Unemployment at historic high, way more than 2.3% — Walwyn
Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has disputed government claims that the BVI’s unemployment rate is as low as 2.3 per cent, calling the figure “impossible” and warning that the territory is facing a historic level of joblessness.
Speaking during a recent broadcast of The Pulse of the People, Walwyn stated that the issue of unemployment remains one of the most pressing challenges facing the territory, particularly for young people.
“When I asked the Premier yesterday the question in terms of unemployment, I basically said to him that unemployment is at the highest rate in the history of this country,” Walwyn stated.
He expressed concern that the Premier failed to provide a comprehensive plan to tackle the problem, instead citing a figure of 2.3 per cent, which Walwyn rejected outright. “I’m wondering if he lives in the BVI. Unemployment is not at 2.3 per cent. It’s impossible in the BVI. It is much, much higher than that,” he argued.
Dependency on RATED programme
Walwyn pointed to several visible signs of the territory’s unemployment crisis. “The RATED programme alone gives you an indication of the unemployment problem that we have,” he said, referring to the government’s temporary employment initiative.
He highlighted that hundreds of people remain dependent on the programme. “He was boasting about how many people are enlisted on the programme. I think the last time we got the numbers, it was 600, 700 people,” Walwyn explained.
Another indication, he added, is the number of job seekers visibly searching for work each day in the capital. “When you drive across in town now, in the mornings across by Virgin Queen, you see the line of people there looking for employment,” he stated.
Where’s the tangible plan?
Walwyn criticised the lack of tangible solutions, saying: “You don’t see a tangible plan coming forward. And it just can’t be that we want our young people to have the ambition alone to cut bush and wait for a cheque from the Treasury.”
He urged the government to consider proven models to address unemployment. “We need more tangible plans,” Walwyn argued, citing the previous Youth Employment Services programme as an example of a public-private partnership that successfully transitioned job seekers into full-time employment.
“The unemployment problem in this country is much, much higher than 2.3,” Walwyn asserted. “We don’t have a tangible programme for unemployment in the country.”
The government has come under increasing pressure from opposition members and the public to prioritise job creation and economic planning in light of growing economic challenges.
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Does the Leader of the Opposition have data to support his position? Anecdote doesn’t override data. If he could point towards errors or gaps in the way government has arrived at that figure his position would be better validated.
One issue is Labour and how long it is taking for work permits. That department needs cleaning out and proper management put in place with a mandate to keep re-renewals to one week and new to three weeks. Businesses cannot function without speedy work permits.
Local laundry closes , new one to be opened soon well paying jobs available for the elderly & F&F . Apply to FSC
There are plenty of jobs available for people in the BVI except they are all unqualified so unemployable!
That’s not true. Not every Bvislander/Belonger is unqualified. Whats happening is that Employers already have their candidate such as a Filipino shortlisted and they put one or more criteria of who or what they are looking for, thereby the VirginIslander/Belonger isn’t able to get the position. You have an Associates degree, however they also want someone who speaks mandarin, tagalog, work experience of 5 to 7 years and know how to use such and such office computer system which was created for their establishment. You just can’t win. They go as far as asking for degree for a Ckeaner,a maid or even a cleaner. These people too wicked. How’s a person who just graduated from High School or HLSCC supposed to satisfy all thats on their list. Anyways, there’s going to come a time when employers will be begging VirginIslanders/Belongers to work for them…just mark my word. AI is taking over and most if not all isn’t ready for that. They are still stuck in the cave man era. I hope all those who are unemployed or underemployed will soon be able to do better and get ahead. Everyone deserves to earn and take care of themselves and their families. May God bless us all!
Choose who help grow their establishments
Do not blame anyone who wants money for service
Would you hire someone who is
absent every week
Call in sick every two weeks
Reach late twice per week
Watches the clock every hour
Rude to customers
Keep people while they tex friends on the phone
Never make follow up calls
Dress sloppy
Who wants that type of workers
Look into the population and see the values people hold and why some establishments do not want to hire someone who nationality
Train those workers with that type of mentality
Layout your plan to fix it
“… “When you drive across in town now, in the mornings across by Virgin Queen, you see the line of people there looking for employment,” he stated.
