Labour Department’s ‘locals first’ policy rightly delaying work permits
Minister for Immigration & Labour, Vincent Wheatley has defended the protracted period often taken by the Labour Department to process work permits.
“What we see happening in the BVI now on a broad scale, is no one expected the BVI to turn around so quickly and for the economy to be so robust,” Minister Wheatley said during the Virgin Islands Party’s (VIP) Let’s Talk radio show last evening.
The Minister said the result of this was the unprecedented decision by many businesses to recruit persons at the same time.
He added that because of the BVI’s small labour pool, many persons are forced to seek labour from the outside for their businesses.
“We cannot import all the labour and have our local persons sitting at home. It is always important to us in Labour that we seek out the locals who may be able to fill these positions before we send them to the outside. Hence sometimes we have a delay in processing work permits,” Wheatley said.
Labour Department’s system is not slow
The minister insisted that it was not the case that the system was slow, but instead, the department was simply doing its due diligence to ensure that it was not giving away jobs that locals can do.
According to Wheatley, in the frenzy and fit to hire persons, the easiest thing to do would be to approve all work permits, noting that a lot of persons would be happy about this.
“But what about the local person sitting on that corner who can mop that floor for you, who can DJ for you, who can mix that drink for you, who can be a waiter for you? Do we not give them a chance?” Wheatley questioned.
He reiterated his praise for the Education Ministry’s Labour-Education Connect initiative where training must be provided for locals and said this will be taken to the next level.
“We must give our people a fighting chance in their own country and I stand by that. And I make no apology absolutely for saying that. I will always say we must stand by our people to make sure they get every advantage to make a living in their own country,” he added.
Education Minister backs Labour’s approach
Meanwhile, Education Minister Dr Natalio Wheatley added his support for the Labour Minister, noting that even though persons might say that there is an absence of qualified labour or that some locals are unwilling to work, these critics need to be part of the solution.
Dr Wheatley said several entities have been engaged in collecting data to examine gaps in skillset within the labour force in order to facilitate some of the needed training at the local H Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC).
He said there will also be apprenticeships on offer to help persons to identify suitable labour that can be further trained and developed to help to facilitate the labour needs of the economy.
Dr Wheatley said this will be better for everyone and will result in more spending, less unemployment, and a reduction in the potential and likelihood of unemployed persons committing crimes.
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We need more ministers like Hon Wheatley to look out for us
If you agree with more racists like him, then you are one too.
NATIVES FIRST, ALIENS SECOND AND ISLAND MAN LAST
Come down Father, come downnn….
why don’t why not tell all the white and black immigrants to leave the island?
… and just leave the indigenous Arawaks and Caribs here in the BVI!
The Arawaks and Caribs had already died (killed) prior to our Africans ancestors being forcefully brought to the Caribbean, in this case the BVI, in the most inhumane manner. The descendants of those slaves can no longer call Africa home after being displaced for so many years. We have no rights there. As descendants of those Caribbean slaves, this is our home. We have a right to the BVI. So please stop being obtuse! You know exactly what persons mean by the term indigenous locals.
Just because we know what you mean make that you are right.
You’re not indigenous. Full stop.
So you are racist too.
I don’t want Martians here. They stink like sewage
Vincent what you are doing doesn’t make any sense. There are many jobs that locals are not interested in doing particularly jobs in the hospitality and other vocational industries. We have to do the work to train and re-train our people for jobs. Holding up work permits rather than coming up with a plan over time to get what you desire is silly, childish and destructive. Many businesses are still struggling from hurricane Irma and you are adding more problems to them. It is the local businesses that you will put out of business. They do not have deep pockets like most foreign own businesses. Stop being such a shallow minded person. Again you are letter your feelings towards people for different islands direct your thinking and policies. Your true colors are showing.
