Should BVI create special residency programme for expat teachers?
As the government takes steps to develop a new policy to govern residency and belongership, one social commentator has suggested that a ‘fast track’ residency pathway for expat teachers would help the territory retain more of these professionals.
Teacher retention continues to be an issue in the territory as educators migrate yearly to other jurisdictions in the Caribbean, the United States, and Canada.
While interviewing Education Minister Sharie de Castro recently, Damion Grange, a co-host of the Talking Points radio show, posited that the BVI would benefit greatly if it made it easier for expat teachers to obtain residency in the territory.
“I never understood how it is that if I’m an expat police officer, I am practically on a skateway to residency. But an educator doesn’t get that same privilege. It puzzles me because we are preparing to correct and arrest (problems in education) but we are not preparing to prevent that (teacher migration) from happening,” Grange said.
In response, de Castro said a special residency pathway for expat teachers is an interesting suggestion and one of many options that should be considered as the territory looks to retain more educators.
“It’s an interesting point and it’s something that we have to do some introspection as a territory to figure out what type of direction we want to go,” de Castro stated.
She added that the territory needs to reassess and reprioritize education as this will drive funding for policies and programmes to develop the education system.
“It requires funding. You can’t run away from the fact that whatever decision we make requires funding. If we don’t put the requisite funding in place to be able to create the citizenry of tomorrow, then we really have to reconsider.”
“What we (the ministry) are now doing is looking at our internal infrastructure — policies, legislation and curricula and we’re reimagining and redeveloping those,” de Castro indicated.
There is no known formal fast-track residency programme for expat police officers in the BVI. But there are reports that expat cops have been granted residency in the past, in a bid to encourage them to remain and serve in the police force.
The matters of residency and belongership have always caused much controversy in the territory as there are BVIslanders who are against policies that seek to increase the expat population in the BVI.
Up till recently, the government had been operating on a policy that required 20 years of continuous residency before an expat could become eligible for belongership. But as part of a series of reforms mandated in the Commission of Inquiry report, the government pledged to follow the existing legislation on the ‘residency threshold’, which is currently a minimum of 10 years.
In the meantime, the BVI government website still says an applicant for permanent residence is required to live in the Virgin Islands consecutively for 20 years before their application can be considered.
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The suggestion would not hurt, but I doubt teachers are looking at ‘residency’ as the primary goal here. It is the support from the Ministry of Education that is so severely lacking, adequate annual budgets to cover costs and supplies, better and equal pay with benefits, security, disciplinary policies, technological advancements, cost of living, after school programs, etc.
I am not in the Education sector, so I am sure there are things missing in my suggestions. Regardless, there is so much more the Ministry could do to support the teachers, and in turn the benefits will be seen in our children and their learning. This should be top priority, and if not top, amongst the top items facing any government (now, or in the future).
I just wish our elected officials, and those vying for future elections would articulate and present/propose a clear and concise vision that they plan to execute for all in this country. How hard is it to present a ‘road map’ with goals for Education, Infrastructure, Security, Finance/Banking, Tourism, Immigration and Labour, Health, our Lands, Environment ……….. one would have thought that this would be the first thing we as people would expect from our politicians and future leasers. Surely?
While I agree with the idea, the BVI will not hand out such a policy so easy. If this was to happen then you have to do the same for essential workers. The frontline staff at the hospital, police, fire and airport, all of whom offer their skills and service to the BVI economy.
What the BVI needs to do, review how the salary and benefits system to keep these workers. Everyone migrates not just expats, for a better life. The reality is that for country so big on spending, we have poor money management, the turnover rate is high for new workers. Why people are suffering in a small money making country that brags about its millions every budget cycle?
The hospital workers went on strike for more money, same with teachers last year. If everyone is paid well I’m sure that won’t happen. The government should also remove the mentality that we are doing enough for all residents. I can’t stress how low the standards are here verses other small island, let’s use ANGUILLA as an example. The same issue with expat workers and they are doing way better than us for the society.
your comments are welcome taken with respect / but how can we expect these set of wannabes to be Able to execute all the brilliant ideas you both mentioned ( ignorance ,incompetence , negligence and hypocrisy controls their minds) no offence
While I am not a Hater to Expats, I think BVI status should not be handed out as a Lottery Scheme. I think everyone who wishes to make BVI their home and honestly contribute to the economic well- being of the territory should go through the regular process to attain that status. Why should the BVI be any different than anywhere else? I think the time has come where BVIslanders should be leading the charge for any decision making when it comes to the BVI. For too long every Tom, Dick and Harry want to tell us what to do or not to do in our BVI and it can’t happen elsewhere. I know I will get hated on for making these comments but the time is ripe and we have future Generations to protect. Point Blank and Period.
why ayo always spreading out the red carpet to outsiders?
train yo own
BVI needs a rational Immigration policy which aims t grow and protect the territory not a piecemeal approach to policy like this.
