Charter companies refusing to hire local boat captains?
Labour Minister Lorna Smith has stated that she will be launching an investigation into reports that charter companies are refusing to hire BVIslanders seeking to be employed as boat captains.
Smith said some 60 locals were recently certified as boat captains after completing the relevant course at the H Lavity Stoutt Community College. But she said there are allegations that local companies are overlooking BVI residents who are desirous of being boat captains as they are in favour of expatriates.
“What is not displeasing to me is the allegation that they (local boat captains) are passed over for employment in favour of non-belongers and especially as the season moves into high gear and many of them are sitting at home. This is an allegation but it’s one that I do intend to investigate,” Smith recently told the House of Assembly.
She also urged local businesses to hire BVIslanders in situations where they are available and willing to fill vacant boat captain positions.
“I want to make it clear to all under the sound of my voice that where there is a BVIslander qualified as a boat captain, that person should be given priority on the boat. Of course, I expect those captains that are hired to give the kind of service and warm welcome that we in the BVI are known for,” Smith stated.
The complaint that businesses prefer to hire expatriates is quite common in every sector of the BVI economy. Locals say the companies see expatriates from certain countries as cheap labour who aren’t familiar with all the local laws — something which opens them up to abuse.
Residents say businesses shy away from locals because they refuse to work under certain conditions and low wages that prevent them from enjoying a decent standard of living in the BVI.
In the meantime, there are no stringent laws that prevent businesses from hiring expatriates and no strong penalties for businesses that choose non-belongers over belongers.
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“What is not displeasing to me is the allegation that they (local boat captains) are passed over for employment in favour of non-belongers”.
So it’s not displeasing to her? So she’s happy that bvislanders
are passed over! Strange political position.
Come no- you know that’s most likely a typo/misquote on VINO’s part!
She sure meant ” is displeasing”. It would not make sense what is printed. IMHO
First off, Lorna is an I**ot as she knows nothing about being a captain.
Companies hire expat captains for numerous reasons. Their experience, skills, and ability to interact, entertain, and engage the customer is far above the customer service level of the local belonger. This is evident in every facet of business throughout the territory. The drive and willingness to work long hours, overtime on nights, weekends and holidays is evident in any expat captain, as he or she will go the extra mile to deliver service at a superior level. This is a trait that is not taught in any school. It is learned at a cultural level and expats bring that with them.
Throwing a person into a position, especially a captain, is a recipe for disaster risking the boat and possibly the passengers. Charter companies are not willing to accept that risk
First of all Jim when the moorings started and all through the 70’s and 80’s into the 90’s it was local captains who made the industry a success. You all like to come on here and call down locals making it look like they can’t do anything or make any contributions.
What about the nonbelonger captains and their track records of success? There are some charter companies who say they rather the local pools because the non-belongers have too many issues and negativity.
First of all, Lorna has given her blood sweat and tears to better the BVI since i grew up there from the age of 6 years old.
There is no need for name calling and degrading someone when that same someone is the one fighting to help solve the issue regarding hiring local captains!! The fact that the issue was bought to light and has been acknowledged and looked into is a step in the right direction to continue to make the BVI self sustainable!
Part of the training should include internship with the charter companies to give the local captains the experience they need prior to certification. In every field of profession there is always an element of practical training. It makes no sense to have a booming blue economy and locals cannot benefit from it. This has been going on for decades and its not a new complain. The minister must surely be aware of it before now. It is time to do something meaningful about the problem besides pointing out the shortcomings of the local captains.
Part of the training should include internship with the charter companies to give the local captains the experience they need prior to certification. In every field of profession there is always an element of practical training. It makes no sense to have a booming blue economy and locals cannot benefit from it. This has been going on for decades and its not a new complain. The minister must surely be aware of it before now. It is time to do something meaningful about the problem besides pointing out the shortcomings of the local captains.
