Local creamery closes after Labour Department denies them hiring non-local living in BVI for 19 years
By Kamal Haynes, BVI News
Stemming from claims that the Labour Department has been forcing them to hire staff outside of its choosing, operators of local ice cream parlour, ManJack Creamery has decided to close down.
The business issued an official notice closure via Facebook on Monday, August 10.
“It is with a heavy heart that we are forced to close ManJack Creamery. The Labour Commissioner, Mrs [Janice] Rymer wants to force this business to hire someone who is good for this country but not a good fit for our business,” the creamery said.
“Before we are forced to lower our standards and add to the already poor customer service climate in our beloved British Virgin Islands, we will respectfully close our doors,” it added.
Labour has no right to dictate hiring of employees
Speaking to BVI news in a subsequent interview, Deborah Maddox – who is the wife of the creamery’s owner, Hezekiah Maddox – said the Labour Department has no right to dictate how to operate the business.
“We don’t tell them how to run Labour, they shouldn’t tell us how to run our business. We understand this country’s situation where they need to find work for the local people and we don’t have a problem with that.”
“We’ve hired locals before … This is not an issue for us. But, at this point in time, that is the person that we want for our business,” she added.
Department sent 18 local resumes
Mrs Maddox said the issue arose after they were seeking an appropriate person to fill the position of Sales Associate in the ice cream parlour.
She said the process began in January 2020 where a number of advertisements were published in the local newspaper as per the territory’s Labour requirements.
“We did everything that we were supposed to do with Labour and they actually sent us a total of 18 persons — eight in the beginning around January and then we had posted on Facebook and stuff like that. So we interviewed a few people and actually hired three people and they did not work out,” Mrs Maddox explained.
Perfect match found in non-local resident of almost 20 years
Of the applications received from the advertisements sent out, she said the perfect match for the job was found in a female resident who has been in the territory for almost two decades.
But despite the business’ preference, they were asked to consider another batch of applications from the local pool.
“We put in her application in March then, of course, COVID-19 hit. And then once we were opening back in May, she went in to deal with her work permit and they said they were not going to issue a work permit.”
“They called us and told us that we needed to interview additional persons so they sent us an additional eight résumés. We went through them and interviewed two out of the eight, they were not what we wanted or were comfortable with and we thought that at this point in time that they would issue the work permit,” the business operator explained.
She continued: “They (Labour) now called in the woman this morning (Monday) and basically ganged up on her and told her they were not going to issue her a work permit, she needs to find another position because that position (Sales Associate), anybody can do that and that we should hire a local.”
Transferring from one job to the next
Mrs Maddox said she was appalled by the statement, as the woman the business was attempting to hire has played a role in the BVI community for many years.
“This person that we wanted to hire, she has lived in the BVI for the past 19 years. It’s not like we just plucked somebody out of the sky. She has been here, she has been part of the community, she has a child here, she has roots here, she is an active member of the church. She’s transferred from one job to the next, that is basically all that she did,” Mrs Maddox further explained.
Labour will not be blackmailed
Minister of Labour & Immigration Vincent Wheatley took to social media to respond directly to the allegations made regarding his department.
He said: “The records show that he (Mr Maddox) was sent about a dozen locals to fill that position. His attitude was that he would rather close than hire a local. If this is your attitude in this country at this time, good luck.”
“I will not be threatened, blackmailed, or held hostage for trying to help my people in this most difficult of times,” Minister Wheatley added.
Not about blackmail
Mr Maddox also responded to the Minister Wheatley statement, expressing that he was not trying to be devious towards the department in any way.
“This is not about blackmail or [being] held hostage, I don’t have that kind of power. You and your Commissioner do. I chose someone long before this COVID-19 issue. As I said in my post, Labour wants someone that is good for the country, I need someone that is a good fit for my business,” he stated.
Just last month, the ministry announced that expatriate residents who lost their jobs because COVID and are unable to find new work must leave the territory.
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Goodbye to a lot of good businesses .
no business can be forced to accept people that labor sent.
however, labor has the authority not to approve any work permit.
In the end, they both are correct.
It is ironic that the business is going to close because of not getting a work permit for someone. This doesn’t sound right at all.
Hire the local woman and train her. How difficult is it to serve Icecream. Seems like the problem has to be with the proprietors not the candidates. Ridiculous.
If only it were that easy. I’ve been in the same position with hiring. We were sent candidates from labour, we interviewed them, we gave some trials, we trained them, we paid for their time but it didn’t work out. Not everyone is suitable for a customer facing role. Neither myself nor this company are saying that no BVIslanders are capable of doing the job, just that those who have applied are unsuitable. It’s not a slight at all BVIslanders, it’s just that Labour are not sending through candidates who are suitable.
Government cannot properly run its own affairs. What the hell are they doing, telling a businessman how to run theirs? Worste case of government interference I have ever seen. Most all of those making these ludicrous demands have never even held a real job outside the protected taxpayer funded halls, and have no clue how a business operates.
Stay OUT of OUR BUSINESS and mind your own affairs!!!
You clearly have never eaten at any BVI establishment or have little idea what good service looks like. FEW LOCALS have the desire to be trained. Few locals have the personality to be able to do well in a customer service oriented business.
As stated many many times, the Belonger is lazy, arrogant and racist. How is a person like this supposed to be employed in a customer service position. The country needs tourism but you have no clue what hospitality is. You are all doomed as businesses continue to close, the government goes broke and the Belonger losses his government job (which he didn’t do anyway). This along with Covid will make recovery near impossible. Looking forward to the Brits coming in to take over. Fahie new job will be watering the new trees.
Ut will be a cold day in h**l before bvi locals allow the Brits to take over. So if you’re one of them think again
I guess you better buy yourself a warm winter coat. I guess you never heard of the Royal Marines. Remember those wonderful guys that came to bail your arses out after Irma. So what exactly are you going to do when they show up. I know!! Do what your good at. Sit under a shade tree and wave. LMFAO
The era and days when the UK military waltz into lands across the world with guns blazing, exterminating the inhabitants, and claiming what was not theirs are now history.
