‘We do have plans’ for YCCS staff - Dr The Hon Hubert O’Neal
Speaking to this news site yesterday May 2, 2016, Dr O’Neal spoke to the reason for the closure of the hospitality facility located on the sister island of Virgin Gorda and assured that those displaced workers will receive help.
YCCS will be closing from June 1, 2016 and it is expected that a total of 25 workers will be displaced as a result.
“We do have plans [for these workers]. You know it is unfortunate what happened,” said Dr O’Neal.
“I think all along YCCS has been saying that they would have been closing. They usually close this time of the year anyway for three months. But the extent of work that they had to do will extend further than the three months...for up to seven months. And that is why the date for their reopening has been scheduled for December.”
“We are going to look after those workers who are going to be displaced in the usual manner just like we did with Biras Creek and Little Dix Bay...we are going to seek alternative employment for these people,” he said.
Dr O'Neal now in the loop!
Dr O'Neal is now speaking out after telling another news site at the weekend that he knew nothing about the impending closure of YCCS. Further, Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith had admitted to this news site that he was aware of the planned closure of YCCS but had not informed the Ninth District Representative, Dr O'Neal.
“I have not had the chance to talk to Dr O’Neal about the renovations,” Premier Smith said on Saturday April 30, 2016, a day after the workers were handed letters of termination.
Premier Smith had also said he was yet to have a “detailed conversation” with the management of YCCS.
“They are going to be closed for a few months to do some renovations and then reopen. That is what I understand…I have actually not have a detailed conversation with them as yet,” Premier Smith told Virgin Islands News Online.
Some 100 laid off LDB workers to be re-hired for renovation works
Turning his attention to the severed Little Dix Bay Hotel and Resort workers, Dr O’Neal said the contractor carrying out the renovation works on the resort will be seeking to hire some of the persons in the demolition and construction phases.
“They are now advertising positions where they are going to re-employ quite a number of them...about 100 of them...as during the construction they will have to go through a demolition phase and so they are going to need quite a number of workers to service those positions,” he said.
According to Dr O’Neal, he suspects that a sizeable number of persons are going to be employed immediately and the others will be helped through the help desk set up under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour and the Office of the Premier. These he said will be found jobs in various areas in the territory.
“Some positions have even been offered at resorts in Florida, USA, and other places around the world,” he said.
Dr O’Neal added that the employment picture does not look too bad at all, noting that for those who continue to have difficulties, they will continue to press on to try to get them employed as well, even if it has to be outside of the hospitality business.
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