Hundreds of workers are to be recruited this week by Moon Palace to complete its resort in Ocho Rios, St Ann where work has shut down since last week.
The North Coast Times has learnt that Moon Palace, a Mexican hotel company, is to take over the construction phase of the work that has fallen way behind schedule and that has pushed back the opening dates several times.
Moon Palace last year bought the former Sunset Jamaica Grande and is intending to spend US$50 million to operate a five-star hotel with more than one thousand rooms and suites, as Moon Palace Jamaica Grande. The hotel has been undergoing massive refurbishing, including the gutting of all existing rooms, addition of some six floors in one block and refurbishing of common areas. However, in the last month there have been several work disruptions, threats of violence on the site and strikes over short payment, delayed payment and confusion over work arrangement.
The workers now to finish the project are to be recruited at a work fair at the Anglican Church Hall, Ocho Rios on Wednesday afternoon, March 18. The Moon Palace contractor are seeking finishers mainly, including electricians, air conditioning technicians and plumbers. They are expected to be HEART Level 2 certified and have experience. More than a thousand workers are to be recruited.
Information to The Times is that Government intervened after the shut down last week and brought Moon Palace to the table, as the hotel company indicated it was suffering excessive losses and its investment was under threat.
It’s understood that former contractors Ican will play no further part in the construction. However, it could not be determined if all obligations to Icon and its subcontractors had been met.
