Walwyn slams Trade Department over demands for degrees
Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has criticised the Department of Trade’s reported policy requiring business owners to hold degrees or specialised training before obtaining certain trade licences, calling it “ridiculous” and harmful to entrepreneurship in the Virgin Islands.
Speaking at a recent press conference, Walwyn said the new requirement would make it harder for small business owners to operate and would undermine economic growth.
“Now we are hearing that the Trade Department wants people to have degrees or specialised training before getting a trade licence in certain fields. That is ridiculous,” he stated. “Not every entrepreneur has formal qualifications. What matters is their drive and their ability to hire the right people,” he argued.
He said the move reflects a government out of touch with ordinary Virgin Islanders and accused the administration of discouraging people from starting businesses instead of supporting them. “It feels like this government is actively discouraging entrepreneurship instead of empowering it,” Walwyn insisted.
The Opposition Leader linked the issue to what he described as a broader failure of economic leadership. He said small businesses were “fighting to survive, with little access to financing,” and that government support had been limited to “a few token grants after being pressured by the opposition.” Walwyn added, “That is not a plan. That is reaction”.
Walwyn further accused the government of neglecting the business environment at a time when neighbouring Caribbean nations were forging ahead with major tourism and development projects. “The sad truth is that while our Caribbean neighbours are moving boldly to expand their economies, attract investment and create jobs, the Virgin Islands remain stagnant, adrift without vision, without strategy and without meaningful progress,” he stated.
Business owners across the Virgin Islands have also expressed frustration with licensing delays and unclear requirements in recent months. BVI News has highlighted growing concerns about bureaucracy in the Department of Trade, with entrepreneurs saying the application process has become increasingly burdensome since new guidelines were introduced.
The Department of Trade has yet to disclose details of its official policy. However, Walwyn’s remarks have intensified calls for the government to review the policy and make it easier for Virgin Islanders to start and sustain businesses.
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Richard Branson, Bill Gates, and Elon Musk wouldn’t qualify but the trade department are the smart ones.
Trade Department, who you trying to keep down?
Numerous persons with Degrees are INCOMPETENT!
I am certain many employers have experienced these types of employees.
The Trade Dept. and whoever came up with this asinine stipulation proves my point!
I agree with MW on this one . What really going on in these islands mehson! Someone needs to stop this madness.. some of the richest and successful people in the world are not college educated! Walt Disney was a high school dropout and look at what he did! Y’all need to stop stifling people’s progress!
These are some idiots. The tech giants didn’t even have degrees. This is flawed thinking by a flawed administration. Fix this quick, pleaseeeeeee! A degree is not the skill set needed to start a business, as a matter of fact, degreed folks are lazy and do not have any entrepreneurial acumen. They prefer to work for entrepreneurs.
Surely Hon. Walwyn would agree that locals should not be able to get licenses to operate construction firms, law firms, pharmacies, medical practices and other specialized fields without being able to demonstrate whether they themselves or their partners/staff have the adequate qualifications? We cannot pretend as if we want people to be protected while in the name of politics advocating for a free for all. Further, Trade Dept. has always been very strict with issuing certain categories of licenses so this is not new. I’m sure they’re not asking for degrees for car rentals, taxis, salons etc. Hon. Walwyn just like confusion it seems.
Anyone can own a business- you don’t need to be a lawyer to own a lawyer firm or a dentist or a dr to own a medical practice – you just need to hire people who can. Small thinking persists here. Geez.
Reading is fundamental, the post above said either they are qualified or can prove they have qualified staff/partners. There is obviously a lot of ‘fronting’ and other issues which is why certain categories of licenses would have tighter restrictions than others.
So you know BVI medical council saying that a belonger with Registered nurse degree cannot get a bussiness and hire doctors to work for the business. I find tgis is crap.
Even someone with a Bsc drgree in oral health Science.
They are saying it must be a dentust/medical doctor ooen that business.
This is nonses
You would need a law, medical, etc.. license in addition to a trade license. Just another layer of confusion in a confused territory of 40k people. But who cares, let’s fix it by going independent!!
This dude is only interested in defending outsiders
You sound soo stupid.
Not once this man mention anything about expats..stewps
is simple. An educated and qualified medical, legal or accounting practitioner will NOT seek employment under any company trade license IF the person is eligible for their own trade license. Any business that solely relies on these persons as employees will eventually fail. Business managers MUST be able to do the job not just rely on hired staff.
So if someone with $5 Billion comes to redevelop Prospect Reef we will turn them away because they only got O Levels.
Haha ha ha ha ha.
VI never going to develop anything but criminals. Doing honest business is too hard.
What is a degree ?
Degree is what have the world in the state it is in.
It will work only, if dept of license and trade give the entrepreneur the degree certificate to owner of the business. when God already give the wisdom to create and it become a successful business.
JUST COMPARE BOTH BLOGGS AND WE CAN SEE TMHEY WERE WTITTEN BY JUDGE WIGGIE , SPEWING OUT HIS USU6 EVILNESS AND HATRED FOR WALWYN INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THE MESSAGE THE NAN IS BRINGING TO THE PROPLE, BOI PLEASE
YOU KEEP YOUR DIRTY AND NEGATIVE O0THOUGHTS TO YOURSELF ON YOUR RACIST YELLO SITE •
Now we are hearing that the Trade Department wants people to have degrees or specialised training before getting a trade licence in certain fields.
UOU CANNOT GO ON HEAR SAY WALWYN. VERACITY CHECK THEN COMMENT.
Definitely overreach on the part of Trade. Would be like expecting CSC to have an advanced degree in theology or any experience in areas he whores himself out as a consultant.