@ Crazy
Your assessment is spot on if this is what he is doing/saying. This is why people should not make blanket statements. I would hope that he is not holding up positions that we all know cant be filled by the local populations. However, I think it is ok to look at some areas and see what is going on . Is it training or people don’t want to work? they should find out and come up with a plan but to just say I am holding up things for locals is not very intelligent.
It’s both training AND not wanting to do the work.
Training involves commitment, time, and lo and behold, work. Add in the unwillingness to not do a particular job – like hospitality, tourism, or the marine sector and the belonger is forced into jobs he or she has absolutely no experience or desire to do. No wonder customer service is so terrible when the employee doesn’t even appreciate the job.
We’ve made the problem ourselves. We want to offer first class, first world tourism opportunities for our visitors, but we cannot and will not provide that level of service without outside help. Expats are the lifeblood of the economy.
What do we do? We need to be open to learning from them. As an apprentice learns from his teacher, so should we learn. Education is also key, but experience is where the true learning is.
@ Jim
Is it training or people don’t want to work? they should find out and come up with a plan
We got your back in the 9th…Continue to represent us
yeah rite ,same title / that’s all , no integrity
?
All this does is damage business – if we could have got the work permits needed we would have expanded and employed more belongers as it is we havnt got the permits so cant increase business and will possibly close one unit putting belongers out of work
No education and no skills. Spoiled locals and here we are. Best run businesses are foreign own. They can’t vote. You run a broken educational system and turn out 4th grade caliber graduates. Wheatley. U just a rat guarding cheese.
I dont like this spoiled locals misconception sorry for having self respect. You treat a man badly in his home country hes gone to work for someone else.
Treat a foreigner on a work permit badly and they’ll suck it up because they’re far from home.
Is that your idea of a healthy work environment one that locals wont put up with?!
A**holes first, and save the best for last aka Island people
Illiterate idiots the BVI is a continent please go back to school and learn the meaning of island you fools
WHY AYO ALWAYS VEX WHEN SOMEONE {a bvislander} IS LOOKING OUT FOR HIS OWN PEOPLE {bvislanders}?
We are sick of outsiders coming in here and dictating…THOSE DAYS DONE!
Are you quite sure about that?
The BVI is for bvislanders at home and abroad and you all can take that to the bank!
This is so backward in thinking. Why are “ they “ just sitting at home ? Why are “ they “ not looking for jobs ? Why ? You wrote “ mopping floors ! Please tell me which BVIslander will do that ? And why do you mention as a first “ mopping floors”? Why did you not say lawyer, accounting, tourism industry, hospitality??? How are locals supposed to help increase the economy when they can’t get qualified individuals to keep or even start a business. Start thinking outside the box Sir !! Not every BVIslander here is qualified for every business on island. Sometimes you have to go outside.. look in the newspaper classified section Sir, and you find the people for those jobs !!
Why not lawyers or accountants? Because they are not sitting at home. They already have a job. At least, if they have a diploma and some experience and proper work ethic.
@sometimesisshakeingmyhead,
I do not believe that this minister can make this many blunder in his speeches. “Mopping floor” is first thoughts, it comes easy, because of the thoughts associated with the action or things accustom to. I am glad you have notice that it is not the high end jobs that were mention first. They are “sitting at home and on the corner” How many professionals are sitting at home and on the corner? Those might be people who wants to be their own entrepreneurs and not wanting a 9-5 job, they need flexibility to do their things. Find out what their skillset or what they dream to do and get them jobs in the government or training and financial help to start their own small business.
Furthermore, if the department is holding up work permit for floor technician its totally not a good assessment. Years ago I hear one women mention how another foreign woman got a job at a specific tourist industry only because she was married to a local person and the color of her skin. Let me say this many of the qualified local person who are working in local business are discriminated for who they are. Local who had put in some ten, twenty, twenty five and thirty years in the industries, become obsolete.
So, Honorable, Minister, focus on the things that will elevate your people and mandate the years knowing the process and experience should allow that individual to become supervisors, managers, directors, CFO,COO and so fort.
