Should expats be made to leave BVI after 2 years?
Radio commentator Julian Gordon has suggested that expatriates should be asked to leave the BVI after working in the territory for two years.
According to Gordon, this will help to address the immigration challenges that are currently being faced in the territory and it is an approach that is already being taken in other UK Overseas Territories.
The outspoken commentator claimed that when the labour code was being reviewed previously, expatriates pressured someone on the review panel to remove a clause that once allowed for an understudy provision in the code. That provision reportedly allowed locals to shadow skilled persons coming into the territory to work.
“The same situation we have with the labour and immigration issue and status right now was supposed to be contained and controlled by that provision in the code,“ Gordon argued on the Hot Seat radio show last evening, May 10.
Gordon said he felt this helped to “destroy the system“.
“Cayman [Islands] and all of them have a provision — you come in for two years and you go back out. If you want to renew (your work permit), you can get a renewal, but you leave the country and come back,” Gordon stated.
He continued: “We sit down here and allow disaster to happen in our country.”
A pack of jokers
Meanwhile, Gordon’s co-host, former legislator Walwyn Brewley, agreed with his suggestion, contending that the BVI has “a pack of jokers” for lawmakers.
Brewley, while making reference to an error discovered during an audit of the Fast Track immigration programme executed under the Andrew Fahie administration, said lawmakers went to the House of Assembly to ratify a broken law.
The error forced lawmakers to return to the HOA, after it was dissolved, and regularise the status of some 688 persons that had been granted Belongership status, without following the correct procedure.
“Then, to compound that disaster, the set of jokers that we have as a government went and they give them two statuses,” Brewley said. “They gave them residency and Belonger status at the same time when they know they were breaking the law.”
What happens in Cayman
According to the Cayman Islands Immigration (Transition) Act, 2021, full-time work permits are typically issued for up to three-year periods. However, the maximum time that an individual can reside in the Cayman Islands on a work permit is five years.
While domestic helpers, teachers, doctors, nurses and ministers of religion may be granted a work permit for a period of up to 5 years, workers who are considered temporary or seasonal are issued permits for one year. Temporary work permits are typically three or six months in length.
Once an employee reaches the maximum time, they can either apply for permanent residency or get “rolled over.” Rollover requires the individual to leave the country for a period of 12 months.
They are, however, still entitled to visit throughout this period for vacations. At the end of the one year, they can apply for a new job in the Cayman Islands.
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His wife is not from the BVI – is he trying to move her away?
Yes
…in the same article they already dispute the nonsense that Gordon is talking ….”Cayman does NOT require you to leave after 2 years, maybe after 5. Xenophobia and ignorance will be the financial death of this place if people like him keep running their mouths without really knowing what they are thinking…
Years ago when the then minister of labour had suggested that people on work-permits should leave the country and reapply, these same men Gordon and Brewley had ridiculed him. 24 years later all those people now are belongers
DUMB idea man!!!! Might be ok if you buss tables for a living. Have a close look at where your revenue comes from.
Yes they should. 100% agreed .
Sounds like the Cayman has provisions for ex-pats who want to stay on through their residency program. Regardless, these commentators need to consider that the system with ex-pat labour in place now has helped build prosperity in this territory and big changes to disrupt it will launch economic calamity. From the businesses that depend on these trained and dependable employees, the landlords that house them, the businesses that sell to them and the consumers who rely on them.
Perhaps you should read the article again for he did not state that Cayman has a two years requirement. He made reference to Cayman merely to compare systems.
Yes!!! Maybe not after just 2 years but they should be made to leave eventually… we wouldn’t be in this mess where they demanding belongership because they feel is enough of them making noise for it if we was doing this.
This is a good way to make the BVI even less competitive. It’s not easy recruiting for BVI as it is; it’s so hard to get to, the infrastructure is terrible and Head Coach and Maynard have done us no favors.
This is a doubly stupid idea as it is expats who do nearly all the skilled and value added work in the BVI; and expats who actually pay their taxes, social security and NHI unless their local employers steal it instead of paying it in.
This was demonstrated when the rule you had show tax compliance to renew a trade license had to be abandoned, because so few local trade license holders could satisfy that condition.
Unless you are going to rely on the third pillar you need legitimate profitable businesses to run, to generate revenue which can circulate in the economy. If you don’t have that there will be no money to fund all the civil service jobs, and provide whatever woeful infrastructure we have.
Post Irma they were happy for all the expats to bond together and rebuild they territory though. And I know he a** wasn’t one of them who rebuilt the territory.
I guarantee expats is who rebuilt this territory
So now all the expats will show themselves and oppose this suggestion. It shows that they are like tics that will suck a dog till he has no more blood then move on to the next host. They do not care about the sustainability of this place if stricter immigration laws are not put in place. While they overcrowd other people’s country, their country remains comfortable as their big houses pops up on the back of the BVI.
