Minister Bartlett Pleased With Compliance Of Entities In Westmoreland
By: , August 3, 2020
Photo: Serena Grant
Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (centre), exchanges an elbow bump with fish vendor at Scott’s Cove, Juliet Fritz (left). Looking on at right is Senior Strategist in the Ministry, Delano Seiveright. Occasion was a tour of tourism operations in Westmoreland on Friday (July 31), to get a first-hand look at the level of compliance with the coronavirus (COVID-19) protocols.
Photo: Serena Grant
Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (left), exchanges an elbow bump with houseman at the Riu Negril hotel in Westmoreland, Kerry Waugh, during a walk-through of the property on Friday (July 31). The Minister visited a number of tourism entities in the parish to get a first-hand look at the level of compliance with the coronavirus (COVID-19) protocols.
Photo: Serena Grant
Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (centre), has his temperature checked by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Jennifer Griffith (2nd left). Looking on (from left) are Executive Director of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Dr. Carey Wallace; owner of Rondel Village Exclusive Villa Resort and Spa, John Wright; and Acting Executive Director of the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), Stephen Edwards. Occasion was the handing over of hand thermometers, hand sanitiser and dispensers, and garbage bins with foot pedals to Rondel Village, during a visit to tourism entities in Westmoreland on Friday (July 31).
Photo: Serena Grant
Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (3rd left), hands over buckets with taps for hand washing to vendor at Scott’s Cove, Icilda Morgan (2nd left), who accepted the items on behalf of vendors at the location. Personal protective equipment (PPE) were placed inside of the buckets. On hand for the presentation (from left) are: Acting Executive Director of the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), Stephen Edwards; Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Floyd Green; Executive Director of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Dr. Carey Wallace and Chairman of the TEF, Godfrey Dyer. Occasion was a tour of tourism operations in Westmoreland on Friday (July 31), to to get a first-hand look at the level of compliance with the coronavirus (COVID-19) protocols.The Full Story
Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says he is pleased with the level of compliance of tourism operations in Westmoreland with the protocols put in place by the Government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the sector.
He was speaking at a press briefing held at the Bluefields Bay Villa in the parish on Friday (July 31), following a tour of several entities, to get a first-hand look at the safety measures put in place and donate sanitisation items and personal protection equipment (PPE).
He was accompanied by a team from the Ministry, the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) and Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB).
The Minster visited large and small hotels and attractions including Riu Negril, Bluefields Bay Villa, Rondel Village, the Zimbali Retreat, and Scott’s Cove, which is located at the border with St. Elizabeth.
“I am very pleased with what I have seen. I went to large hotels, small hotels and villas and they are fully compliant,” he said.
“I also had an opportunity to look at some of our smaller, micro- enterprises, particularly those that are in street food activities and we have also made an opportunity open for all of those that are not fully compliant, to do so,” he noted.
As part of the day’s activities, the TEF donated items such as hand sanitisers and dispensers, hand-held thermometres and garbage bins with foot pedals to Rondel Village in Negril, as well as PPE and plastic buckets with taps to vendors at Scott’s Cove to promote hand washing.
Minister Bartlett said that the partnership with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, to ensure that all the stakeholders, particularly the small and micro- enterprises, are COVID compliant “is one that the Ministry of Tourism takes very seriously.”
He noted that the TEF, through the linkages division “has been at the forefront in ensuring that these small players observe the highest level of safety and that the gadgetry and the personal protective equipment that are required are available to them.”
Minister Bartlett informed that similar donations have been made across the island through funding of $20 million from the TEF.