Premier: ‘Migration’ key to economic and population growth
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has emphasised that economic growth in the Virgin Islands is directly tied to population growth, which will largely depend on migration.
During a press conference on Tuesday, November 26, Dr Wheatley explained that clear policies are needed, particularly through the new Labour Management System (LMS), to support this goal.
“If you’re going to grow the population and you want to be able to attract investment, you have to have the policies in place to make that a reality,” Dr Wheatley stated.
He also pointed to the territory’s limited workforce, stressing that other regions like Turks and Caicos and the Cayman Islands had successfully grown their populations by enhancing their tourism sectors.
“We know that we have a limited workforce here and with the growth that we anticipate in our economy in the area of tourism, we have more visitors here then we’re going to need more people to facilitate them,” he said.
The Premier explained that with fewer births in the territory, migration will be key to addressing population needs. “If you want to grow your population it’s going to be through migration,” Wheatley added. “Our population has to increase to accommodate the growth of our economy and everybody needs to accept that.”
He also addressed concerns about hiring delays, saying, “It can’t take six, seven weeks for somebody to get hired, that’s not going to work.”
The LMS, launched in July 2024, fully digitises the work permit renewal process. The system, which aims to significantly reduce approval times from months to just a few weeks, is designed to improve access for both employers and job seekers.
With roughly 60 percent of the territory’s workforce relying on work permits, the LMS will help streamline the process and facilitate the hiring needed to support the growing economy.
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This rush to growth, growth, has brought us to a point where crime is out of control, more societal woes to pay for. It becomes a vicious cycle. When is enough, ever enough? With a small population, people are crying out for basic infrastructure services. Please focus on improving the quality of life for a small population before you look to grow the population to a level that is not sustainable.
Migration is not a problem. Immigration is a problem.
What did the Premier say? Migration key to economic and population growth. Well if that’s what he said it is a true and intelligent statement. However that narrative is not embrace by government or the BVI populace. They hate immigrants. Our Caribbean brothers and sisters living here are treated like subhumans. Why don’t we have foreign investments? Because the populace are afraid to let foreign businesses in. Well Mr. Premier if the statement that you made is truly from your heart and you believe what you said, “then educate your people to the benefits of migration and foreign investors. We cannot continue to live in isolation being afraid of letting people in, which includes investors. To continue like this means that the Virgin Islands end up behind the 8th ball. Natalio get in action to expand the Virgin Isands economy and improve our infrastructure.
A limited, stagnant and limited view at best, Bishop.
The thinking must be growth by all means, but with stringent controls.
EV
Who Feels it knows it my dear!
Natalio Wheatley you dont have the last say on this.
Oh Migration is the key now…..smh we only good when its beneficial to yal, once the mission accomplished or the numbers are met is right back to spitting in our face. Time longer than twine.
That’s a very muddy one to traverse Premier. What will we be giving away and sacrificing in return, our identy,financial and other resources? Do think throutgh this very carefully.
A way of life has already been halted and emasculated. Eyes are now set on our most important institutions, Finance, security, banking and the local mind.
The most sensible thing said in a long time. The problem is that most people here only understand emotions, not strategy or economics.
Not enough jobs opportunities for people to migrate to the BVI.
What B*ll Sh*t I hearing here. BVI don’t have jobs for it’s citizens and you want to bring more so you can get the work permit money to waste. So many youths not working and you don’t care you don’t even see the need for attracting investment to the island so more of our people can be gainfully employed. This is disgraceful when we have such short sighted leadership. What about people with college degrees bachelors and masters that can’t get work not even the high school students getting work. That’s why we so much crime in the island when the youths feel they have no one to look out for them.
Why are they not working? Take a deep look at the issues and you will understand.
I don’t know who you are but you have no better information than I do. I am highly educated and I know a lot about what is going on in the BVI. High schoolers can’t find work they have no mentors to help them in the island. The system is not designed to help them that’s why they on the corner smoking weed and selling crack. The premier only promotes to youngsters that they can cut bush for a living 1 or 2 months out of the year and he hardly has more work experience than they do. Then there are those college students that come back and can’t find work. Also there are people from the BVI with advanced degrees here who get victimized from government and blocked from working in the country. A lot of people have financial stress because the government uses the system to block people who they know while issuing work permits daily as a third pillar to generate revenue for them to waste this shows how there is no vision in the country. That is why there are so many deaths in the bvi which are mostly locals.
So don’t get it twisted if you are an outsider you all like to say BVIslanders do not want to work. Also you all like to say just like you migrate to the BVI they can migrate elsewhere. Why should we leave our country. And why if you are a foreigner should you leave your country. Why didn’t you stay and fight for what you think you deserve. Right now Peter island is openin and when premier Ralph Oneal was alive he made sure BVIslanders were well trained to work over there. A lot of them came from poor areas in long look and they did well. Now I understand they bringing in a lot of Philipeano’s to work which shows that the government does not care to get BVislanders to work.
Absolutely no reason a work permit should take 3 weeks or more to process. Too many vindictive people working there who willing bury or lose permits and make folks needlessly jump through hoops.