Excellent idea, it will certainly reduce the population as the entire finance industry would leave within 24 hours, Cayman’s book of business is totally different to the BVI’s, this gentleman does not have a clue what’s he’s talking about.
Its not a dumb idea. They will leave and return because the only alternative is to go back to the UK or channel island where the taxes are high and that is why most of them are here anyway.,
Sure, implement. We will leave.
who is going to run financial services?
Who is going to run tourism?
You, yourself?
Get the f outta here. You’ve no clue on how to run anything other than drug operations.
Completely out of touch, as usual. Do they know how long positions sit empty while waiting for a belonger to apply? I have friends who have run ads for a year and had not one applicant from a belonger. Agree with the other commenter who say that we want help from outsiders when we are in trouble but then treat them badly. If finance industry leaves the BVI, whether you like it or not, the island will be done. Abandoned.
Julian is trying to bite the hands that feed him and he think people have a short memory.
Some years ago, a certain Gov was trying to enforce that so call time limitation and it is said, his now wife would being caught in the fray. It is believed and said he quickly marry her to avoid and prevent her from having to leave the territory.
So Jules, let sleeping dogs lye. else a lot of guys like you and your co host will marry anyway so that those especially those beauties would not have to leave.
Please let us be!!!
Dumb idea , we will loose the financial industry immediately, home rentals empty loss of work permit fees, loss of taxes NHI and Social Security.There is plenty of work for belongers if they want it.I am not an expat.
Majority leave the BVI anyway, especially lawyers. They move on to the very same Cayman or Bermuda.
One of the first things that struck me when I began blogging here is the level of acceptable xenophobia openly expressed.
Quite often that xenophobia is directed towards our Caribbean brothers and sisters, but also towards white U.K. nationals as well.
It’s a level of prejudiced that some people here are very comfortable with.
That xenophobia has even infiltrated the politics of the country whereby politicians are described “selling out the country” if they do anything that looks to benefit any one who is not from the British Virgin Islands.
This kind of prejudice is no different than someone of lets say of Caucasian persuasion telling a person of color to go back where they came from.
It’s a shame that these two old men whose time has past, and apparently have nothing meaningful to do to contribute to the county, will get on the public airways and try to gen up more division in this small country to be relevant. Shame on them, but I guess they have no shame. It’s in their DNA to be divisive.
As for Mr. Brewley stating that the BVI has “a pack of jokers” for lawmakers tells me he nothing more than a narcissist who thinks he knows more than others.
IMO, both these men need to find something better to do than creating more division in the country. For those reading/listening to their views, I would suggest considering the source if you listen.
Let’s talk about the the suggestion of “….allowing locals to shadow skilled persons coming into the territory to work.” Just how practical is this? Who came up with this buffoonery? I am a lawyer; how does a local “understudy” me to get to replace me, having acquired the skills which this idea assumes would have been “passed on”?
There is a reason for structured learning, aka school. You cannot have you own fungi and eat it. You cannot sit back on your haunches, refuse to elevate/educate yourself, even when numerous opportunities to do so present themselves, wallow in mediocrity and then turn around and blame others for your plight.
Let’s look at a few examples: Would your suggestion apply to firemen, policemen, nurses, teachers, bankers and construction workers? How do people in these areas of endeavour get “understudied”?
Suggestion: Unless you fix your broken education system, and put away your your delusional concept of entitlement, and encourage your children from small to learn a good skill, or get a proper education, you will continue to be stuck in that rut. Xenophobia will get you nowhere.
Overall tax in the Channel Islands is much lower than the BVI Payroll, NHI and SSB taxes – never mind the remittance tax that people without a bank account have to pay to send funds overseas. There is no Payroll or Income Tax in Cayman.
THE PEOPLE OF THE BVI IS UNGRATEFULLLLL… WHAT HAVE EXPAT DONE TO YOU’LL??? WE WORK ON MINIMUM WAGE TRYING TO SURVIVE… WE DON’T ENVY YOU LOCALS IN ANYWAY… WE TAKE LIL AS OUR FOLK PARENT’S TAUGHT US TO AND WE ARE SATISFY!! YOU PEOPLE OF THE B.V.I HAVE CHILDREN & FAMILIES RESIDING THE U.S.A… WILL YOU APPRECIATE IF THEY TREAT THEM AS YOU GUYS TREAT EXPAT HERE. EXPATS MIGRATED HERE TO HELP REBUILD THE BVI AFTER IRMA… WHY YOU BVI ISLANDERS HEART SO DUTTY AND BADMIND!! YOU’LL NEED TO STOP THE HATE; EXPAT NOT ROBBING YOU GUYS FROM NOTHINGGGG… WE JUST VERSATILE & HARDWORKING. AT THE END OF IT ALL… EVERYONE GOING 6FT UNDER ..HEAVEN OR HELL!!!
