By Michron Robinson on Monday, 25 April, 2022 at 04:58 PM

Major job opportunities are coming for Barbadians to work within the cruise ship industry.

This was announced by Minister of Tourism and International Transport Senator Lisa Cummins while at Seatrade in Miami Florida. She was speaking during the signing of an agreement between the Government of Barabdos, and Royal Caribbean Cruiselines, that will allow Barbadians to access greater opportunities for employment.

“We have met with them, we have agreed on a broad range of employment opportunities and we are talking about our creatives, entertainers, photographers, persons who work in hotels and hospitality management,” she said.

The Minister added that with Barbadians being known for their warmth and friendliness in the hospitality sector, providing more jobs for them on cruise lines would be of great benefit to the industry, as they will be taking a piece of Barbados with them to the world. 

Meanwhile, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean, Michael Bayley, said that he was thankful to Barbados for allowing them to dock their ships in the Bridgetown Port while the world was on lockdown during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic back in 2020.

“We had over fifty thousand crew members from over one hundred countries around the world who were in constant quarantine lockdowns on board our ships who desperately wanted to get home to their family and friends and it was Barbados who stepped up and was incredibly supportive and helpful in allowing Royal Caribbean and other cruise companies to Bridgetown and we got over twenty thousand of our staff to Bridgetown and we got them home and it would not have been possible without the people in Barbados,” he said passionately.

That assistance from Barbados encouraged the CEO to help in securing possible jobs for Barbadians in the cruise line industry.

Chair of the Board of Directors of the  Barbados Tourism Marketing Incorporated, Shelly Williams, confirmed that jobs will be available for Barbadians in several career fields.

“When I look at the list of jobs that will be available to our Barbadians we are talking about engineering to carpentry, plumbing, sportsmen and youth. There is a cross section and that is the largest cross section ever seen.”

Williams added that this move will now open the door for Barbados to have even further discussions with other cruise lines who are interested in partnering with the island.(MR)