While it is good to hire locals, she does know the industry usually has these jobs filled before the season begins?
just because they have a peice of paper saying they are qualified doesnt mena they are ready to be on a boat 24/7 with strangers that can be rude and a royal pain in the ass. It take yers of expereince to always smile , something they need to learn as deck hands and lower rungs of the ladder not right in as captains.
@ Jim i agree with you a 100% as a captain most of the young men are inexperienced and have no manners and are very disrespectful as an owner i won’t take a million dollar vessel and give it to an inexperienced person and another thing licence don’t navigate the vessel.
Who in their right mind would hire a BVIslander without experience as a boat captain? Most of the expat captains have spent YEARS on these boats as lower-level positions and have got their official licenses – not a couple of months worth of classes at HLSCC. Is the HLSCC license recognized internationally? Many of these charter boats are required to go to other countries – would the BVI-licensed captain be able to do this? There is also the huge issue of security and stability. The BVI captain doesn’t like something or gets a better offer half way through the season and he/she can just walk away without ANY repercussions. Each of these charter boats is a FLOATING BUSINESS – nobody is going to take that risk….
Those who are experienced and have years in the industry can take the new boat captain along for training. The fully experienced is not going to be around for ever. Let the newly certified captains work alongside the experienced ones so that they can gain access to employment. This is all a game plan for those boat/yacht owners to come with their own captain and crew and not having to pay for local services. The use of expatriates wants to continue the riff of Virgin Islanders and folks f r om neighboring Caribbean Islands. There are local young captains employed by local yacht companies, so reel and come again.
and where are these extra captains going to reside when on the boat for a week?
If that is reality then BVI is doomed. You work your way UP, not your way in. I hope you can understand the difference.
It is always interesting to see the expatriate responses to the thought of locals being employed in their own country/territory. I often wonder how they can feel that it’s ok for them to have employment in the BVI but an outrage for an islanders to enjoy the same. The saying is true “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” VIslanders, stand up and fight for your right to earn a living in your territory. Expatriates must be made to understand and accept that you have a right to eat as well.
HLSCC delivers the internationally recognized Caribbean Boatmaster license and STCW, RYA, and ABYC certificates. Whether newly licensed individuals have the experience to take immediate charge of a charter and crew is a separate question.
Why are expats flocking the BVI is it because they has been pushed out of their jobs as captans in their own country?This Is frequently happening along the Diáspora not only in the BVI.
I have visited the BVI from the states for over 20 years and prefer local captains. Charter companies should be giving locals the opportunities. Invest in the locals and it will have much more impact and better outcome for all.
Liar
That was a laughably shameless attempt at covert self promotion.
Please keep off this beloved newsite! You really cannot see reality for what it is…
The BVI is NOT known for good service from its citizens – that’s why expatriates from elsewhere in the Caribbean, the Philippines and further afield do most of the service industry jobs. If the “service” on offer by many government departments was standard throughout the territory, then there would be no tourist industry. As has been said above, a lot more about being in a service industry needs to be on the school curriculum from the start.
This sh1t has got to stop as long as there is a local captain with all of his papers the charter company should be made to hire that captain, it should be law. A lot of the expat captains don’t have a licenses or STW and knows nothing about the BVI, some of them have licenses and can’t even dock a boat and I know for sure some of them are very rude. Do something about this. Make it law if you turn down local captain with experience and his paper work fine them and if they keep it up don’t renew their trade license and if they are a be longer fine them and suspend there license for a season
Well, rightly or wrongly, if we want to see what’s left of our charter industry relocate elsewhere, that would be a great way to go about it.
When they go others would come.
Why do the recently qualified local captains not go offshore and get more experience? This is how the ex-pats get enough experience to run a yacht. Many of the BVI boats are just two or three crew so the captain has to have enough experience to deal with all sorts of situations, including customer service and being used to working 18 hr days. It would be great if the locals would sign up with crew agencies and really enhance their paper qualification with real world experience. Unfortunately, as stated many times here, the licence is just the start of the career, not a fast track to being in charge.