THE UK HAS THE LAST SAY… OR TAKE IT TO THE LORD IN PRAYER!!!!
YOU’LL DIDN’T LEARN FROM IRMA & COVID!!! BUT GOD WILL TEACH ALL OF YOU HOW TO APPRECIATE PEOPLE THE HARD WAY!!
Not comparable. BVI is not even a grain close. whoever wrote that article has no BRAIN.
Anyone coming knowing they would only be here for 2 years would show no pride in the community also is it fair to the employer, takes a few months for them to be fully useful on the job and then have to leave so quickly. Quickest way to kill business
Complex issues, require complex solutions not mindless soundbites from people who do not know what they are talking.
We currently have a genuine skills shortage in the financial services industry. High quality candidates are not desperate to move to this island (with its terrible roads, poor healthcare, poor educational establishments for children, expensive and unreliable transport links, and unwelcoming attitude). You may think that people are desperate to come to BVI but frankly only the desperate are currently keen to come. BVI’s reputation is trashed due to Head Coach and the violent crime now over-running this place.
Skilled professionals have the world as their oyster. If you put a two-year cap you can forget about any experienced professionals coming here at all. Two-years is too short a time to make the investment worth it (buying a car, relocating family etc).
Yes, local talent must be developed but these are generational issues to solve. I am proud to employ some very brilliant young BVIslanders who are the future of our firm’s operations and leadership here, but they are all 15 years off having the necessary experience to successfully take over from me as the boss. I will do all that I can to develop them and give them the opportunities to develop (which includes them also working in other jurisdictions to increase their experience) but they are not sufficiently experienced to be successfully taking the reins yet. If you force me out then they will all lose their jobs (or have to permanently relocate and become work-permit holders themselves) as we’ll move our operations to more commercially sensible jurisdictions. Our business contributes over $500,000 to the economy in SS, NHI and work permit fees annually and we’re only a relatively small employer locally.
After FIVE years in the Caymans the working expat is eligible for permanent residency, which then negates the need for a work permit.
Which is the LAW in almost every country.
Go ahead, adopt their laws here, we’ll be glad.
Matter wher@Is everything happy in Julian’s house, If Julian is not happy in his house it none of your business, no matter where his wife is from it’s his wife. When the labor code was set up it was set up so there was no long term work permit. We need to do something in the VI to stop what’s going on with expats in this place, the BVI is small so we can’t keep giving out residency and Belonger status the BVI is heading for big trouble if we don’t check this. I think 5 years will be good and give out status once every 7 years to say 200 persons. The expats thinks it’s their right to get status, it’s not a right people it’s a privilege so stop demanding status. Tell us where we as BVI people can go and demand citizenship, when it’s granted it’s a privilege.
hmmm look they have a vacancy where Ms. Maynard leave vacant and until now it cannot be filled. what a local is not good enough to filled it? how come it taking so long to fill Ms. Maynard post? The BVI have so much skilled persons and yet almost a year now you have a vacant post to be filled.
@PROUD EXPAT!! You are always calling down the BVI people every chance you get, you have brought your bad ways to our shores and with your help our crime rate is the highest it has ever been. If you think so bad of us why don’t you leave it must be hard living somewhere you not wanted.
They don’t know how to run that either. Otherwise you wouldn’t go to US to pick up money.
She is his “wife,” so she will not be affected.
No, horrible idea. Let everyone pack the bundle and immigrate here free as they please with no restrictions. What could go wrong?
WE NEED POLITICIANS WITH BALLS TO SET LAWS TO PROTECT THE INDIGENOUS…SICK OF THESE OUTSIDERS TRYING TO OVERRUN US IN OUR OWN COUNTRY
When ISLM demands a proper education and training for locals perhaps there will be no need for Ex-pat labour. My company has advertised for over fifteen years, been to all of the work-fairs, and have had zero interest in working what is a clean, well paying job; no car, no phone, no desk, and have to actually work.
Born here adult belongers are outnumbered in the BVI by former ex pats granted residency and belonger status in the last 50 years. The xenophobic political party is is on a downward spiral until it’s gone forever.
YES!
Yes
We should all listen to what DJs say about the economy because they are highly trained intelligent people.
What do the bush cutters say?
IRS already on this from state dept directive. USA don’t like that a land, with 1000’s living on its soil, have apartheid system for “democracy”. Those 1000’s of American citizen in USA and bvi owe us tax and known they never cared to pay. Have your two class caste system all you want but you don’t do that and rip off the US treasury because she too big and she gonna find you.
Oh, and you have no tourism and Econ without usvi and pr. U.S. territories that also believe in one man one vote. Anchor dropped and y’all got feet in the cable.
Who will run it? The many locals living abroad who want to come back to work here. However, because some of you have a favorite color you create job descriptions to suit a resume of one of your friends overseas so they are guaranteed to get the job.