Is this man serious, how big is Tortola. It is overcrowded and crime is out of control. This is unbelievable
Natalio, don’t mind the stupid talk that the BVI consumer population is too small-nonsense. That is abstract nonsense. The key to economic growth is getting the dollar to circulate through your economy multiple times.
Some of these people send their money home. Some of them don’t even want to pay their rent or tax on money gram money. The BVI did not become an economic powerhouse in the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s by having a large population.
No, it did so by economically empowering and educating its people to make money. Free your mind of the garbage. Spend and circulate the dollar.
Filipinos just come and already have supermarkets and restaurants
“WORDS THAT ARE NOT HIS OWN”
https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/412547?v=pdf
“Once again, hooked into UN propaganda, using flawed statistics to stoke fear and provide endless excuses built on questionable narratives.”
Flaws in the Replacement Migration Agenda
Demographic Assumptions:
The UN’s agenda assumes that migration can singularly solve demographic issues like an aging population. However, migrants also age, creating a cyclical need for continuous immigration, which might not be sustainable.
Assumes uniform fertility rates across migrant groups without considering how acculturation affects fertility over time.
Economic Over-Simplification:
The assumption that migrants will fill labor shortages ignores the challenges of skill mismatches, underemployment, and barriers to workforce integration.
Overlooks potential strain on social welfare systems, especially if migrants require assistance before becoming fully economically integrated.
Social and Cultural Challenges:
Rapidly increasing migration levels can strain social cohesion, potentially leading to xenophobia, cultural clashes, and political backlash.
Integration policies are often underdeveloped, risking marginalization of migrants.
Environmental and Resource Strain:
Increased population in destination countries can exacerbate urban overcrowding, resource scarcity, and environmental degradation.
Assumes destination countries have the infrastructure to support additional populations sustainably.
Migration’s Ethical and Moral Dilemmas:
“Replacement migration” implies a utilitarian view of migrants as a means to an end, rather than acknowledging their rights and aspirations.
The term itself is controversial, as it can be weaponized politically to stoke fears of cultural erasure.
Ignores Root Causes in Origin Countries:
Promotes migration without addressing why populations are leaving their home countries, such as conflict, poverty, or climate change.
Risks exacerbating brain drain, depriving origin countries of skilled professionals
The BVI, as a small island territory with unique demographics and socio-economic dynamics, would face distinct challenges and opportunities if replacement migration were implemented:
Demographic Pressures:
The BVI has a relatively small population. Any significant influx of migrants could drastically alter the demographic balance, potentially creating tensions between locals and new arrivals.
Dependency on migration to address workforce shortages may marginalize local populations if not managed inclusively.
Cultural Identity:
The BVI has a strong cultural identity tied to its history and traditions. Replacement migration could lead to fears of cultural dilution, especially if integration policies are insufficient.
Economic Considerations:
Migrants could help address labor shortages in industries like tourism, construction, and finance. However, this requires strategic planning to ensure equitable employment opportunities and prevent exploitation.
The local infrastructure (housing, healthcare, education) may struggle to accommodate a sudden population increase.
Environmental Impact:
As a small island territory, the BVI’s ecosystem is fragile. Increased population could lead to overdevelopment, putting additional stress on land, water, and marine resources.
Social Integration:
Social cohesion may be tested if migration is not accompanied by robust integration programs, language training, and community-building initiatives.
Could lead to socio-economic disparities if migrants primarily fill low-wage jobs without opportunities for upward mobility.
Governance Challenges:
Migration policies require effective administration, transparency, and alignment with local laws. Sudden demographic shifts could overburden local governance systems.
Political Tensions:
Introducing such policies could polarize the population, with debates over who benefits and who bears the costs of increased migration.
Alternative Strategies for the BVI
Invest in Local Workforce Development:
Focus on training and upskilling the local population to fill labor market gaps.
Encourage diaspora return programs to attract skilled BVIslanders back home.
Promote Sustainable Population Growth:
Implement family-friendly policies to encourage higher birth rates among locals.
Incentivize long-term residents to deepen their roots in the BVI.
Selective and Managed Migration:
Develop targeted migration programs to address specific labor market needs without overwhelming local systems.
Ensure migrants are integrated into communities, respecting local culture and laws.
Regional Cooperation:
Work with neighboring Caribbean nations to create a cooperative framework for migration that addresses shared demographic and economic challenges.
Dont do it. Control immigration. And Bishop people are not treated like subhuman on the Virgin Islands. That’s a lie from hell.
Yeah and wealth needs to be distributed accordingly.
Population growth have people feeding like animals at a trough with soup ladeled out on Thanks Giving Day.
I born and live and before me my mother and a whole heap of grannies and grandaddies and tis after and during the immigrant great boom,i feelin shame and embarrassed and humiliated withe people begging and the feeding frenzy.Must be the caliber and human quality that has sunk the sunken…St Barts has 000 poverty and 00 crime,so does Monaco
BVJ from my eyes not looking progressive and as time goes by tus worsen worse and
more of v the same immigrants landing.The future not looking good. When Sowande travel he should touch down on places like those previously mentioned,peruse the method to their success instead of elbowing the DR and CARICOM and dem others as they are everlasting repeated losers.