This is the problem in the BVI, we look at things from such a simplistic viewpoint. Being ‘QUALIFIED’ to be a captain isn’t just about being certified to operate the vessel, there’s a lot more that’s entailed in handling such jobs. Furthermore we need to understand that the marine industry is an INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS, the owners of these boats aren’t locals just sitting around looking for employees. They have access to people who they trust to sail/manage their vessels that they invest millions in. What we should be doing is forging real partnerships with these businesses to train BVIslanders from the ground up in ALL aspects of sailing/hospitality.
The irony here is that the Government has not invested ONE SINGLE DIME in marine education at the Primary or Secondary level but expect businesses to hire people after 6 months training at HLSCC. Would these HLSCC graduates gain employment anywhere else with this qualification? I am sure unfairness happens, that’s life, but how can government mandate businesses hire people, solely based on them completing a course? So all law firms should hire all law school graduates based on their degree and not their experience and value brought to the firm? This also stretches across all hospitality sectors. Bars, Restaurants, Hotels are supposed to hire a local just because they did a 10 day course somewhere? When will we wake up?
You are spot on and this just doesn’t apply to charter companies, it applies to 90% of businesses that are not entry level positions. The Hospitality industry is a direct, client facing industry so attaining your ‘paper’ qualification is only the start of a fruitful career. Attitude, work-ethic, appearance, consistency etc. These are all required traits if people really want to make it in these businesses and eventually start their own business. It’s far too easy to say “They just don’t want me because I’m black/local!”. Let’s not be naive, this happens as well, there is unfairness, that is life. But if we truly want BVIslanders to step up, the Government needs to INVEST IN PROPER EDUCATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What’s obvious is the local captains have made themselves so much more difficult to work with, and do so much worse a job, it’s actually better business to pay more to hire work permit workers!
Get your act together Cap!
Why aren’t more local captains investing in their own vessels? Isn’t it a bit shameful for people to be on here crying about an overseas yacht owner or company not wanting to hire you? We speak about the expat owners/business, are the locally owned/managed charter businesses hiring other locals? Where’s the collaboration efforts? Why aren’t more locals involved in yacht management etc.? Stop crying about jobs and focus more on creating opportunities. If you are that good you will succeed and if you are having trouble succeeding it means you are not that good. The reality is that despite all the back and forth hoopla, there are still lots of local captains, crew, chefs, mates etc. working hard, doing their best and making it. This should not be overshadowed by a few who aren’t getting things their way. Life is real!
The BVI marine industry is only 55 years old. Many of the ex pat captains from the 1970’s and 80’s are Belongers now and still working as captains. These senior captains are licensed, experienced and HOSPITABLE with their guests therefore in demand. Many of the young local licensed, inexperienced captains with poor hospitality training are not ready to adequately command a vessel with guests aboard.
Total nonsense, where do you get your information from. Did you visit the charter companies as ask to see their captains files. I have worked in this industry for 12 years and we ONLY use local captains. Please get your facts correct and approach the charter companies before coming up with such nonsense.
Yt ppl in the comments making sure it stays that way, aunty lorna
Reposting an above comment:
This comment says it best!
My comment added at the bottom:
First off, Lorna is an I**ot as she knows nothing about being a captain.
Companies hire expat captains for numerous reasons. Their experience, skills, and ability to interact, entertain, and engage the customer is far above the customer service level of the local belonger. This is evident in every facet of business throughout the territory. The drive and willingness to work long hours, overtime on nights, weekends and holidays is evident in any expat captain, as he or she will go the extra mile to deliver service at a superior level. This is a trait that is not taught in any school. It is learned at a cultural level and expats bring that with them.