Neither the new world political dynamics nor people will stand by and accept that anymore. You are existing in a mentally deranged and by gone era. Not even a majority of your wise and intelligent, politically astute country men and women do not think like that anymore.
Further, everyone has guns, bullets and ole bear today to defend themselves from undue opression,
Have you consciously lumped all BVIslanders into your illogical and hateful narrative as being lazy, arrogant, and racist? Really?
Do you hire or see Belongers in upper management in the tourism or Marine industry?
Do you see those that are in the private, financial, law and other industries when they are being discriminated against for promortion, appointments, equal salary for equal work and others because they are Black and Belonger, and not white from UK, EU, America, Australia or South Africa?
The Black Belonger expeiences real authentic racism right here in the BVI daily in the work place from people who do not look like him. So spare us with that want to impose your disease racism upon us bs.
Further, the Black, in the past,or present is not a race peddling bigot that practices racism. The Black and Black Belonger is in fact the victim of racism from past to present. For example, when was the last time you paid your secretary her true worth, if she is Black?
Your false accusations of locals being unresponsive to or ignorant of customer service, lacking work ethics, are of bad attitudes are formed upon foundations of hate. You make you bread here, but wwishes to destroy the oven, BVI, that is making your bread. That is the thinking os a true hypocrite.
If you own and understands business, then is it not your responsibility to train your employees to exemplify the customer services, attitudes and ethics you wish to give your customers?
There are no black lawyers in the BVI, nope, none at all.
I just looked in the mirror. I can clearly see that I am black and I distinctly remember becoming a lawyer. My parents are born here. I was born here. Are you seeing a thread here?……
So based upon your ignorant comment you agree that the Belonger is arrogant because he supposedly is treated poorly. So in fact by your own admission I am correct. Furthermore you are your brethren are the most hateful and racist people on the planet. How you treat down islanders, stealing their pay, making them pay taxes when you yourself doesn’t. You have confirmed to everyone exactly what was written in the original post. Thank you.
The only race that is guilty of inventing and propagating racism based solely on skin color is your race, the white race. Look it up. Go check if you are intelligent enough to know how,
Your race is the only one, including the Arabs of course, that has stolen resources from every land, kidnapped raped, mudered and enslaved other humans for centuries without ever paying them a pound, shilling or pence.
Based on history and ongoing realities, it is accurate to state that your race is the most hateful, bogottted and evil race on planet earth.
So, your deflectionary ssertions are fales, as you are very well quite aware, and serves only as an avenue to vent your hatred for Black people.
You vile racist pig. I hope they could find out who you are and deport you.
Many businesses that employ expats will have a hard time. What’s disturbing is that the lady has been living in the BVI for 19yrs and can’t get the job…but then again, I know someone who has been here for 30yrs and stil can’t get belonger status. Oh what a system
Goodbye to all the bad businesses.
What ever, just mad because the locals is not going to put up with the nonsense like the expats will. He can treat, talk and pay the expats what he feels like paying them because he knows that they will not say anything. Your lost buddy.
Could tell an island man wrote this article. 18 locals interviewed to sell ice cream and not one good. Shame on Maddox. Come on man.
Therein lies the problem, it’s about “JUST SELLING ICECREAM!”. Anyone selling ice cream must still have a certain level of customer service, work ethic and attitude otherwise all that ice cream will stay right there and freeze up on them. So many people are focusing on the fact that it’s ice cream and losing sight of the bigger picture. Until some of you own a business and understand what comes with it you will forever spew nonsense.
Have you consciously lumped all BVIslanders into your illogical and hateful narrative as being unresponsive to or ignorant of customer service, lacking work ethics, are of bad attitudes?
If you own and understands business, then is it not your responsibility to train your employees to exemplify the the customer services, attitudes and ethics you wish to give your customers. Who is spewing nonesense really?
What if the person or persons are not responding to your training in a positive way? Then what? Do you think that’s how service business works? By the time you are finished with training you have no f***ing customers left. This is not about locals vs non-locals, it’s about those who want to learn, work etc. and those who don’t want to. There are expats that don’t want to work either and have bad customer service so it’s NOT about locals, it’s about the principle. A business owner invests to make a profit not to be a babysitter or 13th grade of school having to teach people everything.
Inept, incompetent and ineffective training will yeild the same results as an untrained employee.
19 years is a lot for labour dept to deny a work permit wow.so after living and contributing here for 19 years they now denying your work permit.
I guess he was never paid for those 18 years and the goverment benefited from free labor.
Work permits are not indefinite, that’s why they come up for renewal yearly. In some countries one can only get 5.
19 years in the BVI and why has this person not progressed further? She not only contributed. She must have benefited as well, that’s why she is around for 19 years.
I wish her well, but done make it sound like she is here working for free.
Hezekiah is a good man and i know him well from his photography studio across from Banco Popular
Adios BVI…
We are doomed to fail. This minister proves it.
Good bye BVI; hallo Haiti! Let’s hope those cane cutting jobs in Santo Domingo come back.
you need to close that hole in your face. Belongers are no more lazy and arrogant than anyone else. you guys want to take advantage of people and they must just swallow it. You are brainwashed. I frequent customer service oriented businesses all the time and expats ask you to hold on while they answer their phones, they are always on a phone taking personal calls and socializing in the workplace. They on jobs begging and stealing and the list goes on. You need to sip it.
Plus I was there on more than one occasion, and the sales person ( expat) attitude was horrible! It is wrong to say locals don’t have customer service skills.
Being on your phone in a customer facing role is something to be fired over. It didn’t stop a lady at customs from going through our whole interaction without stopping her mobile game.
Good bye to you. see you when we get to Haiti.
Buh bye! Good riddance!
An unknowledgable, historically uninformed ja you are.
Haiti was, for centuries, robbed, of all of its wealth, and then was forced to pay imperialist france over 90% of its earnings every year for enslaving it for over a hundred and fifty years.
