Malone targets investment for HLSCC to cut BVI’s imported labour numbers
Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Territorial At-Large candidate Carvin Malone wants to invest more in the state-owned H Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC), whose financial malnourishment he said has indirectly contributed to the territory’s labour and human resource issues.
He reasoned in an interview with BVI News that proper investment in the college will lead to more locals being better trained to populate the various industries of the BVI workforce.
“They (HLSCC) are gasping for breath for the level of funding required to keep the programmes that they have moving.”
He said investing in the college is a priority considering the major demand for workers that will arise after local resorts and businesses are all rebuilt.
“When these places are up again they’ll need over 500 to 1,000 employees … This is now the time to prepare our people for the opportunities that will become open again,” Malone said.
Better training for locals means less imported workers
He said if the BVI prepares its locals ahead of time, it would consequently “issue fewer work permits, not more”. Malone described this as ‘buying labour from home’.
He reasoned that fewer work permits would result in less strain on the Labour Department which, over the years, have been inundated with work permit applications.
“There is no country that can have all of the labour needed to do all of what it needs. But, if you have a specific and geared investment policy towards developing your human resources then you can basically have the labour force available when there is a new project to be built, when there is a new captain needed, when there is a new trust company manager needed, or when expertise is needed in an industry.”
Malone said being able to access labour locally will also result in more funds remaining in the BVI.
Expats wire millions out of BVI monthly
He described the amount of money that expatriates export back to their home countries as “tremendous”.
“You would be shocked with the number. Millions of dollars leave the shore every month.”
He made it clear that he has no ill-will against work permit holders.
Last month, Labour Minister Dr Kedrick Pickering said the Department of Labour approved 3,693 applications between October 2017 and November 2018 under the Work Permit Waiver for Skilled Workers Initiative and the Skilled Workers Programme.
He said the total number of active work permits as at December 31, 2018, was 9,079. Of that total, 4,321 were new permits. The rest were renewals.
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I know that this would be a great initiative. The college also needs to find ways to raise funds for themselves as well. The board for the college is ineffective. Imagine one of our main economical pillars “Tourism” does not even have a program. So how are we to produce the Human Resources when we don’t even have the program in our own college.
Time to clean up.
Put the Labour department under the Ministry of Education and as such you can provide training, education and personal development at all ages, for our labour force.
The Ministry of Education and Labour.
If only 5% of labor force in tourism are required education. What will the college programs be. What level of advance education one needs to drive a taxi, salesperson in store selling tourist items. What education is needed to be a server in a restaurant or clean rooms and make beds. People in a community get prepared for the types of jobs available. Just my view on this, tourism doesn’t require a majority of educated people to support it. Just a plot to move the slaves off the plantation into a different type of service. The focus of development should be done from the inside out. Edward wilmot boyden made a statement about how we should move forward to develop a country over a hundred years ago, if there any conscious visionary in the circus seeking to lead the territory forward, they would be trying to take care of the virgin islands people first before trying to make it comfortable for outsiders first.
@ijs, I respectfully disagree with your reasoning; not that your points couldn’t be refined or rethought. Little Dix Bay Resort, for example has never had a local manager or assistant manager since its opening in 1964. Same goes for Peter Island, Bitter End, Scrub Island, Oil Nut Bay, Necker Island and Branson’s Mosquito Island. The 200-million resort to be developed at Norman Island is a case in point. Same with the New Prospect Reef. Marinas also need trained staff. It makes little sense to have an industry and every time you need a chef, wine steward, Maitre D, food and Beverage manager you have to advertise for weeks in the papers, find accommodations etc for a worker, a process that can take months, while the season is usually 6 months.Long Bay Hotel. Local higher up managers and other staff also saves the tourism properties moneys in various ways (airline tickets, rent etc). BVI Tourist Board spends quite a bit of their budget on marketing in places like Italy, Germany, UK, US and other places. Web Design and page management are good paying jobs and services All companies need it. I know of at least one company in the upholstering field who wanted to add silk-screening and actually lost investing in equipment and software, thinking they could do it without training. Several years ago, perhaps in the mid 80s a book was written by a French economist, titled “Why the Tourism Dollar Matters”. It was meant to be distributed in the school to be studied; but never happened. Why? I supposed we din’t think it was necessary . Like now.
Very thoughtful Carvin. These are the kind of ideas to take BVI forward. The seven million $7.2 could have solve the college dilemma. Isn’t that something? No plane, no money…and yet these folks telling us they are more experienced and smarter?
Love this!
This guy is a mature and professional person who loves the country. I’m looking at you. He’s one of the few who capable in the race. Good idea about training.
Good idea yes and Carvin is a smart guy, but what bugs me is these people are saying NDP and Walwyn did nothing for the youth and the people of the BVI when in fact it was the NDP/Walwyn who redeveloped the Technical School for the same reasons he is claiming here. It was NDP/Walwyn that developed the YES program for our young people for the same reasons he mentioned. So it’s good to have ideas but it’s not good to be bashing for bashing sake. All of what he is talking about now is already being done by this Government.
