‘NDP trying to add pressure on the poor!’ – Expat
Speaking to this news site, Mr Cowlersack said that he has been in working at one of the resorts on the Territory for more than ten years and is very cognizant of the impact expatriates have been making on the development of the Territory and noted that there is no way locals can satisfy the current job market.
“Instead of doing this what this government could have scored points with is considering reducing that twenty year hold they have on exemption... That should be reduced to at least ten years,” he said.
He was not alone in this view as many persons said that they are of the opinion that the NDP Government is attempting to force employers to hire more locals.
“It’s time this government start facing the facts. It is a fact that lots of locals don’t like working hard, it’s a fact that they give employers the most challenging time on the job, it is a fact that locals cannot and are not able to do certain jobs, it is a fact that this Territory needs expats if [it is] to grow,” said one man who chose not to be named.
“Yes you may want to say we can’t vote but I have to lean here in the side of Julian Fraser when he said his party would seek to review that work permit thing when they go back in power. This is unadulterated nonsense this government is doing,” he added.
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith recently told reporters at a press conference on November 25, 2014 that the revised work permit fees are likely for early 2015.
“There will be some changes in fees lowering in some cases and there will be increases in some cases. It will be done based on the job description, based on the salary structure of the individual,” said the Premier.
This move by the NDP government is certainly not getting the support of the Virgin Islands Party Chairman Honourable Julian Fraser, RA (R3) who made it clear that he will seek to revisit the increase work permit fees as it will be bringing unfair pressure on some businesses especially the small ones.
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18 Responses to “‘NDP trying to add pressure on the poor!’ – Expat”
I am a down island man,I did not say in my country and so many of u.This country is not mine or yours.So be careful and respect the law of the land,if we had it much better home way we leave,please help to understand.Yes,we did not develope our country,we left for betterment and and therefore had to work and develope here.Sand home money there.If they to high local let them,they born here.They have right to.And how u know they don't want work,OK they don't want to work and we bring our people from down island to fleed the land take all the jobs,talk p...ss and don't want to go back where we are FROM!!!!!.This is not our country.So Stop B..ching , we Are not from here.Pay tax's and keep it moving
As far as needing outside capital to invest in the territory, I do agree to the idea; but with a caveat; there are ways of obtaining that goal, without giving away the public's tax revenue and other to-good-to-be-true deals; then turn around and screw the public by raising current fees and taxes and introducing new ones, simply to offset the sweet deals made with investors. That is absolutely wrong..! Fair is fair, wherever it takes place. Every business owner knows and expects others to help him operate and grow their business. When an investor invests in a country, thy are not doing the country a favor. They need the assistance of others. If they purchase tools and equipment to help them operate the business, should they get tax breaks because they bought some equipment?
I recall some years ago while operating a restaurant in Road Town, writing a letter to government requesting a assistance in dealing with my high water usage cost. Because there weren't public toilets in all of Road Town, folks would walk in off the streets and use our facilities; often times without purchasing a cup of coffee or whatever. Government response? Absolutely no consideration. Just another 2 cents from me. (~/\~)
It is only the 9000 native Virgin Islanders who are responsible for a 100 million Dollar hospital, 6 million Dollar greenhouse,and probably a billion dollars of proposed or unfinished nation building ventures.