tidings
Melissa Doughty
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts announced on Tuesday that the Royal Caribbean Group, through its seafarer recruitment initiative, recently completed a second phase of recruitment in TT.
On May 23, the ministry signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the group that saw thousands of employment opportunities on offer. A recruitment fair was held in June with thousands of people coming to be interviewed to work with the group.
A press release said 1,300 applicants were interviewed virtually by a 19-member recruitment team between August 9-19.
The ministry added that applicants were contacted by the group and attended interviews at the house, Queen’s Hall, Port of Spain or Shaw Park Complex, Scarborough, Tobago.
“The second phase of this recruitment effort continues to provide employment opportunities for hundreds of citizens in tourism and hospitality services, food and beverage management and the medical field.”
The ministry said the second phase gave people who were unable to participate in June a second chance.
The MoU runs for one year and creates an ongoing relationship with the group to provide employment at a time when “covid19 has had a detrimental effect on TT’s tourism sector and the wider labor market,” the statement said.
Approximately 1,000 applicants received offer letters from the company for a variety of positions, including chefs, housekeepers, inventory managers, restaurant attendants, bartenders and doctors, the ministry said.
Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Randall Mitchell said: “The Ministry remains committed to doing our part to facilitate meaningful employment opportunities for our citizens, as well as supporting initiatives that drive economic recovery.”
Those who accept group offer letters must now complete a personal information form, complete a more detailed assessment and then receive employment letters specifying the ship assignment along with the date and port to meet the ship. Only then does the applicant apply for the seafarer’s visa, he said.
“Royal Caribbean Group will cover the cost of visas, all training, as well as the cost of airfare to meet their assigned ship. Tickets for travel are sent through the RCG recruitment portal to the nearest airport to the actual port of the ship,” he added.
