BVI News

Some work permit holders not eligible for renewals

Wheatley

As the BVI continues to adjust its economic sails to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Labour Department is reminding some immigrants their expired work permits are no longer eligible for renewals.

The Labour Department said this applies to persons who are out of the territory for six months or more with expired work permits. These workers will be required to submit new applications.

The measure took effect on February 1.

Labour Minister Vincent Wheatley explained to our news centre that the measure does not apply to those in the territory with expired work permits who have been laid off and are waiting to see if they will be rehired by their local employers.

He said this category of workers may apply for provisional work permits.

A number of work permit workers were laid off without pay in 2020 when COVID-19 hit the BVI and their employers requested more time to gather the severance funds.

The first lay off extension was due to expire on October 31, 2020, but following widespread pleas from business owners across the territory, the government added another three months to the lay-off period, which pushed the expiration period to January 31, 2021.

The government has extended the expiry date for a third time and now employees will now have to wait until February 28 to see whether the government issues another extension, or if they will finally have access to their severance packages.

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45 Comments

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  1. Here we go again says:

    This man has something against Caribbean expats. Every policy he makes is to try to hurt these people while bending over backwards for the other rich community. What has your Caribbean brothers and sisters done to you to be targeted this way all the time?
    You lock us out of the country during the pandemic.
    You said you were going to flush us out
    You told us to leave the country when the pandemic started.
    You wanted to turn the job market where we didn’t have no jobs and would have to leave
    You stopped work permit exemptions for children who went through the school system here

    You have a problem it seems with Caribbean expats.

    Like 98
    Dislike 16
    • Yup says:

      This man is c*****t and a r****t from top to bottom. Just hold on everyone. Just a few months till the findings of the COI. At that point, Wheatley will be busy hiring lawyers to defend himself or he may just run. When the Govenor takes over the government this work permit crap will be over

      Like 21
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    • @Here we go again says:

      Caribbean expats, though they may be the larger of work permits group, are not the only people on work permit.

      There are white, Asian and many others on work permit as well. Not just Caribbean people.

      So, educate the mind and stop the divisive hate.

      Like 23
      Dislike 2
    • @Here we go again says:

      He never once said Caribbean expats. Only Caribbean expats feeling they are the target every time the Government make a decision on work permit.

      Like 14
      Dislike 1
    • The truth says:

      Ohhhh, they hate Caribbean Expatriates with a passion. I hear the little dirty comments while standing on lines. It is a known fact that they don’t like us.

      Like 13
      Dislike 4
  2. BVIslander says:

    I am against all the stupid and unfair decisions made by this inept government. But lets all be fair, most of these policies are not aimed at trying to be unfair to our
    Caribbean brothers and sisters.

    We are all one people and I hate reading all of these divisive comments by both BVIslanders and other Caribbean nationals. The majority of BVIslanders have always welcomed our caribbean brothers and sisters and we have lived for a long time as one people, which we are! AFRICANS!

    Some of these measures are necessary as the BVI continues in what is a very difficult time for our economy. It is good to address our concerns but we need to be honest and fair.

    Seriously though, I don’t agree with the comment about the labour changes, but on the other side, this govt still needs to go!

    Like 19
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  3. Bolly says:

    He has a problem with himself, a self you reming when he looks into the mirror.

    Like 13
    Dislike 1
  4. Racist VIP government says:

    towards Caribbean expats and all other foreigners..they are using Covid as an excuse!

    Like 20
    Dislike 5
  5. Norris Turnbull says:

    Government needs to revisit their labour and immigration policies post Covid19 pandemic.You have an inexperienced Minister in place and an inc*******t gu*****e chief of immigration. What do you expect?

    Like 14
    Dislike 3
  6. come on says:

    This policy is fair. Those of you that are against this, what is your policy back where you from?

    Like 16
    Dislike 15
    • yeah says:

      Back where i am from you can get a passport after five years of working paying taxes and contributing.

      Now you again. Blind fool.

      Like 24
      Dislike 7
      • Future says:

        With all that being said, how big is the country that you are from that allows passports in 5 years. The BVI is a small country. Imagine we had 100K people living here. Food is not even shipped in fast enough for those that are here. Every country has the right to make what ever laws they see fit for the benefit of the country and its citizens.

