(Jamaica Observer) KINGSTON, Jamaica – Opposition spokesman on labour, Rudyard Spencer has indicated that the Government granted 300 work permits to Mexicans, who provide skills already available in Jamaica, to work in the tourism sector.
Spencer questioned the rationale for the decision and demanded that Labour Minister Derrick Kellier provide answers to the public.
“As far as we are concerned 300 Mexicans can’t be coming to take on work, removing employment opportunities from our certified and skilled people. We believe the skills exist in Jamaica to handle the project,” he said in a release yesterday.
Last Wednesday, Kellier explained that the need for Mexican hoteliers, Palace Resorts, to meet their April deadline, led to the increased employment of Mexican construction workers on the hotel site.
The hotel was originally scheduled to open on March 7, after being bought by Mexico’s Palace Resorts last year.
Construction workers at Moon Palace Jamaica Grande withdrew their services Wednesday, claiming that the management of the hotel was planning to replace them with foreigners.