Now how demonic is that. So get out of your ignorance, google and educate your sorry mind.
At least england was not as wicked and heartless as the french.
Good bye and good riddance ignorant and hatful one.
The minister is right and correct. Mr Hezekiah Maddox is also right and correct
Clearly the business is closing because one couldn’t hire an employee – this is just a smoke screen for the real issue.
Without the Chef, there’s no restaurant, just a building.
I would say they just wanted to hire this person because she’s been here for 19 years, and when she reaches 20 years she then gain residency. It’s all about helping out a friend or someone. Why else he decided to close cause he can’t get things his way, if he had chosen a local and labour told him he can’t hire that one would he have close the ice cream shop still? You all need to stop the non sense, there are locals that can do the basic work and are willing to put their all into the business. Many times employers want to mistreat and under pay the locals and the expats take their nonsense cause they need the US$$.
Well, thank you, Maddox, for letting BVIslanders know that we are worthless and stupid. To tell you the truth your attitude does not surprise me. There are lots of persons who have relocated from the U.S. with BVI roots that behave just like you and they have high paying jobs all over the island and have your same attitude.
Serving icecream, giving change all while smiling and telling customers to come back soon is too hard for a BVIslander? Well, that is some kind of –ism and the right one does not come to mind right now or one that I should use on this site. These are difficult times. Lots of BVIslanders have lost their jobs. You are going to tell me that not one of them can serve icecream and we need a work permit holder for that? This reminds me of once when I patiently awaited the opening of a small private boutique and it took a while as the owner kept telling me she was awaiting work permit approval for the worker. Not even three customers at a time do you see in that little shop but a BVIslander could not do it. Well, BVIslanders have sold out. We are no longer kings and queens in our own country and reading the blogs it is easy to see that our visitors know that as well as I have read the same things being put in place in the Turks and Caicos, Caymans and other places for Nationals but no ugliness being spouted in those places. What is it about the British Virgin Islands that when one relocates here for employment they are automatically to receive the same benefits and rights as Nationals, hence should be able to stay as long as they want and do as they please? Every country has their labour laws and rules and regulations. We do not have the land space for this nonsense. This is shameful. Makes you feel like a big man to say “don’t tell me what to do with my business”? Well your attitude stinks.
Maddox never said that, come on! He simply said he tried with the persons he was sent and none of them worked out, they happened to be locals. He never said locals are worthless, he said he is being forced to hire persons that he does not think are a good fit for his business. If you invest money in a business you will not simply put a local to run it because you are a patriot, you would want to find the best person or persons for your establishment. You may be willing to give local preference but if months pass by and no suitable local applies then what do you do? Running a business is not a simple as some of you make it seem, as if you can just tick boxes and things appear. It’s real life and it’s hard, Mr Maddox never said BVI people are worthless. In this COVID era things are EXTRA hard on businesses, who is helping them? BVI is for BVIslanders but IT COMES WITH RESPONSIBILITIES!!!!!!
Any BVIslander who eats this man ice cream or anything else he produces truly has NO PRIDE.
No it doesn’t! If BVIslanders wanna be lazy they have all rights to do so, just as most of these expats are lazy in their home much less in the BVI.
Really, No what you are talking about before you speak. Nobody said BVIislanders are worthless and stupid.
No need to say the exact words.
I have nothing against expats but this has been going on for too long, I myself have applied for a few jobs and was turned down they wanted an expats, I am very good at what I do and I don’t miss work unless I am Sick and never late for work, and I am a Born British Virgin Islander and I know many more like me.
This whole work permit thing got out of hand it was never meant to be this way where people demand to the Government they can employ whoever they want. In the first place the work permit was not set up for holders to be in the BVI for 19 years but somewhere along the line it was changed now is the time to change it back to what it should be BVI citizens first unless you can’t find citizen to fill the position. For some Reason he wanted to employ this person and if labor had send 100 people he would have found fault. Do think that someone from the BVI can go to any of the Caribbean islands and tell the government they have a right to employ who they want? Employers have been getting away with this for too long. To the labor department hold your ground on this.
@bee
Your comment is so good that I suggest you make it again in exactly the same terms.
I have nothing against expats but this has been going on for too long, I myself have applied for a few jobs and was turned down they wanted an expats, I am very good at what I do and I don’t miss work unless I am Sick and never late for work, and I am a Born British Virgin Islander and I know many more like me.
This whole work permit thing got out of hand it was never meant to be this way where people demand to the Government they can employ whoever they want. In the first place the work permit was not set up for holders to be in the BVI for 19 years but somewhere along the line it was changed now is the time to change it back to what it should be BVI citizens first unless you can’t find citizen to fill the position. For some Reason he wanted to employ this person and if labor had send 100 people he would have found fault. Do think that someone from the BVI can go to any of the Caribbean islands and tell the government they have a right to employ who they want? Employers have been getting away with this for too long. To the labor department hold your ground.
Maybe it’s because you write things like ” I myself have applied for a few jobs and was turned down they wanted an expats”.
Just a thought…
You’re welcome.
It is imperative that our Government ensures that its people are employed and especially at a time like this. What the hell is wrong with this man, thinking he can import labour of which he can attain locally. It’s not a rocket scientist he requires, you don’t even need a degree to be able to perform the tasks of the ice cream parlour…c’mon, give me a break. It’s about time our Government stop allowing businesses to import labour that can be found locally. Oftentimes these businesses are just supplying persons with permits so that they can reside in the territory and the persons aren’t really working in the said business. Many businesses do work permits for persons for a cost…side hustle and then persons reside in our territory on false pretence. Please Hon. Wheatley, do not give in to the nonsense because our unemployment rate is too high as it is and our Government must take care of its home and people first. I support you Hon. Wheatley, let this be an example to all other businesses as well.. quit the nonsense of importing labour that our people can do!!
Government cannot run its own operation, what the hell are they doing telling a businessman how to operate his?
Do the Maths!
We pay 72% of the Taxes.
We pay work permit fees ($2,500-$4,500 Annually! Per Employee!)