Yes I know the tactics you all use to hire outsiders ok I have seen this so don’t make it seem like you set of dumb imports have any more knowledge than locals. Most of the HRs also know this.
im an expat and agree that people should leave after 2yrs to reapply as a new work permit but id go further, the BVI is weighed down by expat children that should not be here as their parents are on a work visa that is only really for a YEAR. Bring this loophole to a close and the country will prosper and so will all the local children
Take note people who want to destroy your businesses by losing good workers after two years of service. Boycott their businesses including their legal chambers.
The same thing that the BVI came under fire for in the COI is being promoted again. For a man with an Expat wife, very little common sense.
What a F*qking f**l. These ole guys need to shut up. They are irrelevant
Well said. I dare the embaciles to impliment it.
I am disheartened by the appalling amount of crime committed by immigrants and their children. Even worse is the VI seemingly tolerance for their abhorrent behaviour and negative impact on the quality of life on this once beautiful and crimefree paradise.
The crime activities and most especially deadly crimes are exclusively the actions of one group This could be controlled by limiting the entrance of these folks. The quality of education has also taken a nosedive. All in all immigration of specific groups have predictably diminished the quality of life jn the VI .
****Imbecile
Repeat,Imbecile !!!!!
King
Prince
Reid
Richardson
Among the charges are rape,…slaughter
Non BVIslanders and whose importation and origjn from the darkest corners of NorthAmerica.
Your summation is spot on. The difficulties hiring anyone here alone are causing businesses to fail and close right now. Making the hiring process harder will only result in more failures and loss of revenue for govt.
@Ha,
It was my thought exactly, none of those gentlemen perhaps never live in that country they are comparing the BVI with. Silly people.
Please go and have several seats. Guernsey has a 4 years requirement; are they less competitive? Please go and have several seats.
Mr. Gordon you are 100% correct.
Then we need to take their BVI people them out of our U.S. jurisdiction and send them back to the BVI. The BVI people too damn ungrateful!
Does Guernsey have garbage fires poisoning a third of its island; sewage in the streets, terrible roads; does it take two days to get anywhere….
CLOSE OUR BORDERS FOR WHO COMING TO SPEND MORE THAN A MONTH UNTIL WE GET THIS SITUATION UNDER CONTROL…..TOURISTS AND PEOPLE ON CONTRACT ONLY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO COME IN….BUSINESS PEOPLE AND EXPATS THAT ALREADY GOT HOMES ARE ALWAYS WELCOME….CLOSE OFF FOR A WHILE….WE ARE BEING OUTNUMBERED
I believe why you use your influence to talk about the period of time an expat should allow to come, why not say only those who we need to understudy need to come.
I am appalled at your lack of thoughtfulness. The Bible clearly state” lean not to your own understanding and if you need wisdom as God. Did any of you ask God for wisdom before approaching the airwaves? I guess not!
Let’s be wise with how we treat people, because we believe they should not drive the best cars, eat the best food, wear the best cloth, party when them want and still pay rent and watch Netflix. They should not be given opportunities.
When there was Irma many Caribbean country send help with their best people to Electricity, water, rebuild people roof, set up shelter, remove debris and more all of no cost to the BVI government. Let’s look at this journey of life as a two way street, and remember two hand can wash each other. This discussion is very bad for business and will bring an economic downturn.
What happens when they are married to BVI native, what happen to those who have birthed their children here who fathers and mothers are BVI natives, what happens when very little information is given to the understanding. We need to pray for wisdom,as foolishness is destructive.
I hear a great flushing sound!
Must be all the attorneys, medical professionals, and chartered accountant heading out the door while Mr. Gordon waves good-bye.
And the next day, Mr. Gordon will be bemoaning the tumbleweeds rolling down Main Street and the dual-lane carriageway, all the while wondering why the halls of Peebles Hospital are so devoid of professional staff.
GREAT IDEA!
CLOSE OFF THE DOGGONE FLOOD GATE YES….EVERY TIME A LOCAL SPEAKS OUT EXPATS GETTING VEX…CLOSE THE BLOODY FLOOD GATE…WHO DONT LIKE IT LEAVE…WE GOT TO PROTECT THESE ISLANDS
With all the negative doom and gloom as if the BVI cannot exist without expatriates, how did it survive before they came? I thought our ancestors give God the credit for bringing us thus far, I had no clue it is all by the good graces of expatriates. Lord Help us!
Perhaps time to discuss the elephant in the room. Time and time again we hear that the BVI has locals qualified to do this, or, that job, unfortunately that’s not modern day mechanics. A marvelous example is the accountancy profession. Some years back one of the big flag accounting firms in the UK was looking to employ 10 trainee accountants, the firm in question interviewed over 1,000 individuals for the positions, all of whom had to be qualified to even receive an opportunity for an interview. The point here, is, every applicant was qualified, but, the firm in question was seeking the top 10 qualified. The sad reality people have to face here in the BVI, is, being qualified does not get one the position, it’s a very competitive world.