        Like 12
        Dislike 9
        • Rubber Duck says:

          It is possible to limit the numbers coming and not treat ex pat workers like indentured slaves and work horses to be exploited then sent away whenever the government feels like it.

          The treatment of guest workers and would be immigrants in BVI is disgusting

          And btw I am not one of them.

          Like 14
          Dislike 1
        • @Future says:

          Nobody is talking about 100k people. But we do need to compete for financial services, tourism, education and whatever else to sustain a quality of life and opportunity for BVIslanders. At the moment our population is too small and can barely sustain all manner of amenities. Most developed countries, large or small have developed somewhere 5-10 years partly on the basis that if they are still needed for this long, it’s not justifiable to reason they are not needed longer term, partly for human rights reasons. It’s unconscionable to be paying taxes and contributing you live and welfare into an economy for such a meaningful part of your life without having basic rights.
          If you think about it, this organic growth and the wealth it creates actually reduces the need for a larger percentage of expats in the workforce over time.

          Like 8
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        • Yes says:

          All countries have the right to make laws. Most of Europe had some form of laws that encouraged and perpetuated slavery with the full backing of the church. Was it right? was it Just?

          Like 2
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      • Okay says:

        Well, what’s the population of that country?

  7. LOL says:

    The measure took effect from 1 February and was announced last week, BRILLIANT!! So now people who have been trying to come here and couldn’t come to no fault of theirs (delayed NHI/SSB certificates etc.) now they’re being punished along with the businesses that need them in order to function. The Government seems to think they are doing the locals a favor by keeping permit holders out but they don’t realize it’s the complete opposite and it will hurt the economy.

    Like 21
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  8. He is full of h*** says:

    When this gentleman came to JVD to campaign with his VIP team during the last election he said some things that made my blood boil. I am from Jost Van Dyke but my wife is from one of the Caribbean Islands and we have children together. This man was saying that I should not vote for a certain member of the NDP because he is not from here when based on what I know he is born here but to parents from the Caribbean. That was this man only reason that he had. A dark cloud came over me and I prayed that he Vincent would not get elected. It is bad when we have people like this in these powerful jobs. I think he h***s Caribbean people. I witnessed it.

    Like 29
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  9. WHEATLEYYYYYYY!!!!! says:

    You are going to get a nice crispy roasting today from the PEOPLE.

    Like 8
    Dislike 1
  10. Let’s keep it real says:

    HE WAS TALKING ABOUT MYRON, I WILL SAY IT. THAT VIP PARTY RAN A DIRTY CAMPAIGN AGAINST NDP. I HATE THE VIP GOVERNMENT AND WHAT THEY STAND FOR. NOTHING BUT A BUNCH OF INEPT, SNAPPING TURTLES.

    Like 15
    Dislike 1
    • Perfect example says:

      My sister respond to a news article about the COI ON THE BUMBLE BEE COLOR NEWS SITE, THEY HAVE YET TO POST HER RESPOND wHICH I DOUBT THEY WILL. THE BUMBLE NEWS SITE IS NOT TRANSPARENT AND IS AGAINT FREE SPEECH.

    • Yeah says:

      That VIP PARTY IS ALL SNAP CRACKLE AND POP BUT NO BITE. I AM SICK OF EVERYONE OF THEM WITH THE CRAB IN A BUCKET MENTALITY TRYING TO CLAW THEIR WAY TO THE TOP OF THE BUCKET. THE SAME PEOPLE FROM OTHER CARIBBEAN ISLANDS THAT YOU ALL TREAT AND ENJOY AS YOUR DOOR MATS WILL PREVAIL ONE DAY FROM YOU I BARNNN YAH EVIL SET OF LOW CRAWLING SNAKES IN THE GRASS GOONS. IF ALL THE OTHER CARIBBEAN NATION PEOPLE PACK UP AND LEAVE THIS ISLAND, YOUR ISLAND WILL TANK IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. LETS SEE IF YOUR I BARNNN YAH CREW CAN KEEP THEIR ISLAND FROM TANKING.

    • True to that says:

      He was talking about Myron. They use the wall and plane thing and milk it for all it was worth so they could win. The plane and wall money can never catch up to the millions of dollars the VIP mismanaged in the two years that they are in Office.IF THE UK DON’T STEP IN FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, I AM CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO RUN THEIR RE ELECTION CAMPAIGN ON.

