Walk God Butch

[Bricktop]

a jamaican hero...

[Assasin]

Sad to hear. RIP Butch Stewart. Well done, Innings well played.

[Jangle]

A true Jamaican hero

[Assasin]

I have a brethren who started as a concierge supervisor as a youth out of high school. He worked with the company for years and got his bachelor degree 100 percent covered and was one of the head of the reservation company. When he was about to migrate, Butch call him in and said he can work with Sandals in the US until he is settled and ready to take on something else if he wanted.

That is the Butch Stewart many don't know. You will soon hear how many people going to come out and say what he has done for them.

[HL]

I attended the annual Jamaican Jamboree in Central Park NY several years ago.

One of the reggae entertainer on stage (won't call name) started to 'bun fire 🔥 pan Butch Stewart ' (among others).

Later learned from one of the Jamboree organizer...that Butch who owned Air Jamaica, was not only a sponsor; but was responsible for flying in all the entertainers to NY.

[Assasin]

No company in Jamaica provide more educational opportunity to their worker than Butch Stewart's company. Butch provided a lot of opportunities for workers to upgrade themselves and gave a lot the chance to work in other islands where his property is. One of my Chef brethren who was trainee just reminded me that Butch personally gave him a scholarship to study in Canada and perfect his craft. Dem can bun all the fire on Butch but do they give back anything to anyone than their bad man friend?

[Bricktop]

13000 + employed how much people they employ? bunch a yappers...

[HL]

.....the visiting forum dummy soon come ...and start callin people dummy.....

[Bricktop]

the original dummy...he & his sidekick sir dummy soon forward man...they can't resist

[Jangle]

Low hanging fruits jobs. Trinket makers and butlers. Waste jobs dem dat

[Assasin]

plus the countless others who have been trained and have gone on to be entrepreneurs or contributing in other fields.

Walk good Butch.

[Lazie]

Always stepped in to assist the country. RIP Mr. Stewart.

[HL]

Never met the man...but see his works.

[Gamma]

He was my neighbour growing up and he was a good one. His son Jon and I were very good friends in high school. So I may be a little biased.

[wbvs]

Originally Posted by Bricktop

a jamaican hero...

Certainly is.He died left Im money given ja.Jamaica
Was his wife.Sell sandals jamaica and it becomes
NIR with a Auditor to disclose what was done.
The Ones in the islands too.

[Mosiah]

I worked for Butch in the mid 80s. The company hero-worshipped him, to the detriment of the company sometimes.

Many salesmen made a lot of money working for ATL to the point where they could move on for themselves. But I always wondered what happened to those waiters, bartenders, cooks at the hotels. I don't believe many were able to break themselves free from poverty while working there.

Some of his directors were some of Jamaica's wrenkest high-brown Jamaicans.

So, my feelings on the life of Butch are mixed.

[Assasin]

Go back and check. A lot of people who work for Butch in the hotels are able to get good training and improve themselves. A lot of the people who work with him get opportunities to step up. A good amount can tell you they started as chef but are now their own boss or in management. Because of the growth of Sandals a lot of them get opportunities to go to other islands in management capacity. Butch provide more training to his staff than any other hotelier in Jamaica. A good amount get to go University without paying a cent and other training as well.

[Mosiah]

Yes, I went on training courses when I worked for ATL as well. Turned out they were a waste of time but I visited Panama twice on the company's dime.

So, the courses allowed these persons to go on and better themselves. But why can't they advance at Sandals?

[Assasin]

Maybe in the early years they didn't but a many has advanced as Sandals became a larger company. But you have to realize that sometimes you have to move to get ahead. I knew a few people who have been able move up within Sandals.

Nowadays in Jamaican tourism workers move pretty often to get ahead as new hotels open but many of Sandals workers stay so there must be a reason.

[Assasin]

Also remember sometimes a bell hop, waiters and housekeeper carry home more money that their managers, and chefs although some of the hotels say "no tips". I remember working with a guy and said he is not interested in working in any other department than been a bellhop as he doesn't have to touch his pay, it goes straight to saving.

[Mosiah]

Many workers in Jamaica stay where they are because jobs are so few! That included me! Not too many companies felt they needed my skills so, for the few that did, I had to hang on and get paid whatever they wanted to pay me.

[Assasin]

Yes many do but in the last few years before last year, the worker mobility between hotels was very high as new hotels open up and people got more opportunities.

You may also not realize but for most waiters, Bellman and Housekeeper may make their money in tips which can be more than their managers sometimes. Many rather hold on to their jobs as a form of security and have a taxi running, a farm, shop, Air B&B or small business on the side. It is not a one size fit all scenario for all. Some work in Jamaica in the winter and come US or Canada for summer where they make another income.

[Mosiah]

But Sass, what kinda living is that?

The way I see it, hotel workers should be as attractively paid as workers in the bauxite industry. When I lived in Mandeville, to have a job at Alcan meant making very good money, living in a very good neighbourhood, with your kids going to very good schools. Can we say that about hotel employees generally, our largest foreign exchange earner (not counting remittances)?

[Assasin]

Mo a lot of the workers are better paid than teachers, and bank tellers etc. One of the big problem you have is housing in the tourism area but most of the hotel workers are making more than you think. It could be better yes but that goes for most of Jamaica. Judging from my little time in the industry, most get a wage but in winter season most get Salary plus gratuity which can be pretty decent depend on occupancy.

[Mosiah]

Ok sah!