There was a major policy disagreement among two members of the opposition in the Senate on Wednesday as the Upper House of Parliament debated the government’s resolution to transfer ownership of the Jolly Beach Hotel to the Social Security Scheme.
In making his contributions to the debate, Senator Jonathan Joseph, a native of the south, said both the Jolly Beach Hotel and the Social Security Scheme are dear to him. He added that the viability of the Scheme is a concern for everyone in the community and that he too shares those concerns.
However, he noted that as a hotelier for approximately 26 years who worked his way up from the entry level all the way to Acting General Manager, he is of the opinion that any investments into a hotel property, ought to show positive returns after seven to ten years. He added that anyone who does not ‘make back’ their investments after seven to ten years ‘is in the wrong business’.
“With that experience and with that knowledge, I have no problem with Social Security being given the chance with this investment. It can happen to make us all feel comfortable that Social Security has the financial resources to meet its obligations,” he declared.
Sen. Joseph indicated that he has some concerns as over the years there have been numerous changes in ownership and other developments which he believes may have stymied the full potential of the hotel.
He added that he would have loved to have been given an opportunity to tour the hotel along with other parliamentarians so that they could see first-hand what Social Security is getting.
Another concern is that he wants to see the management of the hotel remaining in local hands, noting that the skills set exists here to manage the property.
But his colleague on the opposition side, Senator Pearl Quinn-Williams took a different view of the proposal regarding the transfer of ownership of the hotel to the Social Security Scheme.
“Brother Jonathan, I must, respectfully, disagree with you on this matter. I forgive you because you missed the class,” she remarked.
