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Pickering wants targeted investments in VI’s Human Resource pool

District Seven, youth activist, Mr Sonniel O. Pickering, is calling on the newly installed Virgin Islands Party administration, to reassess and streamline its allocation of Government Scholarships, in order to build the Territory’s human resource capacity in a targeted manner. Photo: Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – District Seven, youth activist, Mr Sonniel O. Pickering, is calling on the newly installed Virgin Islands Party (VIP) administration, to reassess and streamline its allocation of Government Scholarships, in order to build the Territory’s human resource capacity, in a targeted manner.

Mr Pickering made the clarion call, during his guest appearance on popular radio programme, ‘Honestly Speaking’ on Tuesday March 26, 2019, with host, Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline.

Competing Internationally

He spoke to the need to build the Tourism product even venturing to Industrial Tourism and competing internationally in the technological front, in addition to areas such as Sports Tourism and the medical field.

“The IT field, stepping into that zone where the world is ever changing and we want to keep up with the times with technology and socio economic growth and getting up there in that technological world then you pool resources into that,” he said in comments directed towards the ruling VIP administration.

He called on those commanding the reins, to come up with a plan for investing in young people and the territory in order to move the country forward.

Streamline Scholarships

“Now is the time where as government and people, when we envision where we are, where we want to be and how we are going to get there.”

He was adamant, “when you have a plan to move country forward, you understand the tools that are necessary.”

 Speaking to the need to prioritize investment in Virgin Islanders, he also highlighted the medical field saying, “…we want to get more locals more medically inclined, where we can have more local doctors who are paramount in their studies.”  

According to Pickering, “if that is what we want, provide the necessary resources…streamline the scholarships.”

3 Responses to “Pickering wants targeted investments in VI’s Human Resource pool”

  • abs (29/03/2019, 11:23) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    good points
  • wow (29/03/2019, 14:43) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    VIP Platforms did address these concerns!
  • E. Leonard (31/03/2019, 13:11) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    The VI started the trajectory from a primarily subsistence agricultural economy, ie, fishing, small stock raising, burning coal, farming (working ground),.....etc to a service-based economy in the mid 60s; Now, the twin pillars of the economy are tourism and financial services. The economic transformation created new job skills and new jobs. The demands of the new and emerging economy required additional labour that had to be imported. However, despite government investment in human capital there is still a high demand for both skilled and non-skilled imported labour. Many jobs that Virgin Islanders should be able to do are being filled from external sources. Further, the transformed economy thrusted the BVI into having one of the highest standard of living, quality of life and per capita income in the region. As such, it has become a hub for immigration; 100+ nationalities now call the VI home. It is the norm that as the standard of living changes in a country/locale locals shy away from doing certain jobs. The BVI has embraced that trend. Consequently, labour has to be imported to perform certain tasks.

    Nonethless, agree with Mr. Pickering that the public sector investment on human capital must be well-planned and executed more effectively. Government/private sector must assess the critical needs to build a sustainable economy and leverage its limited investment resources to train and educate local human capital to meet its labour needs. However, despite the targeted investment on human capital there may still be a need to import labour, ie, some infrequently needed specialty skills, needs beyond the capacity and capability local source, temporary surge needs....etc.

    Further, the BVI is a small economy and a Small Island Developing State (SIDS). And like most other small island economies, it faces the constant challenge of recruiting and retaining skilled labour. Small islands have to compete with larger econmies, ie, UK, US, Canada.......etc. These larger economies offer larger compensation packages among other things. Skilled labour staying in a small economy is often a labour of love, ie, family, quitter and slower life style, weather.....etc.


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