We pay for YOUR SS and FAILING NHI Scheme.
We pay for 65% of all rental properties.
We drive your economy, ensure you jobs and own businesses.
Do you think I would continue to operate a private business venture in a location where Government tells me who to hire, when to hire and what to pay? No, I don’t think so.
Good luck. Better get farming that 420 f you ant to eat. Hope it rains soon and often.
the vip get in power to clean up the bvi and they all mad and gone crazy at the government just because all the bull crop that was going on in the past years end . they cant get their way so they all mad and going crazy great job premier and his team vip another 4 yrs and more . you cant please everyone dont mind the haters.
Sad for the employer, the business community and the labour department/government.
Its unfortunate that labour has attempted to dictate who should be employed moreso where the potential employee has resided in the territory for more than 15 years.
Although the Minister’s position is understandable (based on politics, not economics), it places the Labour Commissioner in a precarious position in the event there are future disputes between the employer and the employee.
Indeed, a failure for the BVI. A true dilemma. However, if we truly desire independance, self-governance or regional integration, we must carefully assess our Th’policy’ tragectory with great caution. The Caribbean region and the wider world is watching. We wish not for our businesmen/women and people in general residing in other jurisdictions to be subjected to similar discriminatory practices.
Covid has shown us the true fabric that some (and trusting its only a minority) of our businesses executives, people in position of authority/power such as our politicians and public officers are made of. We must strategically balance our desires or personal vendetta againts the common good of all.
Lets pray that this economic downturn brought about by covid soon rebounds.
Maddox, you should be ashame of yourself. I cannot believe the foolishness that you’re talking about….you can’t possibly be serious? To be honest, I think you should close your ice cream parlor and if you haven’t closed already, everyone should boycott it. How dare you show indignation to our Government for not allowing you to import labour to scoop and sell your ice cream? Hon. Wheatley is right to deny the work permit as there are many unemployed locals that can scoop ice cream and more (school leavers) on the way as a matter of fact. Why should our Government leave its people without employment to grant a work permit to an expat? Maddox, does that really make sense to you? You’re throwing a temper tantrum like a spoiled child because you can’t get what you want…just close the shop and stop the noise cause you’re embarrassment to the people of the BVI.
Let’s c if every other business decides to close up shop..what jobs u guys gonna b fighting for which some of u have no qualifications for
And it’s not just about selling ice cream..much more goes into it..
@I support Hon. Wheatley: Your statements are true, accurate, have 100% validity and necessray to articulate in this moment of challenges for our territory and its people.
As a half crippled but still pushing educator and self taught many disciplines, philosophy and ancient African history to name a few, it is a known historical fact that none will look out for or take care of you but yourself.
The labour department has been in need of reform for decades now, as the interest of the local has been withered away in favor of hostile and hateful outsiders.
Indeed, the balance must always be in favor of the local, as he cannot go any where and create or usurp national laws, demand rights, but in his own home. Way to go Butch!
He/she who is without reason cannot be informed with reason.
The business didn’t appear to be doing too good and didn’t have many customers so this maybe a red herring. Many times I go in there and the “sales associates” was just sitting using their phones. I wouldn’t even recognize the person that served me if I saw them again because I never cared about the server just about the ice cream. Not one single customer that want ice cream care about the server. As long as the person have some manners, appear clean, can tell the vanilla ice cream from the coconut and have basic math skills to give correct change then we should be satisfied with whoever is serving. I find it hard to believe that he can’t find a local to fit that low criteria. I do hope the lady apply and gets her belongership next year but until then we should not have to import people just to serve some ice cream. Work permits should only be given for jobs where there is no local expertise or jobs where no locals applied to get.
Why should she get Belongership? She marrying a BVIslander next year? She has no roots in the BVI. Roots is family, kin. Immigration reform is badly needed.
Maybe the US should reform its laws to keep BVIslanders from going across the border to St. Thomas to pump out their spawn so they can get US citizenship. They don’t have roots there, either.
jealous?
They not only spawn to get citizenship they use that to collect welfare, go to school for free, free medical and leave behind a slew of unpaid bills. The Belonger is well educated how to do that but can’t make change for a dollar bill.
its so sad that you have no home to go back to. I can tell from the way you express yourself. Sad. That’s why you guys are crying out. You have nothing to go back to. Should have planned better. Not our problem. Its your problem. Go home and fix it and let us do what we choose with our home.
Yòu all doing that more than us now. You people are just using the BVI as a stepping stone. You are probably one of those spawns. Talk DAT!
The last time I checked there are just as many expats going to St. Thomas and further afield in the U.S. to have their babies. This is not something novel that only BVIslanders do. And unlike others, we raise them here, send them to college and many, many return. Can others say the same? Stop letting your hatred for all things BVI except the dollar bill that you make show.
If the server was rude, I bet you’d remember them though…and either complain to management or vow to not return. Let’s be realistic here.
Service matters!! No one wants to be treated rudely. I once asked for the price of an ice cream while trying to keep up with a young child. The person at the counter rolled their eyes, ducked their teeth and said, “it’s on the sign” like I was stupid. I did not frequent the ice cream shop after that. If it was my business I would not have wanted my customers treated that way. The business closed. It failed! How much can be contributed to the poor customer service? I know I took my business elsewhere because of it. I’m not saying there isn’t a local who can provide customer service. I’m just saying good customer service definitely matters!!
If your patrons want to show their suport for narratives such as those aspoused by “I suport Hon. Wheatley,bee and I laugh,” why are the thumbs up feature in support of those narratives being surpressed/disabled? Is it that only naratives that the organiation or an individual agrees with will the public be prevee to add a thumbs up or down. It certainly appears that way in a very dictorial sense.
Sooo, Mr. Maddox, since our people are not a good fit to serve ice cream, how come we should fit perfectly, to pay for your photographic abilities?
In a time like this, and you still have a bit more economies than alot of others,you should have been proud to hire one of your own!
I guess we as Virgin Islanders, will have to rethink about who should be our photographer!
