POINT, Hanover — As many sections of the country scrutinise his every word for a clue about when Jamaica will go to the polls, Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Tuesday charged that investors have already voted by showing their confidence in the economy.

“We are in the season where we are talking about voting. Let me say this: Businesses vote… They vote by making investments,” Holness said.

Speaking during a ground-breaking ceremony for the expansion of Grand Palladium Hotels and Resorts, Holness repeated his often-made assertion that Jamaica is heading in the right direction as he welcomed the multi-billion-dollar investment.

The Palladium Hotel Group will be constructing 950 rooms on its property at Point in Hanover. The expansion will strengthen the brand’s footprint in Jamaica as well as introduce the group’s TRS Hotels adults-only, luxury all-inclusive brand and the family selection at Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts concept.

“Five hundred million euros is a big vote on Jamaica. Consider it carefully. For any investor to put that much capital at risk, especially in a jurisdiction that is not their own territory, this is now what you call foreign direct investment,” stated Holness.

The group currently has a €2-billion portfolio investment in Jamaica.

“That’s a second big vote. That someone from another country would analyse our risk situation here and say, ‘I feel comfortable putting down that level of investment,’[is] significant,” argued Holness.

He argued that in addition to investing in buildings, businesses give governments a stamp of approval by providing jobs like those that will be created by the hotel for which ground was being broken.

“They vote by expanding employment, by making a commitment to the people of the country for income from the investment. I see where the direct employment could go as high as about 1,500 during the construction phase and probably about 5,600 direct and induced employment as a result of this expansion. That’s a big vote on Jamaica,” stated Holness.

“It’s clear businesses feel that the macroeconomic indicators are going in the right direction, which is why [Tourism] Minister [Edmund] Bartlett can say we have over 6,000 rooms that we will be breaking ground for or have [broken ground for],” added the prime minister.

Turning his attention to local staff at the event, Holness told them their votes were just as important.

“We want you to vote as well, and we want you to vote for the Government because the Government is doing the right thing for you,” he urged.

He used the opportunity to once again stress the importance of publicly addressing the “uncomfortable” topic of compensation for tourism workers and conditions under which they work.

Holness said the goal is to engage the hotel sector in taking an enlightened approach, one that values employees and ends the traditional portrayal of two different versions of Jamaica.

“We build resorts in which it would appear that when you step off the main road and into the resort, you’re in a different world. That’s not the kind of tourism that we want. The entire Jamaica should look like a resort,” argued Holness.

“It’s not two Jamaicas. One Jamaica, and we intend to build out one Jamaica infrastructure that is world-class for everyone,” he vowed.

Along with the 950 hotel rooms for guests, 550 rooms will be constructed for Grand Palladium hotel workers.

“That is how we make tourism inclusive and sustainable,” stated Holness.

The Grand Palladium expansion project prioritises sustainability through energy-efficient designs, including architectural strategies to reduce heat, a building management system to optimise lighting and ventilation, and using renewable energy from photovoltaic panels and a hybrid trigeneration plant.

Water conservation measures include low-flow fixtures, an intelligent water management system, a seawater desalination plant, and treated wastewater for irrigation.

“Jamaica holds a special place in the Palladium Hotel Group’s global portfolio, and we are confident in Jamaica’s continued tourism potential,” said Grupo Empresas Matutes vice-president and president of Palladium Hotel Group Abel Matutes.

“This development underscores our commitment to supporting Jamaica’s economic growth, providing sustainable employment opportunities, and enhancing the island’s global appeal as a premier tourist destination,” added Matutes.

In welcoming the expansion by the Palladium Hotel Group Bartlett noted its long-term commitment to Jamaica.

“One of the wonderful achievements we have made is to build out a policy framework that enables the kind of development that now ensues in tourism. When a development like this embraces the elements of sustainability and inclusiveness it tells us that the policy direction is sound and proper,” said Bartlett.

“Tourism is about people, and the Palladium Hotel Group’s expansion is about investing in people,” added Bartlett.