I think 4 or 5 years is reasonable. It gives everyone involved a chance to reassess everything. Some people really came to push themselves ahead financially, build a house, send a child to school and so on. But before you blink 10 years have gone and they didnt focus on their original goal. Some people have lost all connections with family just because time just keeps rolling on and on. Now they are old without ties just here alone. It gives people an out without many complications. Leave room for those who are really contributing positively and want to stay.
As BVI keeps loosing competetiveness, and salaries are not as attractive as they were before compared to other countries, this type of restrictive measures very hard for BVI companies to run their business.
With an average recruiting time of 3-6 months per employee (if you are really finding new recruits and processing the permits) this measure will kill a lot of companies, or at the very least cripple them and make them extremely different to operate.
Solutions should be created at the Labour Departments to be run as an employment agency for all BVI belongers. Any new/renewal permit be compared against their database, and if no local candidates exists, the work permits should be approved within 24 hours.
Trying to avoid people to stay here and become residents is the pure definition of xenophobia, which you are entitled to be if you wish so. But you cannot pretend any economic progress or a happy society with that attitude.
He is speaking the truth. There are immigration issues. we have to look at the population size against the geographic and demographics of the BVI territory. Can we contiue to accomodate persons in ther territory on a permanent basis?
HONESTLY THese two are the real jokers,,.. why is it when person are person’s wants to be notice are heard they jump on expat the easiest to talk about to attack,
look there is so many issues to talk about, crimes, drugs WATER ISSUES THAT GOING ON, many areas are suffering lack of water for weeks,months place hot can’t even get a good shower, groceries prize high, cost of living, and salvation how people need to be honest truthful and live godily , loves there Neibaurs as themselves.
MONACO MONACO
MONACO
If you were truly an expat you’d know the number of BVIslanders born (currently) to these same expat parents on a work visa as you call it. The children cannot be expelled to any other country. This is no easy fix.
Sure, send all the expats home after two years. Then the entire financial services industry will be run like the government (it is almost there anyway). We may as well start building the gallows now.
You must enjoy blogging on on every news site under different as usual , you will do anything to stir up hate , your mind got to be like a latrine just like how you dark , just so you mind is , Stat on your broken record ( yell-Oh )news site
Perhaps YOU should read the article mumu – “Cayman [Islands] and all of them have a provision — you come in for two years and you go back out.” so yeah – he did say that.
No. Know, nyet, Naah, If you all looking another argument against/about expat persons try another topic with substance. You are dealing with people here.
you disheartened by the crimes expats and their children commit? how many expats are busted with millions of dollars of drug busts?
It is understandable that the discussion at hand is uncomfortable, scary and even antagonistic. However, though a lot of what is being said is truthful, it’s a situation that has to be dealt with. The Bvis are simply to small in terms of several concerns to continue to go in the direction it’s heading. While Bvis are being blamed for the lack of skilled workers builders, etc, a part of the problem is the lack of some of the 100 plus nationalities living and working in the country to better care for their people. On the way to Cane Garden music fest some years ago I was riding in a taxi with a Jamaican national.The gentleman had some very good things to say about the BvI.One of the things he talked about was the fact that he owned a Mazda pickup that he said would have never happen for him in Jamaica due to its high cost and his ability to comfortable hold a job to earn the money to pay for it.The gentleman has since relocated to Canada with his Canadian wife and is doing quite well and is developing his skill as an Artist. There are some countries that you can hardly find any of their nationals Im the Bvi. For example, Cayman Islands, Bahamas, Bermuda, Turks and Caicos and others. What this means is that their people are comfortably earning their living in their own country. Super power America has similar problem with the South American countries. Vice president Kamala has made trips to some of those countries with the goal of America investing in those countries and providing jobs and a way of life for their people instead of the unthinkable situation of people being held in Cages at the US border trying to illegally enter the USA.
Clearly the situation with Bvi immigration situation is not sustainable. So let us take a deep breath and decide yes, it needs to be dealt with. The NDp during their reign at apoint had proposed giving Work permits for a period of 5 years then return home or elsewhere. I recall during the mid 90s talking to a citizen of Asian descent who had been working in the Cayman Islands I think. He said that their immigration policy was that they were permitted to work for 7 years after which they had to leave. Again the subject at hand is a hot topic and to an extent a difficult problem. But we cannot continue to kick the can down the road. So again, let us take a deep breath and let’s not only think of it as an injustice, unfair, unkind, taking advantage of and using others. I am a Bvislander and am happy to know that dispite of what some MIT say or think of us, this little country has improved the lives of many throughout the Caribbean region and beyond and it would be unfair, untruthful to think and say otherwise. Still the saying is BviLove, OneBvi
You all do’t have to go anywhere and “demand” citizenship, because when you go to the USA and The UK to have your children, they are immediately afforded the right of citizenship for the country in which they were born. Nobody denies you that, but explain to me why a child is born here and the parents have to put hi/her on bond, and he/she is not eligible for status until the age of 18. Y’all ah special bunch of unfair opportunists!