Dude. They’re all illegals hustling!!!!!
You are wrong. Many of those people are belongers. Check stuff before you talk.
@@Peewee. no they are not. That hanging out been there since 2000 just got worst later on
So because some of them are spanish you think they are illegal. A lot of those people on that corner have their rights here through descent. Unemployment in this BVI is very high for true.
It is so funny that this establishment just hired three new local people. The reason for this is because of the labour department which we thank. Another reason is because the establishment is hemorrhaging employees, every day it seems as though someone leaves. Why do the local people and the government support such business with such practices.?The owner does not like her own people! But over the decades has became extremely wealthy off their purchases and support The people of the BVI need to start showing establishments that we are not happy by showing them we can spend our money in places that hire their own alongside others and not only when they get in a bind. Show the people of the BVI that their support is appreciated by hiring their kids when there are openings.
There is a huge labour shortage in BVI. Many potential business never open because of the difficulty of getting labour.
@ real simple, you asking if Myron have data to support what he said??, are you alive??
The BH degree is slowly fading out . The world is getting competitive.
Efficiency, productivity , knowledge, skills , attitude and a welcoming personality
These are overriding the BH degree.
Too many of our young men smoking weed on the side of the road
Too many young ladies angry because of home issues
Too many fathers living double lives
Too many mothers holding down two jobs
Too many women outside tge BVI disrespects people marriage
Too many fathers living in a bar instead of spending time at home with their families
Too many church folks casting a blind eye to the unfaithfulness and going ons with the church members
Too many husband father children outside of their marriage creating confusion and conflict in their hones
There will always be disparity when these factors outweighs the family structure In society
The BVI is slipping away from all it morals and inequalities with be the norm in every sector of the society
WE are entitled, we fron hae , we vome ehen we feel like , we leave eternal we feel like , we can do whatever we like how we like and whenever we like etc and too bad it you Don’t like it you can go back to the islands – that’s yhe mentality of most of the ignoramus amongst us , they act like pigs and expect their employers to put up with this kind of sh*t on a doily basis, for a business YO function properly it had to have a serious work force thst is committed to performing their duties efficiently , which they are paid to do with respect and courtesy , and leave your tmdirty attitude at home • if you want make love on your cell phones all day , then stay at your home and do it , not in my business place on my time / and I don’t care where you from family friend or whoever ( LOOK AT THE LADY WHO WAS GUNNED DOWN IN HER OWN HOME HBY ACCOMPLICES OF A BVISLANDER WHOM SHE SHOWED LOVE FOR AND GAVE THE DIRTY PIECE OF SH*T HIS FIRST JOB WHO IN TURN SHOULD OF SHOWED RESPECT TO HER , INSTEAD HE ORCHESTRATED THE ROBBERY THAT CAUSED HER – HER LIFE BY A SET THE ENTITLED BVISLANDER YOUTHS WHO RATHER ROB AND KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE TO PAY THEIR RENT FOR THEIR APPARTMENT ( DOES THAT SHOW THAT SOME OF THESE ENTITLED YOUTHS REALLY HAVE ANY INTENTION TO WORK HONESTLY ? ? ? WHO FOOLING WHO
And too many, many, many people, localand expat utilizing obeah, witch craft, voudoo and high evil science killing innocent and hard working people.
They are killing people out of their jobs.
They are killing people out of their families.
They are killing people out of their relationships.
They are killing people out of their churches.
They have killed innocent people to get government job position.
They have killed people who have done them nothing.
They have attempted to kill many, but some survived.
They will alsokill God and his son Jesus if they appear on earth on Tortola and Virgin Gorda today.
Ole bear wicked people we are living among. Beware.