SLASPA, Carib Travel and Princess Cruises collaborate for the 2008 Internship Program

Castries – Wednesday February 6, 2008 - The Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) in collaboration with Princess Cruises and Carib Travel embarked on an internship program for tertiary level students onboard the Royal Princess, while berthed at Port Castries. The students will be in groups of two and will be provided with an opportunity to understudy existing Princess Cruises crew on a rotational basis in the Bar, Restaurant, Accommodation and Pursers Departments during the period February 08 to April 24, 2008.
A welcome ceremony took place aboard the Royal Princess on January 31, 2008. In attendance, were the Minister for Communication, Works, Transport and Public Utilities Honourable Guy Joseph, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Senator the Honourable Alan Chastenet, Minister for Education Senator the Honourable Gaspard Charlemagne, students and teachers of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and representatives from SLASPA and Carib Travel. While onboard, the students got a preliminary view of what to expect when they start their understudy in a few days.

Speaking at the Welcome Ceremony, Minister Joseph applauded the aforementioned organizations for this undertaking, which clearly showed their social responsibility to the nation and the development of its people. He also indicated that the most authentic and enriching experience to visitors in St. Lucia is human contact, and therefore, the nation’s service providers must be trained and retrained to make them the best in the world.
In recognition of the achievement of the students, a graduation ceremony is being planned for April 24, 2008, where the students will be awarded with certificates for their internship.