You cant ask people to come here, help build a better society and then discard them. Spend 10 to 15 or more of their life working and contributing then say you don’t belong here go home. This is immoral, lack of empathy and no vision.
Some options should be made for professionals. America wont be where it is if they did not take in Germans and others educated people during the world wars….hell they are doing it now. America is being overrun by foreign computer professionals.
We can protect ourselves all the way to Haiti.
Are such offers being practiced anywhere else in the world?
I completely agree with you. One would think the government would consider training and offer scholarships to encourage BVIslanders to consider teachering as a profession.
But like everything thing else in the BVI we are quick to fix the problem with addressing the root cause.
THE ANSWER IS NO!
BVI do not need to create no residency program for teachers seeking employment in the BVI.
Our local teachers are struggling as it is and to further give migrating teachers residency is not in the territory best interest. You already have migrating teachers living better than many local teachers as it is because they get their rent paid for plus the same damn salary as the local teacher. While the local teachers paying rent with no other incentives but BORN HERE or I from here. Now you want to consider RESIDENCY???? HELL NO!!!
TRAIN YOUR OWN PEOPLE. IF THEY WANT RESIDENCY WELL HOPE THEY CAN FIND A SOUL MATE AND EVENTUALLY GET MARRIED BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK OUR FOR OUR OWN PEOPLE FIRST!
I believe that anyone who willing to migrate to this country for ANY employment is here for a time and when time up, go back to your native land, PERIODT!!!
The British Virgin Islands are a set of lush islands with natural beauty and pristine waters. The British Virgin Islands because of its many attributes can easily attract Visitors, Business Gurus and Workers.
There are places developed in the British Virgin Islands that when you visit them you feel like you are in another part of the world. What I noticed though, there are some businesses where stations are set up just to employ Expat Workers from anywhere outside the British Virgin Islands. Having noticed that tells me a lot when I enquired as to why that is happening. A small as these sets of Islands are, it seems like there are deep rooted underpining problems. I also asked the question: Do the Elected officials visit these Islands and are they aware of what is really going on outside the Cubicles of their confines? I always love listening to a song written and sung by Mr. Elmore Stoutt entitled “These Beautiful Islands that we call home”. Food for Thought.
I know of at least two well qualified teachers who left because of constant disrespect from students (You can’t do anything to me because I bahn here and you ain’t), lack of support from the school administration and because of general lack of support from student’s parents who see school as a day care facility. One such teacher with 20 years of experience was replaced by a Belonger fresh out of teaching college. Until the BVIs as a society decides that education is the main way forward, expat teachers will be maligned regardless of what immigration status they are given.
That is the problem right there ? Expatriate teachers have no
Pension fund to collect … Why are you so blindsided . That is the compensation for two years of a contract . Two years does not entitle you to pension … You need to educate your self .
Expatriate are tolerated once they are beneath locals in beauty, finances, the clothes they wear, their level of education, their skills, their intelligence, the brand car they drive, the educational level of their children . As soon as they SEEMS to step a notch above the indigenous people in any of those areas … hate, indifference, negative attitudes, abuse are meted out to them . That is the growth of contention that spreads and grows like cancer eating away at the society at every level: in the church , in the community, in the work place . Gods love can conquer those xenophobia fears … Tell me this is not true in 80
Percent of the population.
Don’t give non! So what is they leave? There are many more out there looking for work. They come in and get decent contracts with gratuity, housing and insurance. Now they want residency???? Go take a hike and seek in any other country and tell me if they will get residency in their package. If they do it is because they can afford to but NOT the BVI.
BVI only have to do good marketing of available jobs and you will see the long line of qualified teachers waiting for an opportunity.
No
Completely agree. Belonger students should only be taught by at least 3rd generation belonger teachers in the BVI public school system. Ex-pat teachers should only teach in the private schools for a maximum of 10 years total then retire or leave the BVI to teach elsewhere. Additionally all belonger students in private schools must attend summer public school for cultural instruction by belonger teachers. Also belonger teachers in private school employment must teach in the BVI public school system for the same amount of years they did in their private schools.
NO
I accidentally hit the thumbs down but I am with you!
Why does BVIslander hate ex-pats so much????
????
Jukes, jibes and jokes …..
Get your own flipping name and stop using the same what I blog with B!?€#!
Again the answer is NO! No one can go to those other Caribbean Islands seeking residency because they teach! NO periodt!
No one is questioning who our children should be taught by. If You want a job and you are expatriate well apply but don’t expect in return residency. Do your time and leave. If you get lucky and marry a BVIslander well that is your lottery ticket there.
