TCI: Official Statement from Minister Arlington Musgrove on Sandals Employee Exchange

#TurksandCaicos, March 22, 2021 – “My fellow Turks and Caicos Islanders, residents and visitors alike, many of you would have seen a WhatsApp message going around saying 200 Vincentian nationals to be employed in the hospitality will have the opportunity to work at the new Sandals Beaches Resorts in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), in the coming months.

While this may be their plan, it is certainly not the plan of this Government when we have so many Turks and Caicos Islanders who are out of work presently.

I can assure you that we have not had any discussions along these lines and in the event, we do, we will always look out for the betterment of our people first. In reviewing the message, it speaks of a possible attachment of Beaches personnel at their various resorts to gain the requisite knowledge and skills to return to St. Vincent, to work at the newly acquired resort once it is completed and ready for opening.

These workers are to be placed at their various properties on a temporary basis.

With that being said, we must also look at a reciprocal arrangement for our people, so they too can benefit from such an exchange, where they would leave the Turks and Caicos Islands and be posted on a temporary basis at other Sandals Beaches properties, to further enhance their overall growth and development.

We will arrange a meeting with Beaches TCI to discuss this matter further, after which we will provide an update to you the public.

I ask that you remain patient as we work to get all the facts of this matter and report back to you our findings and a planned way forward.

Thank you in advance and may God continue to bless each and every one of us and these Beautiful by Nature Turks and Caicos Islands.”