Jamaican Hotel Workers Displaced by Katrina May Soon Return to the U.S.

Jamaican hotel workers who returned to the country following the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in the United States could soon find themselves back in the US under the government´s Overseas Hotel Work Program.

Public relations manager at the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, Gerry McDaniel, was quoted as saying last week that as many as 160 workers had already been interviewed. The successful applicants were expected to take up a variety of hospitality jobs at the South Seas Resort located on Captiva Island off the coast of Florida.

McDaniel said that in keeping with the labor minister´s recent announcement, those displaced following the disaster caused by Hurricane Katrina would be given preferential treatment in the selection.

More than 300 Jamaican hotel and hospitality workers were directly affected by Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the US Gulf Coast on August 29. The distraught workers who were assisted by the ministry in returning to Jamaica, were given food and phone calls to relatives and relocated to other parts of the US.

Some 175 displaced workers have since arrived in the island and McDaniel said the ministry would be continuing to offer its support to those who made requests.

Approximately six weeks of employment and wages is expected to be lost due to the extent of damage caused by the hurricane.