RitzCarlton Turks and Caicos construction site on December 8 under overcast skies
#TurksandCaicos – December 10, 2020 — RitzCarlton Residences Turks and Caicos, Grace Bay is moving steadily toward a mid-2021 opening and in November accomplished a string of feats which have pushed the development of the Desarrolles Hotel Co Turks and Caicos Ltd (DHTC) closer to launch of its luxury twin towers.
A meeting held on November
17 with Delroy Williams, Minister of Labour and Employment Services and his
team including Edwin Taylor, TCI Labour Commissioner was meant to give guidance
on best practices during the hiring process.
RitzCarlton executives: John Hazard, Corey Guest, Roberto Spita and Steven Redkoles
learned of opportunities to partner with schools, colleges and vocational institutions
in Turks and Caicos for possible internships and to offer developmental courses
as it seeks to staff is world class, branded resort.
Shared
with the hotel executives were recommendations on pay, benefits, employee
taxes, programs like retirement savings and a session to better acquaint the
team with the labour laws of Turks and Caicos.
The
Ministry shared: “A number of topics
were covered, some of which are as follows: Turks and Caicos Labour Laws;
General pay (including required or non-required service charge and
distribution) & benefits offered on island; Medical, dental and other
required and standard insurance provided to employees; Pension/Retirement plan
requirements that are offered in the industry to employees; Vacation, holiday and
sick leave entitlements; Local vs. Expat differences and any potential
requirements as it relates to Live-in/Live-out, pay and benefits; Offer
Letter/Work Agreement templates and requirements.”
On
November 26, the Turks and Caicos Islands cabinet approved “a 99
year license for and licence to operate a restaurant and to renovate an
existing pier/jetty…”
Minister
Williams, who was also accompanied by Desmond Wilson, Permanent Secretary and
James Astwood, the deputy PS said, “… that he is confident that the opening of
this resort will create major employment as well as entrepreneurial
opportunities for the residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and is looking
forward to the Ritz Carlton team working closely with my Ministry team during
the various phases of the project, to ensure that the end result will prove
beneficial to all.”
There
is optimism and anticipation from the RitzCarlton Turks and Caicos side as
well, “When I exited the plane in Turks and Caicos last year, I felt an
immediate connection with the island as it truly felt like home. We look very
much forward to a successful opening and partnering with you (TCI Government)
and the community,” said Mr. Guest, Director of Human Resources.
Additionally,
RitzCarlton, in July signed on as FortisTCI’s tenth UORE (Utility Owned
Renewable Energy) customer.
“A 210.6 kW rooftop
solar PV system will be installed on the resort’s casino and restaurant
rooftop. It will be a grid-tied installation, generating approximately 310MWh
annually and help avoid approximately 244 tons of CO2 emissions. Customers
participating in the UORE program receive a monthly fixed credit for rooftop
space and an annual variable incentive based on system production,” said
FortisTCI in a media statement.
RitzCarlton Turks and
Caicos will be the country’s tallest hotel at 12 storeys and features 124 hotel
rooms, 60 residences, restaurant, meeting rooms and a casino stretched across
700 feet of uninterrupted views of the world famous, Grace Bay Beach.