Obviously, you’re not the fit that BVIslanders need at this time!
I think most people are using this story to parrot their own narratives and nothing to do with the actual matter at hand. Mr. Maddox stated that he placed ads since January and when he found someone he thought would be suitable he applied for a work permit. COVID happened and that changed things so therefore he had to consider local applicants. He hired 3 locals and they didn’t work out for whatever reason. He is asking since he already has someone who he knows is a fit and has been in BVI for over 18 years, why is he being forced to suffer as a business when he did all that labour asked and it didn’t work out. Nowhere did I see or hear Maddox say locals are lazy, he said the people that applied for the job did not fit for his business. So each time a business does not hire a BVIslander they should be penalized? The Law says QUALIFIED BVISLANDER FIRST! So BVIslander workers has rights but BVIslander business owners don’t have rights?
Guess they want business owners to just hire any old anybody that they meet on d street to do their job and their only qualification should b that they born in tortola..smh
I think VIP is cleaning up an issue that has long been propagated under the NDP govt. As for Maddox, I hope the locals that patronize his business/es take stock to his true feelings and respond in kind.
I will respond by spending as much as I can afford in his business. I’m with him all the way. I’m sick of being told by Government that I, as a BVIslander, cannot employ the best person for the job just because they were born somewhere else. That makes me poorer just to satisfy their racist agenda. What a terrible way to treat your own people!
If the locals feel so disenfranchised why don’t they start their own ice cream shop? It is funny to see all the comments on FB and elsewhere on this topic but dig deeper and you will realize the persons talking the loudest are those who never owned or ran anything except their mouths, all their lives. Any small business owner BVIslander or not would understand what Maddox is talking about. It’s not a comfortable conversation but it’s reality. There are many capable BVIslanders who are willing to work and unfortunately, there are a lot who are the opposite, let’s not pretend that this is not the case. A business owner invests in their business to make a profit, not to babysit persons because they have a BVI Passport.
Everyone is trying as hard as possible to pretend as though they don’t have any clues about his concerns.
You need to just quit trying to have a point when you don’t have one. Labour department sent 18 applications for the job and you mean to tell me not even one can respectively perform the tasks in a satisfactory manner? Please, miss me with that. Yes, I don’t own a business and don’t have to to recognize the nonsense when I see it. Maddox just like many other businesses just already have someone (expat)in mind for the job so will look an excuse why local applicants can’t scoop ice cream, smile and accept payment satisfactorily. One doesn’t need to have a small business, one just needs to have sense to know it’s a pile of crap….many of us are not stupid, we can see through the nonsense. Maddox and others need to quit with this selfish practice and think about our economy. C’mon…it’s an icecream Parlour. So what Maddox is trying to say is that all local applicants will not serve icecream to his standards and only this specific person can?! Reeeeealllly? Whatever. There’s good and bad everywhere…some locals will have bad work ethics and some will have good work ethics just like some expats will have bad work ethics and some of them will have good work ethics so quit monkeying around. Maddox just wants who he wants and that’s not fair to the people of the VIs. A work permit isn’t for persons to reside indefinitely, it’s for employers to acquire workers that they weren’t able to secure locally and it should only be for a period, periottttt! After a number of years that work permit should be up because someone locally would be able to fill the position.
This is where we keep seeing this Government lie over and over!! In the beginning they said person who are here and lost their jobs, if they can find another job all will be well…now this? 19 years on this rock? well sah…
No work ethics. Just show for work occasionally- late, look like your mad at world and have an attitude to match. Instructed to do something pull out the race card and scream slavery. BVI going down the toilet. Going backwards to a Banana Republic and try to blame it all on covid
If where you are from is progressing, and the BVI is going backwards, why are you in the BVI going backwards with it. You people are spiteful and filled with hatred.
I believe if Maddox’s shop was doing fantastic business, it would not have been that easy to close it. Oh, by the way, I know a young lady who could bring lots of business to your creamery because her friends will support.
Why you still here?
This lady keeps moving from one job to another. I believe thats one of the reasons amongst other reasons why this work permit is not being granted. I do hope she can find employment soon especially being a single divorced mother and hopefully, she sticks with that employer for more than 2 years!
This becoming a local war now as far as I can see, so much of these politicians have business how they ain start with them, why are they attacking such small business, start with you all businesses and set and example so that others can follow, don’t come trying to cripples the small man so your family can get to do the same business and hire the same expat that labor didn’t want to do permit for to work for them, you destroying us locals who save their last to try and start a business to fix something that was here before any of you born. God bless us BVI
I know several BVI contractors who categorically won’t hire locals because of their poor work ethic, as well as general lack of interest in learning a trade or skill. We won’t get far if now we tell all of these builders that it’s locals or the highway. It’s not difficult to sell ice cream (it makes people happy) with a smile, but it seems that many locals are unable to do something as simple as that. What does all this say about the BVIs?
What it says about the BVI is that it’s time you left!
do research look at his ads looking for a sales assistant,didn’t link how much experience was neeedand left it open for anyone to apply, rookie mistake, check the adverts asking for 9 yrs 11yrs experience must have this and that as that person already waiting for the job justlike his lady was, but he mess-up.
Normally I would just read the article and not comment. I think it is imperative that I do make a comment this time around. Based on the majority of comments, I’ve come to the conclusion that BVI Landers are full of when it comes to foreigners, especially blacks. This is not the time for this, this is the time to heal, come together as one people. The BVI is a great place, but full of hate. You need to have some love for humanity. If the expats are to leave your economy will surely suffer dearly. Wise up, unite.
I hope them deal with m******s next and wicked HR CLEAR DO NOT LIKE LOCAL
Yess moorings next same way
Why is there a picture of the poor lonely ice cream cone laying on the street after getting kicked to the curb. LOL. Poor ?.
One love brother bob was ?
Why you all going to CHURCH if you can’t even share or LOVE. There is lots of hypocrisy folks.
Don’t pray it, just do it, you’re all FAKE
The business was not looking to bring someone in to cover this role. She is in BVI and has been for 19 years. There is a huge difference.
