Tourism minister flags slow pace of work on hospitality training institute

Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Susan Rodrigues on Wednesday voiced concern over the pace of construction of the US$7 million Tourism and Hospitality Institute at Port Mourant.

The facility will be critical to developing skills for the country’s expanding tourism industry.

Rodrigues toured the site and met with contractors and consultants. The project, which began in January 2024, is expected to be completed by June 2026 and is being financed through a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank.

She noted the number of hotels under construction and government plans to attract further investment, saying the institute would help meet the demand for trained workers.

“This world-class facility, with the capacity to train 200 persons per cohort, will offer Caribbean Vocational Qualifications in areas ranging from mixology to cosmetology. We recognise that a growing sector requires a skilled workforce, and as a proactive government, we are ensuring that Guyanese are well-positioned to benefit from this expanding industry, while simultaneously building national capacity,” Rodrigues said.