Deal done with Antigua to help tackle hospitality staff crisis

Thursday 17 March 2022

100 hospitality students from Antigua and Barbuda will work in Jersey's bars, restaurants and hotels this summer as part of a new agreement signed between the islands.

The new three-year partnership will result in Antiguans coming to Jersey for six months from April to September and coincides with 'low season' in the Caribbean.

This week, a 'Memorandum of Understanding' was signed by Economic Development Minister Lyndon Farnham, with Antigua and Barbuda's Minister of Tourism and Investment, Charles Fernandez.

The signing was the culmination of work between the Government's Economy and External Relations Departments, the Jersey Hospitality Association and the Chamber of Commerce, the High Commission of Antigua and Barbuda in London, the Antigua & Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association and the Antigua and Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute.  

Senator Farnham said: “Our ambition is for this to be a long-term partnership which will provide employment and professional development opportunities for Antigua and Barbuda hospitality professionals during their low season and, at the same time, offer recruitment opportunities for Jersey companies.”

Minister Fernandez added: “We are excited to be signing onto this partnership that will create and support rewarding employment and training opportunities in such an important economic sector for both Antigua and Barbuda, and Jersey.  We are certainly encouraging those trained in hospitality to apply: this is a platform to show-off their work and demonstrate the quality of Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism product.”

During the signing ceremony, Antigua and Barbuda's High Commissioner in the UK, Karen-Mae Hill, not only praised the agreement but said that she had lived in Jersey for around five months working for the Jersey Financial Services Commission.

She added that she had particularly enjoyed watching the International Air Display and Battle of Flowers and still had friends she'd met during her time in the island. 

There are about 600 vacancies in the Jersey hospitality sector, with the industry also looking to Kenya and Rwanda to help fill staff shortages this season.

Pictured: The Memorandum of understanding was signed by Senator Lyndon Farnham on behalf of Jersey. 

Jersey's agreement with Caribbean jurisdiction also sets up a mechanism for training exchanges between the Antigua and Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute and Highlands College. 

An online portal has been also launched, where Jersey hotels, restaurants and other hospitality businesses can advertise job vacancies directly to Antiguan and Barbudan staff.