300 jobless when Little Dix Bay Hotel closes in May 2016
In a press release from Government Information Service (GIS) issued today, January 15, 2016, Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith said he was advised yesterday by the company of a meeting today to announce the closure.
“Yesterday afternoon, Ms Jackie Brown owner’s representative of Rosewood Little Dix Bay Hotel advised me that she was calling a meeting today at 2:00 p.m. to advise the staff of Little Dix Bay Hotel that the hotel would be closing on May 1 for 18 months for a redevelopment of the property,” the press release quoted Premier Smith as saying.
It also mentioned that the Premier was in discussion with the company on the way forward since some 300 staff members as well as the entire territory would be impacted by this development.
“Little Dix Bay has been a fine partner with this Government of the Virgin Islands over the years, and I am hopeful that this relationship will continue to grow,” Premier Smith added in the press release.
'Associates' welcomed back for interviews after reopening
In a press release from Rosewood Little Dix Bay resort shortly after Premier Smith's announcement, the company dispatched an email in which it said the complete renovation to begin on May 1, 2016 will signify the most substantial beautification project since it was founded by Laurance S. Rockefeller over 50 years ago.
The refurbishment will include the complete redesign of the resort’s guestrooms and suites, its three restaurants and overall enhancements to the landscaping. It further said that upon reopening towards the end of 2017, Rosewood Little Dix Bay would welcome back its "associates" to the resort to interview for available positions.
“While the decision to close Rosewood Little Dix Bay was not easy, we determined that we would not be able to deliver the experience our guests deserve during a renovation of this caliber. Our goal is to expedite the process so that our associates and guests can return to our island paradise as quickly as possible, which will be better than ever when it reopens,” the Managing Director of Rosewood Little Dix Bay, Edward Linsley, said.
Haunting memories of Biras Creek sudden closure
The announcement of the closure of Rosewood Little Dix Bay Hotel and Resort brings back haunting memories of the sudden closure of Biras Creek on Virgin Gorda that had left some 73 employees out of work.
It was just days after the June 8, 2015 elections that the workers were given a shock when issued severance letters on June 16, 2015 that the resort was closed until further notice.
The sudden closure had sent many workers into tears and some had even blasted the National Democratic Party (NDP) of knowing about the impending closure and keeping it a secret until after the elections.
Since then Representative for the Ninth District, Dr The Honourable Hubert O'Neal claimed that some 70 workers from the closed Biras Creek Resort were placed in new jobs.
He was speaking during the Fourth Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly on Monday November 2, 2015 during the period set aside for Any Other Business.
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49 Responses to “300 jobless when Little Dix Bay Hotel closes in May 2016”
Things like this is happening and people here still sponsoring people all the time we need to hire people who are here already than any new work permit ... bringing in people when them want and firing when them want. Treating own people like trash use people on the island cause can't treat them so
Lets see how tis plays out
WTF am I reading ? That means these people will be given serverance pay ,since they will be invited to apply for positions near the end of 2017 . . I hope that these lying Politicians will stand up for our ppl . However we don't even know if our blind rep. is aware of what's happening .Probably still on vacation ,cause they said he was "TIRED" after elections . LOL Father send help !
You all return the ndp so eat sh*t
Comments like this only harm a situation not help. So sad the color of someone's skin has to be voiced when you know it has nothing to do with anything.
VG residents need to get good ferry service to STT. Gov,t needs to step in and help to re-do the ferry service.
Speedy does a good job to STT but the other ferry services need to improve their service.
That should give the government some leverage!