Now that hotels are opened — for the tourist season — and functional in Anguilla, the island’s Ministry of Tourism is leaving no stone unturned in facilitating the ongoing training of workers in the hospitality sector, particularly so during this COVID-19 era.
On Friday, January 15th, the Ministry conducted another in a series of training sessions for the purpose of sensitising the tourism sector on the importance of performing its services with the elements of health and safety as key factors. The training was conducted by the Health Authority of Anguilla.
In speaking to the Ministry of Tourism’s Product Development and Research Officer, Ms. Andia Ravariere, The Anguillian was told: “Safe Environment (SE) Housekeeping Training started as far back as last August and the first phase ended in late September.” She said that up to that time over 400 hotel workers received fundamental health and safety training relative to COVID-19.
Ms. Ravariere went on to describe the various facets of training: “The facilitator for each session was Nurse Diana Claxton-Carty. Specific areas addressed in the training were SE Ground Transport Operators which targeted taxi drivers and chauffeurs, as well as SE Boat Operating which particularly targeted the St. Maarten shuttle service providers as well as boat charter service managers.
“In October, further training was organised for mid-range management of the hospitality sector in the proper use of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). These sessions were conducted by Ms. Twyla Bradshaw-Richardson and Mr. Ricardford Connor of the Ministry of Health, and they consisted of sensitising tourist-related personnel to the need of being in possession of this collection of equipment in order to stem the risks of COVID-19 infections.
“Also in October, a Safe and Ready programme of training was organised to sensitise the tourism sector, thus getting all hospitality workers ready for the second phase of reopening in November. In totality, over 1,000 hospitality workers have been trained,” Ms. Ravariere said.
– Staff Reporter, James R. Harrigan
