Staff shortage causes delays at DMV! Department pushes for fixes
The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is experiencing a major staff shortage problem that has caused delays in motorists registering their vehicles and conducting other related business with the department.
Amid those issues, Acting Commissioner of the DMV Gregory Skelton said in an interview with BVI News that the department is doing everything in its power to assist the residents and ease the burden his employees are facing.
For instance, he said there has been an open line of communication between his department and the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force to give some consideration to select motorists affected by the DMV’s delays.
Skelton told BVI News that persons who have scheduled appointments to register vehicles that have expired should show police officers the DMV appointment confirmation slip if pulled over in a traffic stop.
“There was some chatter between the police and myself because I know the appointments will be a little bit farfetched when persons want to do licensing of their vehicles. But this only extends to a private vehicle. It does not extend to taxi drivers. It is only applicable to private vehicles,” Skelton said.
Solution being worked on for taxis
The Acting Commissioner said he is currently in conversation with the Taxi and Livery Commission to see what can be done to accommodate motorists operating public passenger vehicles.
“We are working on a way and a solution and a way forward for the taxi drivers,” he said.
The Acting Commissioner also said the DMV has been putting plans in place to move some of its functions online and is hopeful those plans can come to fruition soon.
“By the start of next quarter, we should be up and running with some sort of online payment. So we are in the process of making those plans. They are already on the way. So, we should have those completed soon,”
Office closure complaints
Meanwhile, our news centre received reports that some customers who have scheduled appointments with the DMV have had those appointments pushed back because of unforeseen closures at the DMV.
However, Skelton told our news centre the office had only been closed once earlier this year because of COVID-19 related issues.
“We had some COVID issues, and the office had only been closed for two days. So, customers would have only been affected for two days. When we rescheduled them, they were first to be rescheduled. I think we were closed on the Thursday and Friday and those persons affected the Thursday and the Friday were rescheduled for the following Tuesday and Wednesday,” he explained.
Deputy Governor’s office alerted
As for the ongoing staff shortage, Skelton said the department has been working with the Ministry of Transportation to rectify the staffing issue.
When contacted by our news centre, Minister of Transport Kye Rymer explained that one cause of the problem is that some members of staff are out on medical leave.
“Some are out on extended medical leaves, and we have been working with the Deputy Governor’s Office to reassign staff to the department. So, yes, we are aware of the [issues] but we are doing what we have been working to try and bring the complement of staff back up,” Rymer told BVI News.
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Maybe they should hire some belongers who’s service industry jobs are being stolen by the expats. Sounds like a win-win for everyone!
Belongers providing you, the customer, with quality and caring service in an efficient, expeditious manner?
Pipe dream.
I guess only persons on work permits can give you great service? I think not! The only difference is that employers want to control work permit staff and slave them to death.
How about all the belongers looking for work?
Another waste of time.
So where are all the belongers who are out of work?
Up your ra**!
Well I assure you if they were up my ra$$, I would have recommended them for the jobs. Idiot
Down there too far, no heavy traffic of people to be admired, go do nails on extended lunch breaks, run home to take naps, just out of the way of movement….
Realising that the BVI government is not capable of running basic services? The DMV issues have been going on for years..
I agree….over two years I’ve been asking Mr. Skelton for some information and the excuse has always been… staff shortage! Come on…two years? And it ain’t fix yet man?
They say So Many BVIslanders looking jobs…so why the Government can’t hire them down DMV?
To be honest I’ve had the displeasure of having to visit the DMV lately and based on my observations and years of management experience, this is due mainly to poor management. The DMV like all govt departments need to hire competent people to help evaluate and manage their processes.
Agreed! It’s absolutely miserable when I go there. They are extremely slow or maybe it’s laziness and have no concept of picking up the pace, especially when they are even semi busy! Typical of businesses here in the BVI. It’s not just the DMV, it’s nearly all businesses!
there were more staff than customers, rude too!
I recognize that some Departments have issues, but in all fairness some have taken it above the notch. I had dealings with both the Passport Office and Deputy Governor’s Office lately and all responded in a professional, helpful and friendly manner. It was a breath of fresh air. EVERYONE there offered such great service and it was well appreciated. Other Departments should take a page from their books.
When I use to work there things never use to be like this what the hell going on there now?
Things were just like this when you “used to work there”. Ever since DMV moved to Pock Wood Pond, one needs a day off to get a vehicle licensed.
I think Government needs to have an office in Road Town for renewal of drivers licences and maintain the Pock Wood Pond location for vehicle renewals and inspections etc.
Increase drivers licence to 10 years for renewal
What was the cause of the delays prior to the staff shortages? Delays at the DMV seemed to have been the norm for centuries.
Why are there so much shortage of local workers? Wheatley is h**l bent on locals having work…. So here is the work…. where are the local workers? Go fill these vacancies. Short staffed at Hospital, Labor Dept, DMV, regular employers begging for workers…What is the problem?
HRD takes forever to give people a job. It literally takes 6 months to get a response.
Why are there so much shortage of local workers? Work is being saved for locals…. So here is the work…. where are the local workers? Go fill these vacancies. Short staffed at Hospital, Labor Dept, DMV, regular employers begging for workers…What is the problem?
You close at 2 for no good reason!
DMV SLOWWWWWWWWWW…….
PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT FAST. IT HAVE ALOT OF PEOPLE NEED JOBS RIGHT NOW…
HIRE THEM… THEN THE MACHINE IS NOT WORKING ITS ALWAYS SOMETHING DOWN THEIR…
THEN YOU HAVE TO TAKE OFF A DAY JUST TO GO AND DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO
The dmv department move as if u on their time u have to wait on them . Their attitude stink no customer service friendly you simple ask one question and they behave like hogs ..I really hate going to that department. The cashiers instead they focus on getting the customers out of in there no they rather be behind the counter who isnt on them cell does be laughing chatting melay..I honestly does get a break down when I go to that department.. the government need to look into dmv department because Apparently especially the cashiers they are to lay back and feels like u got to wait on them with their stinking attitude. That department need cleaning up they all hogs except two workers there the hamm lady and I dont know the name of the lady who managed the door those two are more pleasant . The gentlemen them to the back they are all pleasant. Dmv manager please let your staff know with out customers they wouldn’t be no job . Wake up .
Since Labour was allowed to get away with this bogus excuse for their failure. Every department no following them..
AM surprised it not jaspert / cindy or the ndp ,while the prince of VG making excuses for everything under the sun ? he just enjoys ripping off outsiders by double taxing them ( real herO
The worse government department.from management down. I hate to go to Dmv.sorry it need a total overhauled.
DMV moves like that cause most of them making money on the side for the ones that dont want to go down and take a day off to do such task so the longer they take the more people they could tell check them on the side
Natures Little Secret. No ethics. No desire to work. (it’s slavery)
Noone employed there is an expat ,you all locals always trying to put the blame on othgers for your incompetencies ..the DMV needs to be revamped with newre ideas and policies..thewre are many unlicensed and un-insured vehicles on the roads..everybody knows that including Skelton and the police …wake up please