One love brother bob was ?
Why you all going to CHURCH if you can’t even share or LOVE. There is lots of hypocrisy folks.
Don’t pray it, just do it, you’re all FAKE
Windy if you don’t get out you are going down the same toilet with the BVI, If you guys don’t like the BVi why don’t you leave, Oh I forgot you are going to take all the s**t so you can build us up again without pay.
The work permit was never intended for holders to be in the BVI for 10 and 20 years.
Maddox I hope you open soon…I recently discovered your ice cream place and will miss it because you guys sell really good ice cream…so please work it out…find some middle ground and re-open…
Oh Well, [another place] is the people’s choice for Ice cream anyway. No successful business will close their doors because of this. He isn’t the first company that has gotten stress from labor dept. for their hiring practices. I too would prefer to hire a friend over just any local but guess what I aint closing my business that is so profitable just because I cant choose my friend. Business wasn’t exactly booming. Was there a reason why he shared a room with the Bakery? Paying full rent elsewhere while not having a large customer base would have been difficult. Paying half the rent while having to pay an employee and still not getting customers in one of the best locations in town must have been difficult. If you have seen more than 3 people buying ice cream in there you should try the lottery.
It’s unfortunate that labor has attempted to dictate who should be employed more so where the potential employee has resided in the territory for more than 15 years.
And a BVI citizen in this case have been hear more than 15 years, “ Who has the right to work in their home land, it seems like most of the bloggers thinks that the expats has more right.
With all due respect Mr. Minister…you can over-reach with private enterprise either…this is a capitalist society…not a socialist one…the woman has been living here for 19 years…she is perhaps eligible for exemption…but now because of this fiasco her application for exemption probably ain’t going anywhere. Bottom line is Mr Minister the work permit regime has been abused by your own people and used as a major tool of oppression. I understand you want to protect your people…but many of the employers abuse their expat employees on work permit…you had a taste of it yourself not too long ago…Mr. Minister have you looked at the working conditions of the security guards in this country…many of them work 12 hour shifts and well over 40 hours per week with no over time and no holiday pay…in fact that’s true for a lot of other employees…employers telling them they not paying over time or holiday pay…many many abuses going on…you will hear that complaints have been made to Labour Dept and nothing happens especially if the employer is well connected or is some family member with some body in there…who is going to stand up for fairness and justice??? You cannot build your country on oppression and injustice because there is a Just God who sits high and looks low…yes there are challenges with the economy and jobs but Mr. Minister take an even keel…you would not want anyone to tell you who to put to run your business…the man wasn’t bringing in new staff…he was hiring somebody that would be eligible to apply for residency or work permit exemption now…BE REASONABLE…please stop throwing out the baby with the bath water.
You soooo right…because if you really checked the law before Andrew amend it…you could have applied for residency soon as you reach and for belonger status within 10 years of living here. Now NDP gone and change that since 2004 and Andrew did help out recently but what in place now…progress comes at a price. BVI you can’t want your cake and eat it too…God is watching and your time will come if you don’t know how to be a good steward of God’s blessings…your time will come…
Normally I would just read the article and not comment. I think it is imperative that I do make a comment this time around. Based on the majority of comments, I’ve come to the conclusion that BVI Landers are full of when it comes to foreigners, especially blacks. This is not the time for this, this is the time to heal, come together as one people. The BVI is a great place, but full of hate. You need to have some love for humanity. If the expats are to leave your economy will surely suffer dearly. Wise up, unite.
…, i use to work at an organization where i got paid $5 per hour and expat got $4 per hour; the expat never said anything cause they were fraid they got deported, now if he hires a local you know the local will go straight to labor because that’s nonsense. They want to do nonsense to workers and mute them
Accounts, computer science and business administration are the 3 most popular field that people from the BVI study in College. Somehow some trust companies can’t find a suitable qualified local to be an accountant but coincidentally managed to find only Asians to fill the role for over 10 years. How strange is it that one Asian leave and is replaced by another, another leave is replaced by another for over 10 years and labor dept. is so stupid to not realize the trend and see what is really going on. They don’t care who apply. They advertise only to follow the law. They are pre selected months before they get to the BVI after being referred to by their Asian friends. Local HRs are part of the problem. They follow the instructions of their European bosses like sheep while wasting people’s time with these bogus job vacancies when they know that the position has been filled.
You probably have no idea how little accounting skills you learn in the BVI college? Maybe some very, very basic bookkeeping. But being an accountant is something very different to having done accounts in college.
You want a quality accountant? Don’t hire a college graduate.
Idiot, nowhere said studied in HLSCC. You cant even get proper certification for accounts in the BVI.
How many properly qualified ACA/ACCA locals are here now? NOT ONE! Stop talking F***! You all attend these online fly-by-night institutions, get a degree and come back with your chest high like you have COVID. Nobody has time for the BS, stop complaining and get off your a**. So many locals are Managing Directors, Financial Controllers and other positions in public and private institutions yet we are here acting as if locals are only cleaning bathrooms at the companies.
Typo: I meant how many qualified local accountants that are unemployed. I doubt you will find one!
It is amazing how people come into the BVI, call it down, haul it down and expect Belongers to not voice their concerns about their country, to not want to be priority in their country.
1) Which country or island puts BVIslanders first over their own?
2) If your land is better than my land, why are you in my land? Why not let me sink in my land?
3) Can you behave and speak out like this in your land? For how long?
4) Can I behave and speak out like this in your land? How long will I live to tell the tale?
What I gather from all this is EXPATS need to respect BVI or plain and simple leave. If you feel that your worth is too big for this little island, just LEAVE.
Mr. & Mrs. Maddox, both you’ll need some Customer Service training. Labour Department does NOT have to approve a work permit for an ice cream server and SHOULD NOT. Seems like something is wrong with the trainer.
Is a work permit application an automatic approval?