Tell da boy Walwyn build a wall around himself not our school. He cannot and will not get my vote.
Well Walwyn and the entire NDP team has my vote
Would Mr.Malone kindly explain were the additions funding will come from to make the promised investments? We know it can’t be from work permit fees as he is advocating reducing this…Unless he intends to seriously increase those that will be approved to balance the budget. We waiting.
The BVI does have a steady revenue stream that can support ideas that the government chooses to make a priority. The main hinderance in most projects is priority. Does government care enough to make it happen. The money is available. We can throw away $7.2 million for BVI Airways then act like any other project is impossible to fund.
@ijs I respectfully disagree with your reasoning; not that your points couldn’t be refined or rethought. Little Dix Bay Resort, for example has never had a local manager or assistant manager since opening in 1964. Same goes for Peter Island, Bitter End, Scrub Island, Oil Nut Bay, Necker Island and Branson’s Mosquito Island. The 200-million resort to be developed at Norman Island is a case in point. Same with the New Prospect Reef. Marinas also need trained staff. It makes little sense to have an industry and every time you need a chef, wine steward, Maitre D, food and Beverage manager you have to advertise for weeks in the papers, find accommodations etc for a worker, apply etc, a process that can take months, while the season is usually 6 is costly and cumbersome. Local higher up managers and other staff also saves moneys in various ways (airline tickets, rent etc). BVI Tourist Board spends quite a bit of their budget on marketing in places like Italy, Germany, UK, US and other places. These are good paying jobs, plus the experience. Web Design and page management are good paying jobs and services All companies need. I know of at least one company in the upholstering field who wanted to add silk-screening and actually lost their investment in equipment and software, thinking they could do it without training. Several years ago, perhaps in the mid 80s a book was written by a French economist, titled “Why the Tourism Dollar Matters”. It was meant to be distributed in the school to be studied; but never happened. Why? I supposed we din’t think it was necessary . Like now.
Very thoughtful Carvin. These are the kind of ideas to take BVI forward. The $7.2 could have solve the college dilemma. Isn’t that something? No plane, no money…and yet these folks telling us they are more experienced and smarter? We have than to “let them to go sit down”
We should start sooner, like elementary levels to condition young minds.
So the 9079 active permits ad at 12/31/2018 include 4321 new applications but only 3693 were approved over the same year ( more or less). Interesting!!!
The man is Premier quality. He has my vote
This is absolutely the right thing to do.
EDUCATION EDUCATION EDUCATION
This should be our number one priority.
Prospect reef was bought by a past NDP government for the full on hospitality training (culinary arts, food & beverage, bartending, table setting, waitressing, etc.
After losing to the VIP the following election, the idea was “scrapped” and never came to fruition again even under other NDP governments. If VIP had the “vision” then to continue with this initiative, the BVI would be a first class hospitality training centre.
But we all know one of there most famous quotes. “where there is no vision ………”
I NEVER THOUGHT OF CARVIN AS A VISIONARY: THE MAN GOT MY VOTE!
I thought the NDP left the country broke? Now I see VIP talking about building marinas, giving away land, giving HLSCC tons of money, increasing civil servants wages. How can people sit and listen to this nonsense and believe it? Let’s get serious about building this place and be honest with the people. No matter which party wins it will another 2-3 years before we get where we need to be and it will be hard work. This whole thing about giving away this and giving away that is nonsense. The NDP Government should be lauded for not laying off a single civil servant despite the place being blown to s**t by IrMaria.
Don’t be dumb. You can be broke today but not tomorrow especially when you have an income stream like a job. Government has financial services, tourism, taxes, fines that bring money in constantly so not because they broke today mean that no money will be available. Remember NDP also said VIP left the country broke in 2011 so how we found money to overspend on Pier Parks and give away millions to BVI Airways.
So why isnt he telling us where the funding will come from if the government left the treasury broke?
It seems like the money will be coming from lil tatch island/otter box
Fahie should step down and let Carvin be Premier should VIP holds the Government.
This is a very good idea,
But is the locals really want to do the hands on in construction and all the other back breaking jobs out there?
He never said construction. Read the article again and see which jobs he mentioned specifically.
The NDP’s record speaks for itself. Both NDP and VIP have their black areas but when you take a broad look at the VIP’s last terms vs the NDP’s last terms the choice is crystal clear:
– Cruise Pier Development: Despite all the overrun talk, the records show the initial budget was $79mil and not the $50 mil that the disgruntled white man was pushing because he is upset his cake was baked and he didn’t even get to lick the pan. For the first time our taxi men, tour operators, craft alive vendors and many more have consistent revenue from ships all year round.
– Technical and Vocational School: Upgraded and now people are proud to send their kids there. It’s no longer a dumping ground for ‘not so smart’ kids but rather a real place for our kids to hone their technical skills like never before
– Small Business Bureau: Funded and put into action by the NDP Government and has helped so many small businesses in the Territory to get off the ground
– YES Program: Program to help the youth prepare for the working world and learn interview, resume building and standard work ethic to ensure that they take their rightful place in the development of the territory.
