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Gov’t eyes private-public partnership to address BVI’s HR concerns

Labour Minister Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull.

Minister for Labour Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull said the government is looking to engage in a private-public partnership to address the human resources concerns that are affecting the Virgin Islands.

At a joint press conference with the Premier on Friday, the Labour Minister said he was invited to be the keynote speaker at the launch of SHRM Virgin Islands (SHRMVI) — an organisation that focuses on the development of human resources in the territory.

“We launched at that time the initiative for which we are going to engage in a private-public partnership, where SHRMVI, the human resource managers of the companies throughout the BVI companies (like HireBVI), Mrs Rochelle Lawrence, and all the other persons that affect how the labour force is affected in this territory. We will join together to address some of the issues that we know are faced within the territory of the Virgin Islands and surrounding work permits, surrounding the workforce pool” Turnbull said.

“The Minister of Finance and leader of this country, [Dr Natalio Wheatley] has also endorsed the approach to have the Ministry of Education — together with the Department of Trade & Economic Development — join forces to help partner as we move forward to changing the way that we do business for customer service all the way to the way your work permit is processed and the way that employment is filled in this territory,” he explained.

The Labour Minister noted that while it is important the BVI continues to welcome others in the territory as they continue to help build the community and the nation, it is also important that the hundreds of students graduating from high schools in the territory, and those who have studied abroad, have something to return to once they’ve completed their studies.

“We have to ensure that our students have the part that they play in the workforce of this territory to continue to build it from strength to strength, so I’m excited about that,” Turnbull said.

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10 Comments

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  1. Sir says:

    You are mixing political affiliates in this equation. Pass your baton over to the deputy governor’s office please. Thank you

  2. Lost says:

    The workers at the Labour Dept, did not follow previous rules, now you think they are going to learn new rules and follow them. LOL not happening.

    Stubbornness is the main characteristic found in all the BVI work places. Mulish behavior is taught. Those coming into the work force love this attitude. They do not have to be on time, or follow instructions, or punch the time clock on time, or stay off their phones as requested by their bosses.

    Businesses are tired of hearing new schemes to make the school leaver or any Tortolian a better employee. They are tired, because too many of the local employees do not want to be better, they just want to get paid for showing up, albeit eventually.

    I think all of this lazy and mulish behavior is learned at home and in school. It is time to face the facts. You know a well raised person when you meet them, just as you know someone was raised with lots of negative attitude.

    The Governor needs to deal with his froward civil service, or nothing will ever change in the BVI. Manners matter, rudeness is so ghetto.

    Like 11
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  3. Reality Check says:

    There should be a lot of people looking for work once Government reduces its employment by 25-35%, as it will have to do to reduce expenses if it ever wants to get back to a level where the Financial Protocols will allow for borrowing!

    Like 1
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  4. Experiment says:

    Suspend the out dated Labour Code and put the entire Labour Dept. on administrative leave for a year. Let the economic market determine the HR in the BVI. If this experiment is successful then make this change permanent!

  5. smh says:

    So its only Tortolians as you say this behaviors come from?! please!! Need I remind you majority of the working community is 80% expats, not only that the next 10% are 1st & 2nd generations BVI from same expats. So yes worry about where they get that behavior and as you say “Mullish” ways cause its not from we!! I swear you all think we where never hard working before you all came here, but I digress smh

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  6. @ lost says:

    Pay them for what they do / have hidden video cameras so we Will have the evidence to prove who the players are / and let people like ( @ SMH ) prove otherwise or keep denying the facts ?

  7. SHRM? says:

    Who does SHRM Virgin Islands (SHRMVI) belong to…. the next family that will become more wealthy Cline Family.

  8. ???? says:

    I can’t keep up with this rinky dink government. I thought this man was the Minister of Natural Resources. Been trying reach this man for days to no avail. Can’t get a hold of Theodore James neither.

  9. But… says:

    Isn’t this the portfolio of the Governor and his deputy who has several HR degrees and motivational books?!

  10. @Lost says:

    You here bashing Tortolians and expats do the same things you are referring to. Several establishments I’ve visited and see the same behaviour patterns from expats, but you quick to bash Tortolians. Get a grip of yourself and stop the hate.

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