Why not just fix the Trade Department?
Talk show host Damion Grange has questioned the need for the Virgin Islands Trade Commission after its implementation was recently delayed by Labour and Trade Minister Lorna Smith.
The Trade Commission Act was brought into force in November 2022 and Smith said the law provides for the Commission to promote and oversee business, trade, investment, and consumer affairs in the territory.
“A board has been appointed and received orientation in May 2023,” Minister Smith stated in September. “However, due to the absence of critical administrative prerequisites, such as sufficient human and financial resources, the Commission has not yet achieved full operational status.”
But Grange questioned whether the Commission was really needed at all, arguing, among other things, that its purpose needed to be properly explained to residents.
“We’re going to introduce a Trade Commission hoping that trade will work when we have not fixed the issues in trade,” Grange said on the Talking Points show recently.
“What is the Commission going to do that the folks within the Trade Department aren’t equipped to do?” Grange asked. “And if the folks in the Trade Department aren’t equipped to do the job, why not just get rid of them and get the people from the Trade Commission to do the job?”
The commentator suggested that there should be some proof that things like the Trade Commission are necessary before they are introduced and an explanation is given to the community about how it will work.
He also said that there should be a justification for why the Trade Commission is necessary versus simply fixing the Trade Department.
Meanwhile, Minister Smith recently moved a bill in the House of Assembly to delay the implementation of the Trade Commission, arguing that there were funding concerns over the new Commission.
Smith previously told lawmakers that an assessment was done by the government and it was determined that the first year of operations for the Commission was estimated to cost roughly $1.8 million.
In contrast, Minister Smith said operations for the current Trade Department are estimated at just $800,000 per annum.
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The relevance of the ministry of Labor, Trade, Financial Services needs to be explained. How is this ministry different from BVIFSC, Department of Labor etc.? She has a growing payroll of seemingly cronies. The ministry is beginning to look quite expensive, with low output.
We love implementing initiatives by the doubles in this Territory with little or nothing to show for it. Example, the RDA and Public Works, the Trade Department, and the Trade Commission. Why not fix what already exists and bring it to the standard of what is brought in anew?
In this 3rd world we still have a TRADE DEPARTMENT, where we as Bviislanders have to beg to be given a license to work to put food on our tables.
Grow some balls allow free enterprise/economics to determine who survives in business!
..but then the elites who have monopolies in vital businesses would not be able to control competition.
Any belonger should be free to start any business they like.
And get rid of registered agents for businesses operating solely in BVI out side of finance. New businesses do not need another parasite on their backs.