– Introduction of cultural dress and Territorial song making it ‘cool’ to sport our cultural wear for all to see and proud to sing our own song. May seem small to some but that’s how we build patriotism and teach the kids to respect and honor the Territory.
– Sports facility in VG after years of talking VG finally got a covered recreational facility
– Completion of Peebles Hospital after years of VIP digging and dumping costing unnecessary millions
– Completion of VG Hospital after years of promises by past reps and Governments
– Completion of the Stikett project which is now a main tourist attraction on the east side
– Development of Long Bay Beef Island to accommodate tourists thereby giving tour operators and local vendors a chance to share in the economic pie provided by cruise ships as opposed to having all traffic heading to cane garden bay.
– Completion of phase 5 project at BVIEC after years and years of talk and promises. This was done.
– Introduction of green energy legislation
– Introduction of CXC, additional year and technology in the schools. Our kids are ranked in the top percentiles within the Region
– Introduction of NHI. Though controversial at first, many lives have been saved as a result of the scheme and with a bit of tweaking it will save many more lives in the years to come. NDP was the brave Government (give credit to Skelton as well) to push this forward for the people.
– Planting electrical infrastructure within the capital/business district underground which enabled the city to recover quickly after hurricane Irma
– Introduction of the GED program allowing even older persons to now enhance their skills with their high school certificate with a flexible program
These and many more by the NDP Government. How can people say they did nothing? That’s a bold face lie and I wish the Government would be more forceful in defending their record instead of letting the crazies rewrite history.
There is always 2 sides to a story.
This is a remix of Bossman’s post earlier this week:
– Missing plane $7.2 million
– $8 million for East End Sewerage project diverted to Pier Park.
– Destroyed Agriculture (Farmer’s week cancellation and poor support previous years)
– Green Houses never used just because it was a VIP project resulting in millions wasted.
– Brandy Wine Fake Beach over $2 million wasted project apparently abandoned.
– Over $1 million spent on widening Georgie Hill road.
– Pier Park millions overrun and millions spent on a few kiosk.
– Road Town Sewerage issues including today in peak tourist traffic.
– Hospital millions overrun and years to complete
– Fake Culture Dress/Song no song or dress can instill pride when sewage flows in town and garbage burning causes the USVI residents to angrily complain.
– High School Wall issue, millions spent on a wall
Trump would be proud.
– Cane Garden Bay Sewerage near popular tourist attraction.
– NHI operating at a massive loss despite being established to save money (how ironic) from paying for a few people that had no insurance to go overseas for treatment in emergency situations.
– Pockwood Pond Incinerator Issues, open burning
– West End Ferry Terminal non existent
– Police Dept. funding issue. First time a governor has ever intervened in our finances to seize funds to assist law enforcement.
– Fire Station neglect
– Where is the millions supposedly donated by other countries after Irma???
– Over $20 million spent on consultancies in the last 6 years.
– Over $23 million and counting lost in lawsuits against Government.
– Banks and Airports closed on sister islands
– Schools begging for toilet paper and stationery
– No water / major water delivery issue for many residents even in 2019… ridiculous.
– No financial audits
– Failure to complete over 80% of their 2011 and 2015 manifesto
they had done something to help the development of agriculture…its sad to see just about everything in the line of produce imported, our ancestors must be turning in their graves.The money that stays in the country could help to fund the HLSCC.
The BVI needs to effectively invest in its human capital to meet its needs. It failed in the past to do so. Consequently, it has to recruit skills off shore to take up jobs that Virgin Islanders should be highly capable of doing. Public investment should be in areas that are needed to deliver services on a full time basis. Services that are needed periodically can be outsourced; temporary surge needs can also be outsourced. Comparative advantage can be used as a tool to determine what areas to train in.
Now Carvin talking sense. Like every other type of business, one has to decide what business/es he/she is in, sell the vision to the Team, then decide who the customers are and get on with the business of marketing to that audience. What really happened is that we stumbled into tourism. I’d rather call it an experiment.
Last election Frazer put out another good idea; preparing residents for the marine side of tourism. Fiberglass workers are in demand. Marine electricians are in demand and earns. How many lawyers do we really need? So much opportunities yet the bulk of the money is leaving the country. These are ideas that will definitely move the country forward. As it stands, I am reminded of the puzzle” “House full, kitchen full, yet can’t get a spoon full”.
A community college should be constantly on the lookout, sampling and taking stock of the needs of the community then create the classes; or do like we did right after Irma; creating Crash Classes. But if our leaders are more often in the air heading some where, who is going to do the strategy and planning?.
A few years ago a popular business man appropriately composed a song with the lyrics expressing the fact that: “Computers can’t plant corn and tomato”. I’ll leave it there. Where there’s no vision the people perish.