PORT ANTONIO, Portland — In his first public comment about the wave of protests that have hit the tourism sector, Jamaica Labour Party leader and Prime Minister Andrew Holness has assured employees that his Administration is listening to their concerns.

Speaking at a combined east and west Portland constituencies conference on Sunday night, he also said he has had talks with investors and is satisfied that they have a firm grasp on the characteristics of the Jamaican workforce. Holness also blasted political foes who he said are fuelling the industrial action.

Workers at Excellence Oyster Bay in Trelawny were the latest to take to the streets Monday morning, even as Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett went into a second day of talks with tourism stakeholders. As with other protesters at other properties last week, Excellence Oyster Bay workers complained about low wages, long hours, and the need for additional benefits.

On Sunday, Holness told Labourites that the protesting workers have a right to expect a certain standard of employment.

“We hear their plight and understand their issues,” he said.

Stressing the importance of the tourism sector, which accounts for 30 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product, the party leader expressed satisfaction that his talks with stakeholders have been fruitful.

“I met just last Friday with some of the investors in tourism and we had a very frank conversation. What I am pleased with is that the owners, investors, and managers understand that tourism is about happiness — and that is what sells tourism. It means the worker must be happy, the visitor must be happy, and the manager must be happy. Minister [of Tourism Edmund] Bartlett has been asked to lead the dialogue that the workers in the tourism industry is happy,” said Holness.

“There are many issues there, not just about pay; the conditions under which they work, some is how management talks to them — and if there is one thing about Jamaicans, [it] is [that you have to talk to them with] respect,” he added.

Holness then turned his attention to players who he said are taking advantage of legitimate challenges within the tourist sector for their own gain.

“As a government we cannot allow grievances in the natural process of adjustments in the business sector to derail the process. There are those who want to take political advantage of the grievances, and are fuelling industrial action for political point-scoring so that they can get political power. Those persons who are behind the scenes agitating for political reasons, when they were in political power they could not grow the tourism industry. They wrecked the tourism industry with reckless actions,” he charged.

“Tourism workers, we understand the issues. My government, me personally, we care for you, we understand the issues, and we will resolve the issues in a favourable way,” Holness assured.