Not one thing I see or heard about in the house that you are advocating for the people to be push into the challenges of upper mobility. How many jobs you see advertised that required accountants, Finance Officer, Directors that BVI working population are holding those position. Go put it into books, as many of them will forever be working ten, twenty, twenty five and thirty years without ever experiencing that level of responsibility.
If you ask me it is against their Human Rights for security, happiness and self achievement. If you are for the people demonstrate it and stop the little itsy bitsy play game, go deeper, better and bolder for the Working BVI population.
I really have no words, none at all. WOW!
The irony of it all is that holding up work permits, especially for specially skilled positions is actually costing Belongers jobs, not reserving them. We kicked out businessmen and elected a set of life-long civil servant, know-nothing loons and we are paying for it dearly!
Carry on Mr. Wheatley sir. The ripple effect from your biased, ignorant, hateful, corrupted decision will be detrimental to your very own BVIlanders. You are punishing all permit holders because you have no system in place to curb the issue of the influx of expats. How did all of us get here in the first place? Your local people brought us and your laws allowed it. Deal with the permits on a case by case basis, e.g. if the expat has reached your requirement and has x amount of years invested in your territory, family, no brushes with the law etc. you proceed with the renewal in a timely manner. People have families to feed. Children are suffering and because of your decision parents are in a state of depression over how they are going to pay the bills. No one is asking you to sideline the locals. They are your priority. But unless you come up with a solution, your people will suffer also. It takes compassion and common sense to execute the functions you have to. You are clearly lacking both sir.
NB I agree with your post totally. You have stated salient points. The Minister’s position is very dangerous here. Does he understand how an economy works and the balances that must be achieved in building a strong one?? We will all suffer together because of his harebrained posturing.
I am a local and very much in favor of locals getting positions and being elevated. Some occupations and skill sets require non locals, and that is the case here until our people start standing up to the plate. Simply put, there are some jobs, the local does not want nor are interested in! Should the businesses suffer because of this??
If we could find a local willing to work hard and be on time every day with the necessary skills and temperament to do the particular job hired for, no one. I mean NO ONE would go through all the trouble, bureaucracy, and costs to hire a non-Belonger.
Mr. Wheatley please explain why expat couples are advertising for house sitting positions in the BVI via internet social media websites. According to the Labour Code these couples would need a work permit from the owner or manager of the empty house in order to occupy and maintain the property. Seems like there would be plenty of young BVI couples eligible for these jobs.
It’s not a ‘JOB’ per se. I am sure the people come as visitors and list the place as their accommodation. Not sure if it really counts as a job as most times they only want to stay somewhere free of cost to enjoy the respective island/country. Not sure how many locals would house sit or even for free.
I fully endorse the Ministers point of view. Locals first when it entails positions that can be filled by locals. You telling me local businesses can’t find a local to use a hose to wash the sea salt off a sail boat when it returns for a charter? I fully agree with the approach taken in that let’s make sure there are no qualified locals first before granting a work permit. I am sure they do that in all the Caribbean Islands. That said, I know counties like England and the US is all about cheap labor to save a buck.
They talk about the COI been racist…What do u call this? Black against black in tbe very worst way..I support a Britain take over..
I am a local and the way I see it is that locals need to get up off their behinds and go and look for work. We want to be careful not to encourage our locals to be lazy and not elevate themselves, always looking for help and not helping themselves. If you depend on some of these locals your business will fail. While I agree that we should look out for our people, our people need to be more responsible.
There are NO LOCALS who are:
– Qualified
– Good Attitude
– Good Work Ethic
– Willing to start from the ground up
– Willing to put in all hours
– Willing to be a team player
– Always thriving to be better
That are out of work by force, it must be by choice!
These speeches trying to reach the heart of locals as election get close wont work..Huge empty Barrel..
