5,000 airport workers to get back jobs
Published:Tuesday | June 16, 2020 | 12:23 AMJanet Silvera/Senior Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
TOURISM MINISTER Edmund Bartlett said that Monday’s “soft reopening” of the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay was a silver lining for workers at that gateway after a near-three-month layoff.
Bartlett was addressing journalists at the airport where he, along with Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton, was on hand to witness the arrival of the first plane carrying tourists into the island since the country closed its borders on March 24 in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The prospects that 5,000 people working at this airport see their jobs coming back, I think, is the most satisfying of all and perhaps the greatest sense of hope that is provided,” the tourism minister said, while cautioning employees to adhere to health protocols.
Bartlett also said that Jamaica’s airline partners and tour operators and visitors in general ought to be commended for their positive response to Jamaica’s COVID-19 protocols, including the digital platform for bookings and seating arrangements, which will be helpful in future decision-making.
More than 800 people have registered and booked on the JAMCOVID Visit Jamaica website, which offers disaggregated data on places of origin and other information.
“We did it almost at the last minute and the market recognised the importance of it and has embraced it in a very strong and powerful way,” he said, adding that the portal would be a repository of information.
Multi-agency effort
Tufton said that he was expecting a seamless process as the logistics in the airport had been worked out through a multi-agency effort and more than 100 public-health officials had been mobilised.
“We are encouraged that non-Jamaicans have confidence in our processes here and that they are willing to comply not only in their interest, but also in the interest of the general population. And that augurs well for a stronger product when the time comes for further expansion and other phases, which will come,” he stated.
At least two visitors with whom The Gleaner spoke believe that in-destination testing was critical, but felt that the information that was given via the Visit Jamaica web portal should be shared with Jamaican immigration so that processing would be quicker.
Victor Perez, of Mexico, who came in to assist with the reopening of RIU Ocho Rios, lauded the efforts of the Government.
“It was not an inconvenience being tested at the airport. It has to be done to ensure we are all safe here,” he said.
Excited to see passengers return to the airport, chief executive officer of MBJ Airports Limited, Shane Munroe, described the reopening as a “good start” and a huge difference from the recent emptiness.
Also on hand to witness the arrivals was Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) President Omar Robinson, who revealed that only a handful of hotels, namely Deja Hotel, Moon Palace, RIU Ocho Rios, Sandals Montego Bay and Beaches Negril, are reopening this week with the others slated for next month.