Throwing a person into a position, especially a captain, is a recipe for disaster risking the boat and possibly the passengers. Charter companies are not willing to accept that risk
——-
Here are some additional views: The islands BVI as well as the USVI attract a wide variety of tourists from around the world. What they all have in common is they want to fill safe and that a professional is at the helm. It doesn’t matter if it’s a middle console, catamaran, yacht, what ever they want to feel like they have a professional at the helm. You don’t get that since most of the time when it comes to local captains. You also don’t get the level of service that expats come with as said above. There is a customer service skill that expats come with and very few Belongers and locals have that. It doesn’t matter what business you go to in the islands customer service sucks. Look at the customs offices at the docks. Everyone there is lazy and would prefer to be on their phones or eating chicken. It’s just a fact, expats excel in customer service and that’s what the industry needs.
Next just because a local gets a captain’s license doesn’t mean experience. That is a good way to have the accident and fatality rate increase. A new captain isn’t going to stern to in white bay with 8 foot swells and be okay. No there will be destruction and injuries. So Lorna should go mind her own business she doesn’t have a clue and is a mo**n. We have some of the nicest boats in the Caribbean and I won’t have them torn up because a complete ignorant ba**oon that just wants the spotlight and to hear herself talk. Nor can she dictate who we hire nor will she.
Ethics and attitude. Need i say more
All excuses hiding personal preferrences, biases and racilaisms… Trane the young men properly and they will perform above and beyond all established protocols. Black people have alwats risen to all chalenges including slavery… There is nothing wecan’t learn and master.
Teach every child in the BVI to swim, compulsory, from primary school and in one generation they will have the pick of all the marine industry jobs.
Plus, our population will be safer.
Our population will be happier.
Our population will appreciate the natural environment that attracts these tourists in the fist place, offering a chance of saving some of what nature we have left.
@anonymous Not mastered sexism yet it would seem. Are they all men? Can only VI men be Captains. If we are going to fight for equality of VIslanders against expats maybe you should look at working on equality for women VIslanders amongst their own VIslanders.
It’s pretty much an easy solution:
No work permits, SHALL BE ISSUED, for the Marine Captain industry for the next two years!
Incredibly simple way to destroy the tourism industry here.
Im reading through these comments and I can see who enjoys employing the yts… This one particular company has been hiring cooks and captains that aren’t qualified but have been paying money under the table to labour officials and falsifying resumes…
These captains go home during a season and work, then return when the season is back.. The few local captains aren’t afforded that luxury…
Check every charter company and look at the ratio of yt to black captains and cooks also.. You will see the culprits… They love employing there own because yt people though displeased with go 10x harder on a black person… thats the truth..
You came for the caribbean experience and cuisine only to have chefs that cannot cook caribbean food and captains that dont know the place enough to make sure you get the full experience..
Make all the excuses to mask your racism.. Investigate all of them!!
THIS MINISTRY NEED A CONRAD MADURO OR A JUILIAN FRASER TO DEAL WITH THIS TYPE OF SITUATION
I am a professional sailor of 15 years. The BVI Captains liscence is an entry level qualification into professional employment on yachts. Please be aware that while business do want to employ locally completion of this course doesnt mean you are ready to take on the position of a 70ft catamaran with four crew and 12 guests. To obtain such work outside of the bvi most sailors must first obtain as an example a RYA yachtmaster offshore. (Entry level for a deck position on a sailing or motor yacht). Pre requirements listed below. The BA minimum of 2,500 miles are logged before you sit the exam. At least half the sea time must be in tidal waters.
50 days at sea on yachts up to 500GT.
During your qualifying sea time, you would have completed five passages of over 60 miles**. Two of these passages would have been at night, and two acting as skipper. All five qualifying passages must have been on a vessel between 7 and 24m in length.
At least five days experience as skipper.
A valid First Aid Certificate.
Please note if you hold an STCW Elementary First Aid, then it must have been issued in the last five years.
For RYA First Aid, it’s three years.
A GMDSS short-range VHF radio certificate
There is a specific company in the BVI namely, N* Yachting at nanny cay
They are bringing captains from the meds (where the person who controls the roster is from) and not giving any locals charters, which is unfair. This includes experienced local captains for the ones who are saying they have no experience and entry level licenses.