Democratic People's Movement (DPM) candidate for South St. George, Charmaine Gibbs, has put forward a proposal for a dedicated Hospitality Training Institute paired with direct job placement services.
She is advocating for a dual-approach initiative she says is critical to addressing the skills gap undermining Grenada’s tourism sector and the cycle of seasonal unemployment that destabilizes workers and businesses alike.
Gibbs, who has spent decades in Grenada’s tourism industry as a tour operator, says
the problem goes beyond technical know-how.
She identifies an erosion of soft skills and customer service standards, calling it a quiet crisis threatening the quality of Grenada’s visitor experience.
“A hotel can hire someone and teach you the procedures of a check-in; but, there is still a lot of soft skills and customer service skills that are missing in the industry,’’ Gibbs said.
“For us, back in the day, common courtesy came naturally — we always knew to listen to the guest, rather than stay on the phone. But now, it is actually missing.’’
The proposal from Gibbs pairs formal customer service and hospitality training with structured job placement support, ensuring graduates enter the workforce prepared not just procedurally, but interpersonally.
“If you pair the training institute together with job placement, and we have everyone trained up in these areas, then when you go out into the workforce you can concentrate on your procedures — because you are already prepared for the disgruntled guest or any situation that may arise,’’ Gibbs explained.
The initiative takes on added urgency given the structural instability facing tourism workers. Gibbs highlighted the damaging pattern of hotels closing for three to four months during the slow season, forcing staff into repeated cycles of unemployment and high turnover — a problem, she argues, that is compounded by an inadequately trained workforce unable to command year-round opportunities.
“Once we have visitors coming year-round, persons employed in hospitality keep their jobs,’’ Gibbs said. “But you have to be ready. You have to be trained and prepared.’’
Gibbs linked the proposal directly to “Jobs that Pay’’, a development pillar of DPM that is led by veteran MP and prominent attorney, Peter David.
She said the dedicated Hospitality Training Institute, the proposed job placement services, and DPM’s policy of “Jobs that Pay’’, would work in tandem with her previously announced Job Placement Centre initiative to create a comprehensive pathway from training to employment, for young Grenadians entering the workforce.
