day for Bahamian workers, business people, the Cable Beach strip, 900 employed here which adds to the 700 that’s employed at the Emerald Bay. It’s a great day for tourism. We congratulated Sandals today for this initiative. They’ve done magnificent here with this resort and it’s good for the product. We need even more room capacity in The Bahamas so it’s good that this has come back on stream.”
Mr Cooper said the resort is expected to be at full capacity over the next few days and that a “very high” percentage of Bahamians will be employed there. Among the employees will be 250 people who were previously employed at the resort.
“A significant percentage here of Bahamians (will be employed),” Mr Cooper said. “I imagine there will be a small team of expatriate workers here, but, just as the case in Exuma, the large majority will be Bahamian.”
Among the features of the renovated resort are a new Island Village which comprises standalone villas named after remote Bahamian cays. Additionally, an expansive beachfront lounge called Coconut Grove has been added and there are three new wedding spots.
“Sandals Royal Bahamian elevates Nassau’s culinary scene with 13 fresh restaurant concepts,” the resort said in a press statement. “Guests can feel the rhythm of the music and savour Pan-Caribbean spices at Kanoo - short for Junkanoo - where a new ‘brasserie 30’ à la carte lunch menu is designed to deliver the lunch experience in 30 minutes or less, for a faster return to the pool or beach.”
Sandals Royal Bahamian had been closed since March 2020. The date for the resort’s reopening was delayed several times. Initially, it was due to reopen on January 28, 2021, then on March 31, 2021, then on May 1, 2021 and then on November 4, 2021.
Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said the reopening of Sandals signals the country is open for business despite COVID-19.
He said: “Following on from this multi-million dollar renovation, many well-trained Bahamians will make up the full complement of 900 employees. And Sandals Royal Bahamian will go on championing, not only innovation, but the people and tourism product of this country.
“Along with the commercial ties, the presence of the Sandals properties also symbolise the continued flowering of the close and warm relationship that exists between Jamaica and The Bahamas. Long may it continue!”
Comments
moncurcool 2 years, 2 months ago
Isn't it sad how we celebrate modern slavery in our country. Splashed across the pages of the daily is 900 people getting jobs from a foreign master. We see that as progress, Yet, why don't we work to have people be their own bosses and sign the front of the check and not the back: Why don't we pushed and celebrate them having their own ingredients to make their own pie, and not settling for fighting for crumbs from someone else's pie?
And why are police in the picture of a private company?
GodSpeed 2 years, 2 months ago
while I get your sentiment, nobody is stopping Bahamians from becoming employers, some Chinese people have come here with almost nothing and done it. A decent job is useful to allow people to save for their initial investment into hopefully their own business venture some day. Most Bahamians rather spend that money on loans for a house and car.
moncurcool 2 years, 2 months ago
I agree with you. But how many Chinese cam with nothing, no investment, but started doing with the little they had.
Our problem is we are not looking for a job to use as a little investment to build something. We just glad we have a little j-b and the government happy with that because that way more goes to the 1%.
GodSpeed 2 years, 2 months ago
it's true that the government should do more to encourage Bahamians into entrepreneurship, from a young age, it should start in school really. Also the government could help by making it a bit easier to carry out business in this country, granted it's much easier than it used to be thanks to the initiatives to move a lot of bureaucratic processes online. Still room for improvement though, I've read that in places like Hong Kong you can get a business license in a day.
joeblow 2 years, 2 months ago
... a business that closed down during the pandemic re-opens and that is news or is it just a photo op for a PM that is ego tripping?
tribanon 2 years, 2 months ago
Typical Davis and Cooper taking credit for something they had absolutely nothing to do with. Our corrupt politicians just love to bask in the accomplishments of others, as if to say this could not have happened without their support. Truth be told though, this has happened nothwithstanding all that they've already done as yet another corrupt PLP administration to saddle our nation with even more failed economic policies.
Proguing 2 years, 2 months ago
Is it 900 new jobs or are they welcoming back their 900 employees?
bahamianson 2 years, 2 months ago
All this means is what Brave alluded to in the past. We need to make friends, translating to , I need to make friends. Brave can go to jamaica and live in the top suite at the best hotel because of his PM connections. He can have jewelry stores opened for him after hours. It pays to be a.politician. you are.favoured above.everyone.else.
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