‘States taking staffing issues seriously and trying to help’
THE States has been praised by the manager of Saints Bay Hotel after he had four work-employment visas approved within 48 hours this week.
‘I want to say thank you to Immigration and the Border Agency,’ said Ashraf Elsergany yesterday.
‘They are working very long hours to approve these visas. I know the States is taking the current staffing issue very seriously and trying to help us out.
‘They know we’re under a lot of pressure, and I want to say thanks to the States for supporting our industry.’
The next problem Mr Elsergany needs to tackle is the issue of getting his four new employees onto the island.
‘They will have to stop in the UK and isolate for 10 days in a hotel that will cost £3,000,’ he said.
‘Then they will come to Guernsey and isolate for another two weeks.
‘If they are only coming for a nine-month visa, they will spend a month in quarantine.’
He said he hoped the States could eventually sort out an agreement with the UK for people transiting through the UK, directly to Guernsey.
‘Until this is sorted out, it’s very difficult to enter Guernsey,’ said Mr Elsergany.
But in the short term he was delighted with the new visa approvals and the ability to bring in people to support his over-stretched staff.
‘The immigration officer called me at 7.30 last night to tell me my visas had been approved.
‘I was so relieved.’
‘I actually sat down for a proper dinner with a glass of wine for the first time in months,’ Mr Elsergany said.
‘This staffing problem effects everyone. If hotels and restaurants don’t have staff, then we have less income and tourists, and the States gets less tax and revenue.
‘If the States help us, it helps everyone.’
Mr Elsergany was also grateful for the support of the Guernsey Hospitality Association.
He said the community and support that the GHA offered was helping a lot of businesses through this difficult time in the industry.
