The controversial deal between some of the Turks and Caicos Islands resorts and international excursion booking agency Red Hospitality has not gone down well with many Turks and Caicos Islanders, many of whom are voices of authority.
A correspondence which has been making the rounds of social media of a resort informing locally operated excursion companies that instead of booking them directly for especially water excursions for their guests, they would now solicit the services of Red Hospitality.
Local excursion companies would now have to go through red hospitality, who would only give them businesses that they don’t have them means to operate but would demand a cut of up to 25 percent from the local companies to whom they award those businesses. Furthermore, must register with Red Hospitality for a fee in order to be considered.
Ralph Higgs, former Tourism Minister believes the deal between Red Hospitality and the local hotels will further disenfranchise local craft operators.
The following is a statement from Higgs concerning the Red Hospitality fiasco:
“The Red deal which was recently announced is a “Red Hot Deal” that may further disempower and marginalize our people.
“I find that all of the sectors of our economy, which our people have proven time and time again, that they can ably manage are being undermined from us.
“These sectors are now out of our reach or have new barriers to entry, making it very difficult for us to re-enter that business or operate therein.
“I remember when once upon a time, Turks and Caicos Islanders were dominant in the construction sector, the real estate sector, property management sector, boutique and gift shops sector including the now coveted water sports and fishing sector, just to name to a few.
“Today, our people have been almost entirely pushed out of these sectors or they have become so marginalized, that they find it challenging to make a meaningful living in these areas.
“The relaxing of the laws that saw certain areas reserved for our people have disempowered too many of us. Let it be known; I will never support anything that hinders the growth or development of our country’s economy.
“However, we clearly have to revisit the Reserved sectors of our economy to ensure our people have a realistic chance at succeeding here in our country, before all is lost. It is approaching the eleventh hour in this regard. Let’s change course before it is too late.”
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