Riddell’s Bay closure ‘a blow to staff’
The Shadow Minister of Tourism has urged Government to help Bermudian employees affected by the closure of Riddell’s Bay golf club find new jobs. Jamahl Simmons said in a statement this afternoon that the club ceasing operations was a blow to staff and “further diminishes the tourist and local golf product”.
Tourists who had already booked to golf at the club should be informed and alternate arrangements should be made before they arrive on the island, he added.
“The news that Riddell’s Bay Golf Club has ceased operations and gone into liquidation is a blow to the management and workers at the club and further diminishes our tourist and local golf product,” said Mr Simmons, who is also the Shadow Minister of Economic Development.
“At this time, our thoughts go to the workers who have now joined the over 2,000 Bermudians that have lost their jobs since 2013.
“We urge the Government via the Department of Workforce Development to immediately reach out to all Bermudian workers affected to ensure that they are swiftly placed back on the road to employment.
“With tourists already booked to golf at Riddell’s Bay this season, immediate steps must be taken to ensure that those visitors are informed and given the opportunity to make alternate local arrangements before reaching our shores.”
Mr Simmons added that the closure of Bermuda’s oldest golf club “is yet another example of a long standing Bermudian institution falling victim to our economic climate”.
“The OBA’s tourism policy has resulted in a 49-year low in tourism air arrivals, meaning less heads in beds and less money in our economy.
“After the next election, the PLP will demand greater accountability from the BTA, expand the tourism marketing budget to a competitive level and invest with our industry partners to continually raise the quality of the Bermuda product.
“Bermuda needs more tourists on our shores and in 40 months the OBA have not been able to deliver, the PLP will prioritise tourism investment to grow the industry and to in turn create jobs for Bermudians.”
