B.T.I.A. and D.F.C. Working to Address Tourism Stakeholders’ Needs

John Burgos

The government has assured public officers that their salaries will remain untouched despite the present economic crisis but it education subsides will be facing cut backs.  But what about the private sector?  According to Burgos, B.T.I.A. has approached the Development Finance Corporation to see what can be done to assist tourism stakeholders with much needed financing.

John Burgos, Executive Director, B.T.I.A.

“The prime minister has secured the salaries of the public sector, you know, all these public servants, a little bit over sixteen thousand public servants.  He said don’t worry, you’re going to be receiving your salary, you know.  That’s fine, that’s great, I think a lot of people support that because that would cripple the economy even more if the government begins to either relief some people from their jobs or reduce their salary.  But what we are saying is, what are you doing for the private sector?  What are you doing for the tourism sector.  We are here for the last three months struggling.  By the week I hear from my members that we are closing doors, the unemployment rate keeps going up.  What happens to those people?  So that’s what we’re saying.  Last week, we put out a position paper that we shared with the Development Finance Corporation.  We think that one of the quickest ways that government can provide some relief is a special program for financing opportunities for the tourism sector.”