Hunt on for BTMI boss – PM

The vacant position of chief executive officer (CEO) at the Barbados Tourism Marketing Incorporated (BTMI) will be filled.

That assurance was given tonight by Prime Minister Mia Mottley, two days after the former Acting CEO, Petra Roach resigned from the state agency.

Speaking during a press conference tonight at Ilaro Court, Mottley said a “headhunt for the best possible person” would soon begin to fill the post.

Roach, who acted in the position for the last six months, was yesterday named as the new head of the Grenada Tourism Authority.

“That position will be filled. Obviously COVID literally put a pause on the search for a CEO over the course of 2020. We had conversations with persons and it was felt generally that it made no sense proceeding because there was too much uncertainty globally and anybody who is of any serious worth or credibility may not decide that they want to apply at this point in time,” Mottley explained.

“That now being behind us, particularly with the vaccinations of the last three months and a perspective that sees some level of travel and visiting being part of our future again, we took a decision a couple weeks ago that we would want to ensure that we do a headhunt to get the best possible person.

“I want to make this point to the country; whenever we have gone for the best we have always succeeded and this country depends too much on tourism for us not to go for them… I am confident and comfortable that once that search is done and not just locally but globally, that Barbados must get the best person for the job and that we will continue to be ready to open back up our renewed and reinvigorated tourism product that is premised first and foremost on hospitality and not just substantive buzz words,” the Prime Minister pointed out.

Mottley praised Roach for her contribution, saying she had given “yeoman service” to the BTMI.

She said it was now Government’s intention to identify the areas where capacity needed to be boosted, where training was necessary and where the country needed to have a farther global reach. (RB)