Recent comments by Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne regarding the operations of Sandals Resorts International (SRI) have not drawn direct responses from fellow Caribbean leaders and tourism ministers, but their words, over time, have spoken quite differently.
Indeed, contrary to the PM’s claims, fellow Caribbean leaders and tourism ministers have been loudly lauding SRI’s contributions to the development of tourism nationally, regionally and internationally.
On October 20, 2024, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, speaking at the Sandals Jamaica Love Showcase, said: “Jamaica is a place that has achieved so many things. It has achieved so much. It’s been through so many struggles, but every single Jamaican knows that Jamaica can achieve so much more and that this is a country of great potential.
“And what people like Adam Stewart are doing is investing in Jamaica’s potential. Sandals represents the best example of Jamaica fulfilling its potential.”
At Sandals Corporate University, EON Reality Launch on ‘Spatial AI for Hospitality’ in TCI on October 16, 2024, Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, said: “I laud Sandals for having further consolidated itself as a trailblazer, spearheading the provision of digital solutions for the management of tourism.
“That puts them in a league by themselves and truly I am so proud to be the minister at this time as Sandals makes this quantum leap into the future of human capital development,”
TCI Premier Charles Misick, speaking at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Sandals Corporate University (SCU) and Turks & Caicos Islands Community College (TCICC) in May 2024, said: “The partnership between SCU and TCICC was conceived with the vision of strengthening the local workforce.
“In under four months, we’ve made remarkable progress.
“By elevating educational standards and creating job opportunities, we’re not just enhancing the Human Development Index (HDI) for the Turks and Caicos Islands, we’re building a more efficient economy.
“The focus is on improving education and improving quality of life, but also, as a small country, we would like to be able to expose our young people to what is happening in the other corners of the Caribbean, and the world.”
Addressing the opening of Sandals Saint Vincent in May 2024, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves said: “During COVID, unemployment went up, there was a decline in economic activity in the region.
“At the time, we also had volcanic eruptions (and) Sandals came to us with a proposal to recruit Vincentians and send them to their resorts across the Caribbean to be trained.
“We had to evacuate 20,000 persons, with some in shelters for four to six months. Along came a friend in Sandals who said they could ease some of the pressure, providing opportunities for 500 people, and these little things talk to me about partnership.”
Saint Vincent & The Grenadines Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development and Culture, Carlos James, has highly praised his country’s partnership with Sandals Resorts International (SRI).
In a statement earlier this week, the minister said St. Vincent and the Grenadines “has forged an outstanding partnership with Sandals Resort since their arrival, marking a new era of elevated hospitality within our destination.”
According to the Minister, “Sandals has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment not only to providing world-class guest experiences but also to aligning with our shared vision of a tourism sector rooted in sustainability.”
“Through their dedication to eco-friendly practices, cultural celebration and active community engagement,” the minister said, “Sandals is helping us build a resilient tourism product that proudly reflects our unique identity and values.”
“Together,” he added, “we are working to showcase the extraordinary natural beauty, vibrant heritage, and diverse attractions that make our islands so unique.
According to Minister James, “The presence of Sandals has amplified our destination’s allure, attracting travellers worldwide who seek sustainable and meaningful experiences.
“We are excited to continue building on this dynamic partnership, setting new standards in sustainable tourism and establishing Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as a premier destination with unforgettable travel experiences.”
In September 2024, Saint Lucia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Ernest Hilaire, commenting on Sandals’ training and development opportunities there, said: “I have very, very high regard for Sandals.
“Most people would see Sandals in terms of the resorts and the experiences you get there, but I have a lot of regard and respect for Sandals for the amount of resources and efforts they put into training their staff.
“You can see the high level of training, you can see the professionalism, it really speaks a lot about the Sandals product and the emphasis they put on human resource development through their training programme.”
Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, speaking on SRI investments there in May 2022, said: “I’m very impressed with what I’ve seen, very impressed.
“Sandals coming with these rooms now will help cushion the impact of COVID on the industry.
“We are hoping to get back to 2019 (arrival) numbers shortly, and I’m very happy that at least we can say to the public throughout the world — because we are looking at a global market — that if you want to come to Saint Lucia, you can come because there is room to come; and with these high-quality rooms of Sandals, I am sure we will be able to meet our 2019 level and surpass it in a very short time.”
Prime Minister of The Bahamas Philip Davis addressing the Sandals Royal Bahamas (SRB) re-opening in February 2022, said: “I am extremely delighted to see the expansion of the Sandals brand and the reopening of the Royal Bahamian property.
“Not only does this translate into jobs for our people, but it further diversifies our tourism product and hotel inventory as we are rebounding from this pandemic.
“So far, the numbers have been encouraging and no doubt with the Sandals Royal Bahamian property back, we expect the growth to continue.
“I salute Adam Stewart for continuing his father’s visionary leadership.”
Curacao’s Prime Minister Gilmar Simon Pisas, addressing the Sandals Royal Curacao’s grand opening in February 2022, said: “The arrival of Sandals Royal Curaçao has a great impact in the continued development of our touristic product, giving us a great competitive advantage in our region.
“The most beautiful part of this process is our shared vision and the impact on our local people and economy long before the resort even opened its doors.
“The government of Curaçao is very pleased to welcome Sandals Royal Curaçao and together we look forward to providing travellers from around the world with great experiences that will have them extending their stays and coming back for years to come…”