Andrea Purkiss presses Government on tourism workers and industry accountability

Eastern Hanover MP Andrea Purkiss opened her 2026 Sectoral Debate presentation by framing tourism as a matter of daily survival for Jamaican families, while accusing the Government of falling short on management of the sector.

Speaking in the House, Purkiss said she was mindful of the significance of the occasion, both as Opposition spokesperson on tourism and linkages and as the first woman elected to represent Eastern Hanover. She said the moment carried meaning beyond her constituency and thanked the people of Eastern Hanover, as well as hospitality workers who were present for the sitting.

Purkiss also expressed gratitude to Opposition Leader Mark Golding for assigning her the tourism and linkages portfolio. Before turning to the policy issues, she acknowledged her family, including her father, mother, spouse and daughter, Italy. She also thanked her councillors, named in the transcript as Andrea De Haney Grant, Lennox Frey and Winter Mintosh, along with her constituency staff, secretary and executive team.

The Opposition MP said Jamaica must look past official statements and examine how tourism is affecting workers, small operators and communities. She described tourism as more than an economic category, saying it is tied to school fees, mortgages and food on the table for many households.

Purkiss argued that although tourism remains Jamaica’s leading foreign exchange earner and one of the country’s most labour-intensive industries, many of the people who keep it running are under strain. She pointed to workers waiting on hotels to reopen and others facing uncertainty over pay.

“This is not a celebration, Madam Speaker. It is an accountability audit,” she said.

Purkiss said her presentation would review the wider tourism system, including air travel, roads, large resorts and small hotels. She said she intended to examine how Jamaica’s tourism earnings are shared, who benefits most, and who is being left to struggle for what remains.