  11. FACTS says:

    A nasty dirty campaign about who born here and who aint born here was ran by the VIP… A man who does not like people from … should not be in charge of labour and immigration. People who are not from here are important to the survival of our economy. Every thing he brings forward is against the people from the Caribbean countries.

    Like 17
    Dislike 1
  12. I agree says:

    I DESPISE THIS GOVERNMENT. CAN’T STAND THE SIGHT OF ANY OF THEM. BUNCH OF SILLY BUSHMEN LOOKING FOR A COME UP IN THE POLITICAL GAME THAT IS WAYYYYYY TO MUCH FOR THEM TO HANDLE.

    Like 11
    Dislike 1
  13. Hold it down boss says:

    Poor island people when he start talking. He in them tank from time he get in government. Hon. Wheatley the place can’t survive with just us alone living here. We need other people in the country. I know you don’t like foreigners but hold that down right now. We need all the help we could get now.

    Like 11
  14. Never forget him says:

    Because of Hon. Wheatley ******* for people from down island my children could not see there father for close to three months during the pandemic. I am a local and my husband is on work permit exemption and he could not come home. He had a job when he left and they were waiting for him to come back. My husband makes most of the money in the house and we suffered during that time. I would never ever forget what Mr. Wheatley and his government did to me and my family. Never

    Like 22
    Dislike 1
    • @Never says:

      If you are a local there’s no way your husband is on a work permit, come again. Once you marry a local/Belonger, you are automatically exempt and after 5 years you can apply for Belongership by marriage. Either you’re misinformed about the status situation or plain out lying.

      Like 6
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      • What!! says:

        “@ Never” reading and comprehension are important the woman said her husband has work permit exemption.

        Like 12
      • @@never says:

        You cannot read and understand what the person wrote? They said work permit exemption. The person never indicated how long they were married for. When you come to defend your incompetent party at least have the facts.

        Like 14
  15. Wicked vip says:

    And may I know why would you extend the lay-off period again
    Why the h**l your government ain’t let the wicked employers pay the blasted employees there severance pay and done
    Y’all only keep extend to force the expats to leave without out there money
    I get news for ayo the expats ain’t going anywhere without out there money
    God don’t like wicked ppl
    Bvi love lmfao

    Like 18
    Dislike 1
  16. musa says:

    all the way

  17. BVi hate they mean says:

    They say BVI Love but hate outsiders especially *******.

    Like 9
    Dislike 2
    • USA says:

      Don’t feel bad, they hate us Americans just as much. They are always calling down America but they come to America to have their children and they come to America for medical care and surgical procedures. We don’t care if they don’t like us or what they have to say about us Americans because at the end of the day, they have to come to us, they need us, we don’t need them.

      Like 3
      Dislike 2
  18. Joshua says:

    It is a known fact that this minister is against island people. Most of them gave to in order to attract the votes of tolans. If Government officials us against them don’t you expect the normal person would also be. I know of an instance where a former minister of Health was approach by a senior health official for help in securing finance to attend a health related course overseas. He told her without batting an eye, no water in mouth he don’t help island people. He could gave at least say he would try and dont. I really thought the VIP would have been different. I really thought thought this Premier would have change the perception. There is no way on this earth this party can secure another term. I say call elections now so we can move this small island forward.

    Like 1
    Dislike 1
  19. Rich white friends says:

    There is no difference between the last two labour ministers. That all I would say…

  20. For Real says:

    Did he really stopped work permit exemptions for children who went through the school system here?
    If that is true that is really heartless. Do you really mean that children’s who spend 15-18 years of their life here, still have to go apply for a work permit?

    Like 6
    Dislike 2
  21. Wise up says:

    THE WORLD IS A CYCLE !!!!!!!!!Mr .Wheatley

  22. Old says:

    Next election vip l.Must go. We need our money .12 months some people .Not working . It is very hard for us. . God is not dead you think this is a joke.

    Like 3
    Dislike 2
  23. Captain Flint says:

    Its not just the Caribbean Islanders its all expats. They don’t want us here at all. They don’t realise that without the expats they wont have any money to pay for all the Government departments and there will be shoppers to pay the exorbitant prices in the shops for foods and everything. For some expats the Cayman Islands is better as its cheaper plus there is no payroll deductions taken from your wages. The work permit fee is here in the BVI is very high so it would be cheaper to send the workers to the Cayman Islands.

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