‘Relax the dress code for Govt buildings’ – radio show caller
The show was aired last Tuesday August 19, 2014 and hosted by Doug Wheatley on ZBVI 780 AM. On the show Wheatley agreed with the caller, saying that the dress code measures are implemented heavy handedly.
The caller explained that someone concerning him had to visit a Government department for a licence of some sort. “She had to wait outside while I went in and got the licence for her,” said the caller. Government offices prohibit short pants for visitors though casual wear, inclusive of denim jeans, is deemed acceptable, this news site understands.
“I hope that they use a little bit of common sense when someone comes in there. Right now I have problems with my legs, I’m diabetic…so I have bandages on my legs and I couldn’t put a pair of shoes on,” he said. “So I hope they take all this stuff into consideration when someone goes in there,” said the caller.
Wheatley said that he hopes the Administrative Complex puts its dress code enforcement on hold. “I think it is just going to create problems and difficulties and just as the [caller was saying] it is reminiscent of certain things of the past,” said Wheatley.
“Although I could sympathize with security for perhaps wanting to be more efficient in their operations, I think this will create lots and lots of problems. We have to get away from this heavy handed approach of organizing everything to the nth degree. You are making their lives more difficult by doing things like that,” said Wheatley.
“Let’s not get carried away with [this business attire thing]. The BVI was a carefree society where everybody was happy and living well together. We don’t need there heavy handed approaches to our lives,” he said.
“We need security…but we need our freedom and our liberty and I think that if we begin to interfere in the lives and activities of people wherever they go, whatever they do, that’s not that what the BVI is known for over the many years,” said Wheatley.
21 Responses to “‘Relax the dress code for Govt buildings’ – radio show caller”
Next time I will exercise the freedom and liberty route attired in my bikini or short shorts ... if you ask me, I would say that these Islands need to tighten up and not relax what has kept our reputation as a respectable and and conservative people with moral values and common decency. August festival has become an xrated catastrophe and by Doug's reasoning teachers Gov workers and school children should dress undress or not dress at all.
Doug, I am disappointed by your reasoning. Hope it is just a phase.
Shorts should be ok once decent looking. No batty riders, tights, or pum pum shorts though
The first policy states in part: all visitors and employees entering the Central Administration Complex must present a valid Government issued ID card to the security guard at the Help desk. This should be in the form of a passport or Driver’s License. Government employees are required to present their Government ID cards.
According to Facilities Manager, Mr. Arriel Donovan, “Presently visitors are being asked to sign in a visitors log book; however, the security officers have no way of knowing if the person is indeed who they sign in as.”
He continued, “This ID card system is necessary in the event of an emergency or an investigation.”
Additionally, visitors are required to leave their ID card with the security guard when entering the building and in turn will be issued a visitors badge prior to visiting any department or ministry. Once the individual has completed their visit they would return the visitors badge to security and their personal ID card will be returned to them.
Delivery personnel should have proper identification of the company they represent.
Government employees are required to present their Government ID card in order to gain access to the Central Administration Complex building. Employees without their ID cards would have to present a valid Government-issued ID card (passport or driver’s license) or would have to seek access through their Supervisor or Department.
The second policy states in par all visitors entering the Central Administration Complex must groom themselves in a manner that is modest, clean and decent when doing business at the Central Administration Complex. The most suitable dress attire is business or business casual.
Mr. Donovan explained that the Central Administration Complex is a business environment and therefore, persons should dress as such; adding, that accommodations will be made for persons with a disability or to accommodate a person’s religious beliefs.
Failure to comply with these new policies will result in the individual not being allowed to enter the compound for any reason.
The Facilities Management Unit believes that all employees and members of the public, visiting the Central Administration Complex should be provided with a clean, comfortable and secure environment.
****This email was circulated August 15, 2014". The dress code is needed but I'm sure people will use their common sense like when they see the person with a ton of bandages....