I never with these people want to get residency because you teach. What about the expatriate doctors and nurses also? I guess they must get residency also. In fact give every expatriate residency if that is the case. I guess you see my point now.
Any where else iin the Caribbean you go you gets citizenship, not residency, after 3 to five years hears
The constitution says after 10yrs. Ain nothing about what the BVI should do. They just need to follow the law.. However I think it should be automatic for all professionals, teachers, Doctors, Nurses, all professionals.Under direct rule all these will be possible. The BVI authority are breaking the Law to oppress people..
KEEP SPEWING OUT YOUR ANGER AND EVILNESS TO THE WORLD , THE PEOPLE WHO IS DESTROYING THE COUNTRY IS NOT THE OUTSIDERS , SO WHILE SOME OF YOU WHO’S MINDS ARE IN THE SEWER ,YHHG THE INSIDERS ARE DEVELOPING A GUNS , MURDERS
AND DRUGS COUNTRY , BUT YOU WON’T SEE THAT, BUT ALL BLACKS ANCESTORS CAME FROM THE SAME PLACE , BUT YOU WON’T KNOW THAT , SO MUCH EVILNESS AND RACIST REMARKS ON OTHER BLACK PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF , KEEP FOOLING YĆOURSELF HYPOCRITES . WE CAME INTO THIS WORLD WITH TWO EMPTY HANDS AND WE WILL LEAVE WITH TWO EMPTY HANDS .
Problem with your idea is that there aren’t going to be too many teachers that qualify, but maybe that is your point ( i.e. If we don’t have 3G teacers, then let’s not have schools) And, doen’t your term “3rd generation” suggest that they came from somewhere else 2 generations ago? Might as well start brushing up on South Africa’s apartheid system (in reverse, where belongers are the overlords) and have schools for belongers and schools for expats.
We don’t hate you. You all want to be equal AS US and always want want want. We cannot do that in your BIG COUNTRY.
Expat teachers do receive pensions.. many of them!!! In the last year many expat teacher were made permanent and pensionable with no status as a mean to have them stay in the BVI.. but even soo
Who really waiting 25 years with a measely salary when the could get way more in América!!and safe there own pension and more. HUMAN RESOURCES JUST MADE A MISTAKE TEACHERS WILL LEAVE REGARDLESS WEATHER THEY MAKE25 YEARS OR NOT AFTER 10 YEARS THEY STILL HAVE TO GET SOME TYOE OF PAY OUT… SO MAKING THEM PENSIONABLE TO TRY TO KEEP THEM WONT REALLY WORK..YOU JUST PUTTINH THE GOVERNMENT IN MORE EXPENSE.
Expat teachers do receive pensions.. many of them!!! In the last year many expat teacher were made permanent and pensionable with no status as a mean to have them stay in the BVI.. but even soo
Who really waiting 25 years with a measely salary when the could get way more in América!!and save there own pension and more. HUMAN RESOURCES JUST MADE A MISTAKE TEACHERS WILL LEAVE REGARDLESS WEATHER THEY MAKE25 YEARS OR NOT AFTER 10 YEARS THEY STILL HAVE TO GET SOME TYpE OF PAY OUT… SO MAKING THEM PENSIONABLE TO TRY TO KEEP THEM WONT REALLY WORK..YOU JUST PUTTING THE GOVERNMENT IN MORE EXPENSE.
It should also apply to expat physicians who drag allyuh kicking and screaming through unwarranted ridicule and discontent through the worse pandemic in a hundred years. The names of which this community has yet to know.
They should be front and center of this “special residency programme”!
Same reason expats hate BV Islanders
To an extent they are. The locals cannot get work, so they take what they get. Survival is for the fittest. Don’t be brainwashed, lots of them want work, but businesses rather offer the Asians or persons from the Dominican Republic.
Ask someone why so many young people from East End can retire from the civil service. They were offered employment after graduation, but this no longer happens, so its a dog eat dog world out here.
While I have nothing against our expat brothers and sisters, my only question is this:
When this is proposed to expat teachers to reap the benefits at the end of the road, what do our local teachers have to reap after 35-40 years of teaching? $1500 pension that they collect once a month? We always preach about wanting to hire more local teachers…what are you going to dangle in their faces to attract them to this field of work? Yes, the love for the job is the main focus, but after dealing with some of our bada** children after 10 years…what is going to motivate them to keep pushing? Keep them focused on the light at the end of the tunnel? Not giving up when govt don’t supply the schools with what they need like basic toiletries making them have to sometimes come out of pocket?? It’s a slap in the face to our own and I think it would be a bad move.
You sound so Neanderthal. Get a heart. Emancipate yourself from the mentality that you guard in your heart. Remember there is a God who ‘does not like ugly’ Read the Bible you will see