You all do’t have to go anywhere and “demand” citizenship, because when you go to the USA and The UK to have your children, they are immediately afforded the right of citizenship for the country in which they were born. Nobody denies you that, but explain to me why a child is born here and the parents have to put hi/her on bond, and he/she is not eligible for status until the age of 18. Y’all ah special bunch of unfair opportunists!
Monaco is in heart of the South of France with superb quick and easy transport links to the rest of Europe. It is a glamorous location with famous restaurants and hotels and a playground of the rich and famous. If BVI was a one-hour flight to London or Paris or New York it might be possible to become like Monaco but unless we can geographically relocate the islands it will never be Monaco.
It is a false equivilence to point to Monaco and suggest BVI can be the same as Monaco. It cannot and it never will be the same Monaco. 48,000 migrant workers travel to Monaco daily to work and service the rich resident’s needs.
Ya’ll was there breeding among your own families and creating X-MEN and WOMEN…wasn’t until some of the men got the opportunity to travel to places like Santo Domingo and they started to bring back the pretty spanish ladies….then is when the people realised there’s nature’s little secret outside the BVI. Expats are here for the same reasons BVIlanders rush to the USA. GTFOH.
I don’t take these comments personally but given that we have enough trouble trying to get experienced and qualified people to come to the BVI comments like this don’t help. Plus who does this man think is going to do the work? Because there are hardly any local people who are qualified to do my job.
Time for the Financial Service industry and expats to pull out of BVI and go to a country where the people appreciate it. Then lets see what the BVI will look like – the only business will be drug smuggling.
Er – you need to get your facts straight mate. The maximum work permit length is 9 years in Cayman Islands after which the employee can apply for residency – yes RESIDENCY AFTER 9 YEARS – without having to bow and scrape to the Government. Plus in Cayman the people welcome the expats and the Financial Services Sector because they appreciate they earn money for the economy and community.
So why they didn’t charged the father who forget his child in his vehicle for manslaughter or the one who leave the k9 dog locked in the vehicle or the parents of child that feel in the pool a few years ago.
Rubber Duck. The bush cutters might say can we have regular work and not just before elections. That way they can keep the VI roads clipped clean and clear. (More room to avoid the potholes). They could also be contracted to move the dirt and stones that gather at the edge (more room then to avoid the potholes). We could also contract them to clean the guts year round so they are always clean and clear ready to take away storm water without polluting the seas. Gut cleaning near the end of the hurricane season after we have had one big scare is not really that useful. I am not a bush cutter but if I were that’s what the bush cutters would say. Not sure I would totally agree as once we clean the roads and bush we will see how many derelict cars, trucks, trailers, boats, fridges, piles of dirt, and garbage that are so usefully hidden by the bush. Probably cheaper and prettier to leave the bush overgrown so we don’t have to deal with the deeper problem that plagues the VI. There is lots of work to do in the BVI!! Expats need not apply.
Truth is the white supremist and all its others should not be allowed to stay any where. It is justa matterof timebefore the devil comes out and does what the devil does.
Therefore, no more selling of our lands.
No more belonger statuses.
No more nothingfor our own safety, both today and tomorrow.
Don’t bekieve me, just wait until their numbrs increase significantly.You will see a different face then, the devil’s face, but it will. be to latefor us then.
You can and should leave first. Anyone who does not appreciate thehost countryshould not be allowed to stay, eat, drink, slepp and shit in it.
2 years is too short. Personally I’m a fan of some immigration, especially for the purpose of healthy offspring, but it has to be sustainable and culturally diverse, not one race of people coming disproportionately.
First off they need to stop hiring foreigners for cashier jobs and making up reasons why they want an indentured servant instead of hiring locally for entry level positions.
That & higher education for locals beyond associate level I agree with.
Ungratefulness is worse than witchcraft ask HC. What good stands behind these two wa_k jobs? Yes GM was a legislator for years! How has the territory benefitted from his time in office? JG worked Riteway for years, Is anyone in his employ? Has he ever managed and owned a business in the territory? Bitter people say things without little or no thought, especially when age and its negative impact starts weighing them down. While most elderly natives are adorable and wonderful hosts to foreigners, a good bit of the younger generation is less tactful and ignorant. They met a land built mainly by others. Like the expats their love ones, skipped town for greener pastures and those remaining along with outsiders built it side by side with no grudging. As the territory grew and and matured, ugly Satan stirred the hearts of many and resentment for expats became common. What appeared impossible and ugly started to to take on brilliance and hope. Satan doesn’t love either and he forever wants us to be warring, cause he is the only winner. Whilst there is need for control, it doesn’t have to acrimonious. Every worker has an expectation at the end of the day, treat the foreigners among you well and God will favor you. So, if foreigners are not needed beyond a point, compensate them base on their taxes and let their be no bitterness, To hold on to their taxes and cast them out will doom the Virgin islands.
