Bartlett wants clarity - Tourism minister seeks talks on US$3b Sandals-Royal Caribbean deal with eyes on jobs, local suppliers and investment

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett wants talks with Sandals Resorts and Royal Caribbean Group on how their new multibillion-dollar partnership will affect Jamaican workers, local suppliers and future investment in the country.

His comments come days after Royal Caribbean announced an approximately US$3-billion investments for an equity interest in Sandals and Beaches Resorts as part of a new partnership in the all-inclusive resort business. The companies have announced that Royal Caribbean will make a 50 per cent investment in the partnership.

While welcoming the deal, Bartlett said on Friday that further details are still to emerge and the Government wants to understand what the arrangement will mean for Jamaica.