Business, says Bartlett
TOURISM MINISTER, Edmund Bartlett says there is currently a demand for 5,000 Jamaican seafarers in the cruise industry.
Speaking last Tuesday (November 20) at the graduation ceremony for the Blue Ocean Servidores pilot programme, offered at the Caribbean Maritime University, the minister said,
“I have been told by the cruise lines that Jamaican seafarers are in the highest demand in the cruise business, but they have labour market arrangements which need tweaking,” Bartlett told the graduates.
“As we speak, there is a demand for 5,000 seafarers. Therefore, graduating from the Maritime University, focusing on tourism is a very positive area with immediate demand.”
The minister also noted that there are plans in place to further develop the marine tourism industry so that more Jamaicans will benefit from increased earnings from the sector.
“We are just finishing discussions with two of the largest investors in maritime tourism – one to come to Port Royal and the other one in the Montego Bay area. One thing that Jamaica has not yet developed properly is marinas for yachting and maritime tourism – this is a highincome and special demographic area of tourism. It is an area where the rich and the famous particularly control,” he stated.
Jamaica, he argued, has not been able to dominate, but was looking forward to do just that.
“We are also talking to our cruise ship partners in a very strong way for you,” said Minister Bartlett.
The aim of the Blue Ocean Servidores is to equip students with the skills and knowledge required for a smooth transition to the cruise tourism sector as professionals.
Training took place with 10 students over an eight-week period, with classes on basic safety; ship security awareness; crowd and crisis management; protocol; business etiquette; résumé writing; and managing your IT footprint. All participants were students enrolled in the bachelor of science degree programme in cruise shipping and marine tourism.
The minister also took the opportunity to encourage the graduates to consider enrolling in the Ministry of Tourism’s training arm, the Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation (JCTI) for additional certification to attain management roles in the industry.
“The course that you have done and the degree that you will get after you have completed the fouryear period, is a start to qualify you for higher levels of placement in the tourism sector. The JCTI is a pathway institution to certify you for leadership,” said the minister.
He further emphasised that “once you have been trained, certified and competent, then you are at the vanguard of the prosperity agenda of Jamaica. I encourage you to understand that knowledge is to be used as a tool for engagement and empowerment and to add value. If you are able to so use the knowledge, then prosperity will be yours.”