This makes no sense, how do you explain a work permit renewal submitted 4 months ago and still no reply. Meanwhile the business is suffering, no staff, slow service and no payroll revenue to the Government.
If you’re saying “Locals First” then deny the permit but don’t have businesses waiting and no one has an answer. Foolishness
Locals first quality last. And down the rabbit hole.
delaying damages the BVI and the individual business. We need certainty for our economy and efficiency. We also need a better education system. We really need foreign workers as well as we just do not have enough people for the jobs. This is very obvious. That being the case, there’s no reason to ruin lives and businesses with delay tactics.
it look like both Ministers that title Wheatley just plan out a waste of people votes both of them, just don’t understand why people voted for them and acting like they put them self there keep it up, 2023 just right here, you have people going 6 and 7 times to pay for time at immigration office and you peace of carp vincent wheatley on her saying you holding up work permits for local very sick, just remember god don’t sleep
makes sense.
Be humble mr. Wheatley. Power comes from above . Don’t use it to oppress others. Other Than that you will not taste it back.
The BVI demographics is too small for this hateful division .
1. Almost every indigenous BVI person can traced back great grandfather or great grandmother from some Caribbean island
2. The indigenous family can now look at an in-law either from the Caribbean or else where in their family .
3. The indigenous BVI person has grandchildren or or niece or nephews from a Caribbean person or elsewhere
So why are we so hateful of each other . Where is all of this animosity coming from ?
As a leader Mr Wheatley, you should be breaking down barriers and healing this attitude not perpetuating it . Shame on you .
You need to be more diplomatic. The BVI were built on the backs of expatriates too black or white . They have and still contributing to the growth and development of the country.
When it is not want to be acknowledged they say you were paid . What a mess!!
We all need to ? this mentality
There are stricter labour and immigration laws in the Caribbean and around the world. Some can even be described as draconian. We are one BVI; however, there are inherent and necessary divisions. Many BVIslanders who have other Caribbean ancestry do not have any rights in those Caribbean islands as our immediate lineage is here in the BVI. The legal division is to protect what is ours. Every other territory or country around the globe have laws to protect its locals (meaning those with immediate lineage or birthrights). I can’t go to Trinidad or St. Vincent where my distant Caribbean ancestors are from to claim anything. I am not in their country making any noise about it. It appears that outsiders are only opposing our laws and policies because they believe that BVIslanders are too kind hearted or not sufficiently intelligent to protect what is theirs.
That is ABSOLUTELY UNTRUE….
Any BVIslander that can prove their birthrights/lineage in any Caribbean country WILL be granted same.
How the h**l do you think the children born here to expats are allowed to get passports?
I think we need to really research before spewing nonsense online.
I totally agreed with you with a new permit locals need to be given the first preference but you have to look to see if that local already have a job. Some of them already have a job and now trying to hinder a permit by applying for a new job and the minister will say the local is out of a job. No some already have a job but they xannit stay one place for long and this is a problem.
To begin with, we as ex-pats are here to teach and show the local workforce how to work. We have international experience and are proud to mentor individuals who have chosen a specific field. BUT the problem is that they get frustrated when a business gets too busy because it is too stressful and then they call out the next day. Not one wants to accept any advice or coaching to say that they are doing something wrong. If they do they call out for the next few days as a way of getting back at management. When that is not enough and told that their behavior continues and might be cause for dismissal the first thing that is said is “I am going to Labour”. So it is a no-win situation for everyone because they want to make the money but do not walk the walk in order to do so. If most of the workforce were to have to work in other places such as the UK, Europe or the US they would not last 1 week. So I say train your locals when they are young and things will get better.
You say you are deliberately delaying permits to give locals a chance but you failed to mention what time frame are you giving the locals to get the job before you can grant the renewal after that permit is applied. Stop delaying the permits for so long having these ppl pay for time and time over again with no job.
Stop wasting my time, talking p**s.