I am a local and I disagree with you! The way BVI Government look out for its people is by EDUCATION AND PROPER SYSTEMS! Simply telling an outsider they are not allowed is NOT looking out for BVIslanders. Do you think BVI people are only workers? Here we have an example where the BVISLANDER IS THE BUSINESS OWNER and being raked over the coals for WANTING WHO HE WANTS FOR HIS OWN F***ING BUSINESS! Is a BVI business owner any less than a BVI worker? It seems so! If we are to fill positions we need a properly functioning Labour and Education Dept to work hand in hand and watch the trends in the Territory. All we have are a bunch of fat f***s in Government over 15/20 years moving up the ranks and causing problems because they are clueless. When Hon. H.L. Stoutt was around things were good because he understood there had to be BALANCE! That’s why he built a Tertiary Institution even when those who laud it now were totally against it! Imagine the Minister of Labour talking so much s**t but not once has he spoke about putting systems in place to ensure that businesses cannot find excuses not to hire our people. Put programs in schools, colleges, meet with the businesses find out where the holes are and get our people trained, that way there’s no excuse. Lastly, ATTITUDE DETERMINES ALTITUDE! You cannot teach attitude and while a business trains employees they are NOT in business to babysit grown a*s people that want to get paid.
My Country y can’t you respect other people that are not BVI lander the very same you too bright with your self.you need to sit your a** down are take a shower damnit.
His business he can do what he wants…I am business owner, I will tell you that the best degree is personality, for some people its a natural, some wont get it no matter how hard they try. As a front line worker your first impression worker, you as a business owner looking for that degree in personality.
Nowhere in the world can a business owner just do what they want. There is a labor code that must be followed. Trade licence must be granted. There are laws of the land the must be followed. If they could do what they want he would have just hired the lady of his choice without approval.
And nowhere in the world can anybody dictate who a business hire in the end. The law says a local should be given first opportunity not given the job no matter what, there is a big difference. I really dont understand why people seem to think that a local employee has more rights than a local employer. He is local too and has the right to hire who he deems fit as long as he goes about the hiring process legally which is what he has done. If Government keeps this up many businesses will close.
Government can dictate the criteria on which they are hired. Government isn’t telling him who in particular to hire. They are simply stating that BVIslanders and belongers first.
And what happens if it doesnt work out or the local finds a better job and leave then what? F**k him and his business? Its always those who never owned or run anything alwaya talking s**t!
So answer this what happens if the expat doesn’t work out and decide to return home then what? The same question applies to your scenario. Expats aren’t super human. They aren’t exempt from the same behavior that you think all locals exhibit. Stop stereotyping and bunching everybody in a group. That’s the problem with Maddox story because a few fail he seem to make a final decision on an entire group of people based on his past experience. He so certain that they won’t work out he prefers to close his shop rather than lower his standard like really. That attitude sounds like those racist in America. Some black people commit crimes now they hate and vilify the whole race.
Let Manjack Creamery close. We are all getting fat anyway. If one of our school leavers can’t work in an icecream parlour, then BVIslanders are indeed jokers. All this rass cloth nonsense on here just making me giggle. Labour does not dictate who one should hire. If there are persons registered as seeking employment, then they recommend, but they would not force anyone to hire who they are not interested in hiring. Maddox needs to stop.
Looks to me like he was looking for a doggone excuse to close his shop. So go ahead. Do your thing.
How many locals want to work there? Do you own a business? Have you ever ran a business?
@@Strupes, Are there no ice-cream parlors in your country? Have you ever been the head of a country? Have you ever been a minister in charge of Immigration or labor? If your answers are yes, no,no then you should let our leaders do their job. All 3 major parties campaigned on putting locals first and they doing just that.
Everybody up in arms about a minimum wage job meanwhile the top financial services and marine jobs are being gobbled up with permits left and right. People are correct to call us locals stupid and backwards. Big debate for an ice cream server job that none of us would ever apply for or encourage our kids to apply for.
How could you an employer give an employee so much power over you that you would rather shut down than your ‘profitable’ business that find another employee. There must be more to this story. Glad Labour did not fall for it.
I fail to believe that so many companies would rather hire outside than the BVI it got so bad to a point where labor had to implement they try local first.. Says alot about the BVI don’t it? You do have a good few many who works hard have good customer service etc. but then you have the many who is lazy entitled and dont feel as if they should work for anything less than what they want.. Small businesses most of the time can only afford the bear minimum especially as a start up. Majority of the time you go back to that business is usually on a second or third employee because they either walk off the job our doing what they want on work time because of salary. Yes locals! Now this forces an employer of a small establishment to hire outside most of the ppl relocating from they own home country comes from nothing so when giving the opportunity they work hard put in the effort an end up excelling.. Majority of the locals struggle by choice the BVI people do not know what real poverty is.. All boils down to how they where raised u produce spoiled youths obviously this will be the outcome.. Instead of defending nonsense realise it does have a problem around here… So many jobs that pays like boat interior cleaning.. How much locals you see on those jobs? Most the time u can count with one hand if it’s that much at all…
Yup If you guys hate the people of the BVI Why dont you leave.
(The Nation) “Why do you people think that because someone is in the BVI on a work permit no matter how long they are hear should get a job over the Be longer?
( Human being!) Why would want to stay in a place that have no for humanity , You said that you have come to the conclusion that BVI Landers are full of it when it comes to foreigners, especially blacks you are forgetting one thing you guys hate BVI landers and the BVI. So you are hear because if you leave our economy will surely suffer dearly so you want stay in a place that hate you so the economy don’t surer dearly that’s very nice of you. The work permit wasn’t created for people to just move in, there things that has been going on with the work permit for too long that needs to stop.
(Fact) You are a Jack a**
Let me say this, so that everyone is clear “BVislanders first”: as an ex-pat I entirely agree.
But lets be real, since the Financial Services industry was started in 1984, these islands have been awash with money. Successive governments have laden their pockets with YOUR MONEY.
At this point now, no BVIslander ought to need to work. There should be such a significant amount of reserves available that every single man, woman and child who is a resident Belonger should be able to receive a substantial universal basic income. Why is this not happening? Because the cookie-jar has been raided.
