Premier: RATED programme employed nearly 300 Virgin Islanders in 2025
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley said close to 300 Virgin Islanders secured employment this year through the government’s RATED programme, which focuses on training and workforce development across multiple sectors.
Speaking at a recent press briefing, Dr Wheatley said the initiative had provided “employment for close to 300 persons in 2025 at a cost of $1.85 million so far.” He stated that the programme would expand to cover “a wide range of sectors” and include “apprenticeships and training and skills development, soft and life skills training to get people into the mainstream workforce,” he explained.
The Premier described the RATED scheme as a crucial pillar in his administration’s effort to reduce unemployment and strengthen the local labour force. He also commended the Department of Labour and Workforce Development for its ongoing work to “upskill the labour force,” noting that the government remained committed to creating opportunities for Virgin Islanders to gain practical experience and sustainable jobs.
Launched in 2023 under the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, the RATED (Registration Apprenticeship Training Employment and Development) programme was designed to provide short-term employment and professional development for unemployed and under-employed residents. It forms part of the government’s wider initiative to support economic recovery and workforce readiness following the twin shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic and recent global inflationary pressures.
Dr Wheatley said the expansion of RATED would be tied to a renewed focus on training and apprenticeships to help participants transition into long-term positions. “This is in addition to the Department of Labour and Workforce Development’s commendable efforts to upskill the labour force,” he stated.
The Premier’s comments came in defence of his administration’s 2026 budget, which he said included provisions for social assistance, agriculture, and employment programmes aimed at “building a sustainable nation.”
Opposition critics have described the Premier’s budget as lacking focus on “bread-and-butter” issues.
The RATED programme, he added, exemplified his government’s approach of “investing in our people” to ensure that Virgin Islanders are equipped with the skills and experience needed to participate fully in the territory’s growing economy.
Copyright 2025 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
At $6,200 per person.
It would seem with the RATED proram we got the minimum wage down to about $3.25 an hour.
We need to put the extra Ministers into the RATED program.
What about the other sector of the economy, like the petty contractors? The rated program only employed bush cutters.
“Not even half a bag”
It would be interesting to learn what the government perceives as an “apprenticeship”.
Will it be a crash course for six weeks, or six years on-the-job training under the eye of a highly skilled artisan?
To cut bush. Ok. You’re really proud of that? Our standards are really low
Even the bush cutting has problems every month
L to get money
Lack of leadership, professionalism