Sandals project benefits from Education Revolution

Several young adults, educated under the Government’s Education Revolution, are employed on the Sandals Resort construction site and are playing pivotal roles in the project.

This was pointed out by Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves who toured the site on September 8. He noted that despite many persons being positively impacted by the Government’s push on education, several persons including opposition politicians continue to question the relevance of the Education Revolution.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves (third from left) and Minister of Tourism Carlos James (second from left), chatting with officials from Sandals and CODELPA on the resort site at Buccament on September 8.

“…You see the product of the Education Revolution? You check the number of them who work in the office from Technical College in engineering technology, in electrical engineering, in construction, every one of the specialist areas…,” the Prime Minister said during the tour.

Among the workers that fall in the category Gonsalves spoke about are lawyer Lakita John, who is attached to CODELPA (the main construction company at the site), assistant engineer Camille Welcome, Joshua Richardson (architecture and building construction), junior mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) project technician Matthews, MEP technician Jafico Hoyte and junior MEP technician Malik St Hill.

Regional Project Director of Sandals International Terence Des Vignes said the workers from the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College’s (SVGCC) Division of Technical and Vocational Education (DTVE) are doing well and five of them are attached to his office.

He said they work in the architecture and electrical engineering field and they do most of the leg work for the project and are learning very well. Des Vignes also revealed that some of them are in supervisory roles.

“We are thankful for all the youth. We couldn’t do it all as we are getting older and we need the youths to come in here and lead and I am very thankful for the young geniuses coming through from your education system,” Des Vignes commented.

Gonsalves said that the Government takes a great interest in all students, and persons questioning the Education Revolution can see it manifested on Sandals’ construction site.

He noted that so far, he has approved over 1200 tuition scholarships for 2023 and there are other support systems including full scholarships, bursaries, the economically disadvantaged student loans as well as grants and bursaries.

Gonsalves said he spends the same money on education that is spent to upkeep the police force and hospital services.

Currently, the Sandals project employs 600 persons, 300 of whom are Vincentians. Des Vignes said the project needs to hire another 100 over the next month in an effort to get the resort open early next year.

The project needs masons, tilers and painters.