I DARE EVERYONE TO LEAVE! Why not? You all act like as if the BVI owns expats anything! There are expats community all over the world and in each, the host country fights to ensure they remain relevant.
As Virgin Islanders, if we open our mouth, we are the worst people. SINCE YOU ALL FEEL YOU ARE ALL SO IMPORTANT TO THE EXISTENCE OF THE BVI – leave. And let it crumble.
I DARE YOU!!! Yes, you EXPAT reading this – LEAVE!!!
That is certainly one way to halt the continuing slide in ancestral Virgin Islanders as a proportion to the total voting and entitled population. I would predict there will be no collapse or net loss of labour. Existing work permit holders will go and a new set will come. But I am sure Mr Gordon would agree it is immoral to deny public service pensions to those island nurses who worked 30 years and upwards while granting pensions to other nurses who did similar work for shorter periods. This should be on the agenda when the so-called greedy bill is put right. Otherwise there will only be a pretence of public morality but no real substance. For a start, all God’s children must be treated fairly. Where have you gone Hope Stevens? A nation turns its lonely eyes to you. [Apologies to Simon and Garfunkel]
Moron, you ave no clue….
LEAVE, LEAVE, LEAVE!!! like they did after the hurricane. They left in droves but they came right back!! This conversation is absolutely ridiculous. I also hate the phrase that all these politicians also seem to be stuttering ” They help build this country” If I pay a contractor to build my house, that makes him entitled to live in it? nonsense. Not one of these people work for free.
For self preservation the Virgin Islands got to do what it has to do!
A few years ago two Asian maids who worked in France for over 20 years were denied citizenship. One of their arguments was they helped build the country. They took the government to court. The judge ruled against them and they were informed that having citizenship was a priviledge and it was the countries right to decide who will receive same.
The Virgin Islands has got to do what it has to do!
A Virgin Islander to the Nth generation
lol vi will go broke
There are some adults who simply do not think before they talk…
Wait…Unless this man is actually thinking, and his household is turned-up as the school children rumoring.
He probably want his expat wife gone now. Ah boy!!! ‘Hands on face’.
Thank you for the citizenship and the passport, the UK citizenship and passport, and the government scholarship but I cant say I have any regrets leaving the BVI. Such xenophobia as displayed in this new article and thread only stiffled my potential, because since I left I have accomplished more in 3 yrs than I did in 20 yrs in the BVI. I weep for the expats who refuse to see the BVI as just a place to earn a living and not a place for you to establish roots. I was never attracted their women just so I would not make the mistake of impregnating one of them and be stuck there as my birth country has more attractive women. I did not keep my money in their banks. For me the BVI was just business. No matter how long you reside in the BVI you will always be just an island man-what ever that means. Think like that and no amount of Xenophobia can affect you if you develop no affinity for the place or any personal attachments.
That’s none of your dam business what’s happening in Julian freaking house
For some supposedly businessmen you are quite dumb I must say. The population of the BVI as it is isn’t even currently large enough to sustain the social security scheme. Should you implement a 2 year ban, not against you putting measures but 2 years, who’s going uproot to come and invest in a country for 2 years. Its not like the minimum wage is anything to bat eye for. Which businessman would take such risk to invest in a country where talent may have to be brought in but can’t keep for more than 2 years. That’s old school business level 51 you guys are speaking. The country needs people to pay taxes, houses needs to be rented to pay mortgages, private businesses needs the paying public to recognize profits. How can you attract investments if you chose to implement such stringent measures. The competition is too great I other islands to make such ludicrous suggestions
You are forgetting the part of the clause from the previous labour code of a local understudying and being trained under a skilled ex-pat. How convenient eh that was removed. There should be a 5 to 7-year limit on work permit holders; within that time understudy a local and if need be invest in the local’s further education in that field which would be 4 years and if medical on average 7 years or more. Expats for some reason feel that a work permit is a right; it is a privilege! Talk about entitlement.
Stop trying to justify BS! I work in financial services and mid-level working locals with the same qualification as an ex-pat get paid less and have to end up training the same ex-pat when they first come here. Even law firms with their ads a formality and state a minimum of 5 years experience meanwhile some of the same expat workers are fresh out of law school with NO EXPERIENCE!! Not buying into that narrative of it will all crumble!
NOT a good idea! Be careful of what you wish. It may just turn around and harm you
Soo many of our young people have parents of different nationalities. We must be mindful of this!
