GREAT BAY (GIS)—Investing time, energy and resources to achieve the stabilization of the employment market, improve job training and career development opportunities, decreasing the number of unemployed persons and improving communication between the business sector and government are only a few of the objectives of Mr. Hyacinth Richardson as Commissioner of Labour Affairs.
To continue to realize the aforementioned objectives, Commissioner H. Richardson along with his staff members and local persons seeking employment were apart of a group treated to a tour of the Blue Mall located in Cupecoy on the Friday 24 July 2009. The orientation tour proposed by the office of Commissioner Richardson was meant to present the building to the commissioner and present the future labour situation, whereby it is projected that the mall could hire approximately 500 persons.
One of the first initial introductory meetings with Commissioner Richardson, his Executive Assistant Ms. Theolinda Richardson, Blue Mall Managing Director Mr. Luis Gioia and Mrs. Sandy Mourillon-Sandiford of Versant, a local firm already working with the new development took place in June of this year.
While the main focus of this first meeting was to acquaint Commissioner Richardson with Blue Mall a joint venture between Cupecoy Development N.V. and Venezuela based Fondo Valores, it became imperative for the commissioner to see and experience what the development of this mix-use project that comprises 84 retail spaces earmarked for luxury brand stores, gourmet restaurants and high end services and 38 full ownership luxury apartments would represent for the employment market in St. Maarten.
The Blue Mall is a totally new concept, Gioia said, there will be entertainment on the first level, shopping and food on the other levels. The stores will be selected based on synergy. As well, there are 10-15 major brands companies that are looking for operators and investors, thus there is much opportunity.
All people’s present young and old were privy to a video of Blue Mall after the completion and an actual tour of the building, which boosts some of the most picturesque views on the island.
Representatives and developers of Blue Mall have already indicated their willingness to work with the Labour Department to find local residents to fill positions, ranging from management to service providers when the mall opens next year. The Commissioner however got a jump start on finding some perspective individuals for employment at Blue Mall by inviting Ms. Christina A. Baly an emerging marketing professional, Mr. Ted Gregoire a sales specialist, Ms. Davania Bruney and others.
The quality and quantity of the jobs on the island are directly affected by outsourcing many jobs, that should be readily available to locals living on the island or returning to the island from pursuing higher education abroad, the Commissioner said.
Commissioner Richardson thanked Mr. Luis Gioia and staff during the first part of the tour for working to possibly create a much needed influx of jobs and investment to the island. This partnership is one supported by all parties as boasting the economy and image of the island is foremost in the mind of all individuals involved in making this endeavor a success for the island.
Many of the 500 projected jobs will come online with the final set up and opening of the mall in 2010. The representatives of Blue Mall along with the Labour Department intend to host at least two job fairs in preparation of the opening.
Before this takes place, the commissioner will work diligently on improving the manner in which unemployed persons are registered at the Labour office, as this general improvement on the island would go along way in improving the employment market for country St. Maarten.