Where has it gone? It has not gone into a world-beating education system, sewerage and water infrastructure, energy generation, health services, road / ferry/airport infrastructure.
Your islands have been impoverished by YOUR OWN LEADERS. A quixotic and opaque immigration and work permit system has developed which is abused by corrupt BVIslanders which leaves work-permit holders as modern day indentured servants forever fearful of deportation. We economic migrants know where have no permanent right to remain, we are after all as the nomenclature states “Non-Belongers” (be in no doubt we do not belong and nor will we ever do, a divide and conquer culture is provided for within the Constitution itself).
We have a whole industry of BVIslander “fixers” who are paid to “get” work permits approved. There is a corruption at every level.
We have BVI employers deducting SS, NHI and tax from their employees and thieving this money.
We have a fat, overstuffed, backward civil service whose interest it is to continue and propagate the status quo. In the same way, the racist law enforcement agencies of the US are fighting against their own de-funding. They do not want the party to stop.
The political playbook globally, always points to the problems caused by the “Other”, the outsider, the foreigner. BVI is no different. Politicians here revel in pointing the finger at “the Island People” or the “devils” themselves, the Brits or other white people. We cause the crime, we abuse the system, we should “know our second class status here” and apparently be grateful for it.
Belongers can continue to accept this narrative if it makes them feel better about their responsibility to this status quo, but it wont make it better and it wont be accurate. I love these islands, I love the people here too. I am proud and privileged to call it home, I was proud to have my children born and raised here. But there is a serious reality check which needs to be made by those who have the vote and who can change things. I have no freedom of speech, nor anyway of voicing my opinion through the ballot box. I am sure some clever person will say “if you dont like it, planes leaving daily” – go ahead and say it. My point is, it is the Belongers who are being robbed. See how people have turned on Mr Maddox simply because he voiced an alternative opinion and he is BAHN HERE.
Please hire a local to scoop. I can not wait to come in and order:
customer – ‘hi can I have two scoops of chocolate on a sugar cone!’
belonger – (sucking sound from teeth) ‘Gooood Morning!?’ (long pause…more sucking sounds)
customer – ‘good morning, yea like I said, can I have two scoops of chocolate on a sugar cone’ Please!’
belonger – ‘grunt’ (phone rings, belonger answers) ‘Sheila I come by with wine right after work, think I will close early, so around 2:45. (lots of giggles) LOL girl you bad! Did you hear what Varnell tell he?……….(20 minutes goes by….)
customer – ‘yea, never mind’ (leaves)
If the job is easy (it is) and Belongers can do it well, why don’t they just open up a shop?
Talk all. They lady was working without a permit. Isn’t that illegal?
All this telling me is that his business wasn’t making no money to begin with and the job dont pay that well… I don’t see how nobody who making money and care about their business is going to shut it down because they have to hire a local… Just shameful… sound like they just want a slave that cant leave even though the job aint no job a local gonna want to stay there forever in. literally 0 upward mobility… it IS a stepping stone job… who gonna want to serve ice cream forever? even an expat would want to leave eventually but guess what… they cant; else they have to leave the country… leave it closed then
This sounds like a case of friends helping friends. Labour is holding their grounds. But can we say it happens all the time and we settle for it? When government starts to hold grounds they should start by making the employers take care of their employees. Opening the can of worms with the certifications is my point exactly. You guys cannot put your foot down on one end and the scale is not balanced on the other. This case seems small to me but out of control. If proving a point is what you are doing I will have to say since Labour/Immigration/NHI/SSB/Inland Revenue are working hand in hand, get things right for allllllll employees from their employers. Make them pay. This should be foremost on Mr. Wheatley’s agenda everyday until resolved.
Mr. Maddox if you are trying to assist then you have to let the employee live with you as it seems she has no work and will have to exit the territory. We are guided by rules……..
Waw.. so many ignorant and disheartening comments on here. This thing with expats and locals won’t ever go away. Hopefully there is some sort of balance. You both need each other and if we are talking biblically, one is not more deserving than the other. Stop the fighting and the back and forth with everything.
It is the attitude and work ethic. If all expates left, who would pay taxes, fines, rent, and run business like it should run
Do we even know and understand this is how many of these immigrant workers countries feel about them as employees? We act like immigrant workers are the best of the best, but if you have a conversation with many nationals that reside in their own countries, they will tell you that “their own” are the ones feeling “entitled”.
The only dynamic is… they will ALWAYS put their own first! But in the BVI we expect everyone to come ahead of BVIslanders!
It is nothing about entitlement to jobs. Every country has labour codes, job interview procedures and wage standards. EVERY EMPLOYER is governed by that, I would hope. If a local gets a job its nothing about entitlement, jobs and their salary have classifications. PAY ANYONE FAIRLY!
I cannot go to Jamaica (for example) and expect to be given any job over a national of their country. They would feel just as disadvantaged as anyone would feel living in BVI. Let’s be fair in our thinking and our approach to these labour situations.
Non nationals are given more than an advantage to live and work in the BVI, but often they speak horribly about the country that helps them better themselves. There is nothing wrong with them working, but my gosh if an indigenous person can do a simple job, why is this a problem?
There are other persons in their own countries feeling entitled to jobs in their own countries, that is not the thinking of the majority but certainly it happens. I will not dispute it might be the thinking of some, but certainly its not the thinking of all. Some BVIslanders have strong work ethic and are capable of working for everything they have achieved and will achieve in life and in their own country! it’s simply being GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY! Which from reading this article is so few, far and in-between and that is what is so sad and disheartening.
I pray the proper balance is struck and BVIslanders get a chance to be in their country.
The BVI economy can not survive without the business owned and operated by expats. The vast majority of the “Born Here’s” don’t have the education, experience or motivation to start or run a successful business. People like Vincent Wheatley and Janice Rymer should pull their heads out of the sand and take a look around. Even the position that these c****s hold in the local “government” would not exist without the expat community.