It’s a nasty discussion all around. And WHO, will do the blue-collared jobs, financial, tourism, and so forth?
I know it’s a sensitive topic, but we must weigh all the scales in the balance. For a people talking about seeking independence, we should be forming alliances, not divisions..
At least, not right now!
Why is this an argument, close the gate and stop employing expatriates and only employ BVIslander and belongers.Don’t allow expatriates to even visit for vacation either and everything solve.
Here we go again with this xenophobia narrative again! Whenever a Virgin Islander has anything to say about their own country of birth is a problem. Now that Cayman is overrun with Jamaicans wouldn’t “protectionism” have been a good thing to keep the balance? Xenophobia is nonsense in the BVI, we have nearly 130 different nationalities in this little Territory so we are not xenophobic!
You need to look up and understand the meaning of xenophobia. Having 130 plus nationalities living in the BVI does not mean xenophobia does not exist.
Its not the number of nationalities that matters, its how they are perceived and treated by those who lay claim to being from here.
Work permit holders can stay for up to 8 years in the Cayman Islands. They can then either apply for permanent residency or leave for one year and then return for up to another eight years as work permit holders. And so on.
The BVI have some serious issues to address for atleast 15 or more years now! Now the issues has reached it’s clímax!Town meetings needs to be called/Press conferences etc.in putting our best foot forward for the betterment of these BVIs.
Mr.Julian is voicing matters what others are thinking! We have sat down and well relaxed for all these years without making the neccessary adjustments to our labour code/Constitution etc.
Business cannot go on in the BVI as usual! There must be a change! Other jurisdictions are/has made that change!
BVI LAW MAKERS PLEASE MAKE THOSE CHANGES NOW –
ITS GREAT CONCERN THAT BVI LAWS must be CONDUCIVE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ITS TERRITORY.
I do realize and understand the meaning of the word duumba$$! We as VIslanders do not fear ex-pats but the attitude you come with to our Territory. The mentality of if it wasn’t for you we would not be anywhere. Pure BS! You are only here for the US$! Ex-pats that migrated here prior to 2000 actually have a much higher level of decency; those subsequent to that are all about the hustle and money grab!!
That man head is as empty as sh* does not know what he is sayin
I fully agree. they were from st. kitts / nevis, antigua, st. lucia and dominica. Now we have some cut throats from the bigger islands with a different mindset.
She is now a citizen she consider from here.
Some atleast me
I’m not here for money I’m
Here cause I love it
My home country is too busy and I like here as it’s much more quiet plus I’ve build my family here.
Maybe it is a fair point. At the same time each BVIslander should have their privilege of UK OT passports revoked. If they want to go to the UK, they get a work permit.
We Virgin Islanders are in serious trouble. Can I go anywhere in the Caribbean and feel entitled? Hell no so why foreigners come to the Virgin Islanders and feel they are owed something? I am sick of Virgin Islanders being disrespected.
When we are not wanted, despite training and mentoring belongers to do better; the UK is a very good and viable option.
There are other countries who want our experience, our taxes, our NHI contributions. You think we are here to make big money, I can make more in the UK!
I came here for a better way of life, sunshine, love for people and love for the BVI. Time to pack my bags. Brit expats are either thinking of leaving, are leaving or have left. I will be very sorry to leave.
Everywhere a BVIslander goes, they generally feel entitled. Be it in the USA or the UK or in any country. Be it during an Olympic sport event, the BVI delegates come with their feelings of entitlement, demanding that they are given the best facilities equal to the USA and the UK. If that is not an arrogant and entitled attitude then I do not know what is.
You have said stuff, that is not well thought out. Nonetheless The Constitution gives all the right to freedom of thought. Have you thought about growing your own food? Producing your own clothing, from seeds to actual clothes? Providing your own transportation, including fuel, manufacturing your own everything? No man is an island unto himself. To restart your odd world, means separating yourself from all you are familiar to and with, i.e. being naked in every sense. This is what starting looks like, A people, no language, existing in raw nature, no clothes, food homes, tools etc. the human race was created by Jehovah God. Let us briefly look at The VI Constitution, it says the society of the VI is based on certain moral, spiritual and democratic values, including a belief in God the dignity of the human person, the freedom of the individual and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms and the rule of law. The human race is one family, we are admonished to be our brother’s keeper and not to mistreat others especially the foreigners among us. As one, let us not be mean toward each other, but courteous and loving at all times to each other.
Head cough and Maynard are bvi landers. Deport them lol.send them home..take away their work permit.
WOW!!! So much venom..
Do you people think BVI is the only or most desirous place on earth to live? I don’t even understand why some of our caribbean brothers and sisters leave their islands to come here and take abuse and knock about from you prejudice people. BVI is like a third world jungle because of thevway the people and the government behave. No Respect, No Empathy when dealing with others. You people better wake up. No man island unto himself.