The plight of immigrants in the VI- The message is clear
The entire Virgin Islands has been closely observing the developments within the Territory since the beginning of the year under the new VIP administration, and sure enough one would expect to have flip flops here and there every now and then given that the new administration consists mainly of new and inexperienced political representatives, which in one way could be a very good thing in that they are less likely to make decisions based on conventional norms.
On the other hand, the consequences could be devastating due to inexperience. The success of the team is therefore dependent on the experience of the Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) who has been around local politics practically all his life, and Honourable Julian Fraser RA, though unliked by many, serves as a balancer given his valuable senior experience.
While the Territory has great expectations for the new administration for the most part, there seems to have been a dramatic shift in the leadership style of government to the point where all people across the Territory are currently expressing their insecurity in relation to the direction currently taken by government in many areas, and while many will never speak publicly about these matters, the lava is at boiling point and about to spill over as locals fume in disgust at the decisions taken by the Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration.
The Causes for Concern
COVID-19 related unemployed immigrants to be sent home
The alarm began when COVID-19 stepped in, devastated the local economy, and perhaps out of fear the government took the decision that all immigrants rendered unemployed by COVID-19 will be sent home. This sent shockwaves across the Virgin Islands, given that the families of all parties, including locals, will be affected by this decision. Currently, the community at large is in a tail spin as affected immigrants make plans to face their new fate. Whether some will leave their families on local soil to return to a life they know not, or join family abroad, many are shocked to face the unknown without financial support given the present ordeal. The deep pain they feel arise from the fact that they have given years of their lives to the Virgin Islands considered to be their home, only now to be thrown out. Many are the tears shed in light of this plight.
Non-renewal of permits without a clean Social Security & NHI bill of health
Since hurricanes Irma and Maria, many local businesses have not been able to recuperate from the devastation much the more to make a profit. Many businesses are currently operating in earnest to keep their doors open in the hope that things will get better, yet, it seems it only gets worst.
It seems the Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration is quite unaware of the struggles businesses face. To think that immigrants could be sent home because of not having a good Social Security and NHI record only highlights the fact that many local businesses were not paying these returns to government, which is not the fault of immigrants. This is another failed attempt to corner immigrants to have them sent home. This noose which was intended to be tightened around the neck of the immigrant is again set to inflict serious pain on the already hurting local community. Even if plans are put in place for delinquent companies to pay their backlog, at this point in history when COVID-19 has interrupted the capacity for growth and development, it will be a miracle if these businesses will ever be able to come up with their outstanding arrears.
The Virgin Islands (VI) is comprised of over sixty six percent immigrants to thirty three percent locals. If immigrants are rendered unemployed and the best decision is to send them home without finding a resolve to continue production so they can earn locally, this will have serious, devastating economic consequences and will shake the local community to its knees. If the immigrant community should be significantly reduced, many apartments will be inhabited by rats and roaches, some will be repossessed by the banks, local families will be rendered needy or dependent on government, local businesses will close, local families will be devastated by separations and breakages, and the list goes on. Are these factors taken into consideration by the Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration?
Immigrants on work permit & permit exemption holders barred from entering the Territory indefinitely
A certain news outlet published that Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) on the heels of the [British] Virgin Islands’ ninth recorded COVID-19 case, announced that work permit holders and work permit exemption holders have been barred from entry into the Territory, the decision taking immediate effect, and no timeframe has been given for the ban.
The concern on the ground is the fact that locals were allowed to return home and arrangements made to have them quarantined, which seems to be working well. The question is, if this is home for locals, work permit holders and work permit exemption holders have their families within the Territory, many investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in the place they call home, why can't the government make similar arrangements for work permit and work permit exemption holders as a fair measure for all rather than appearing biased to allow locals only to travel home, yet preventing the backbone of the Territory from entering? Many locals are having a serious problem with this decision, yet no one seems to be able to speak about it.
Permit ready, yet passport held by Immigration
In closing, a case came to my attention of an immigrant who was granted permission by her boss to seek employment elsewhere given the demise of that company. The immigrant obtained another job, the permit was processed by the Labour Department and was declared ready, yet the passport of the immigrant was held indefinitely by the immigration department on the grounds that immigrants living in the Territory under five years and moving to a new job must first exit the Territory while the permit is being processed.
However, due to COVID-19, the immigrant like all else was not able to move given the closure of all airports. Now that the permit is ready to be picked up, the Immigration Department refuses to hand over the immigrant's passport to be updated, perhaps owing to the fact that the immigrant should exit the territory then return, even though all airports are currently closed due to COVID-19.
Wouldn't it therefore be reasonable for the immigrant's passport to be delivered to be updated given the circumstances? The sad truth is the fact that the Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, upon my informing him of the situation, seems to be convinced that if there was an issue, the Immigration Department would inform him of the matter. Yet, it is now approximately three months since the immigrant's passport has been confiscated without a word. You be the judge.
Moneygram & Western Union may need to close operations in VI
It was also decided by the Premier that all outbound money transactions at Western Union and Moneygram should be taxed seven percent. This made it difficult for low income earners who were already paying ten to twelve dollars for each transactions, to now pay ten dollars plus seven percent on the amount to be sent to their loved ones back home or abroad.
This has significantly reduced the money flow via Western Union and Moneygram, and alternate means was immediately sought to send money to family and loved ones abroad. It is now very obvious that the Moneygram and Western Union lines have literally dried up at all money transfer agencies, and these agencies are now faced with the daunting task of keeping their doors open. Sadly, the noose which was intended to tighten around the neck of the immigrant is now choking the life out of the local economy.
The obvious facts
In light of the above facts, it is now very clear that all efforts implemented to benefit the the local community via the immigrant, have exploded in the face of the local community, and only the local community is set to feel the pain generated by these decisions. Additionally, nothing more is needed to conclude that the VI government is on a role to rid the Territory of immigrants in a very blatant way. It is very clear that the time has come for all immigrants to wake up to this reality, get their houses in order, and hit the next available flight out of the territory to a place where their value can be appreciated. Whether one has been in the VI for a decade or a century, the scant disregard for VI immigrants is obviously alarming, and no immigrant will be seen as part of VI community if they are "NOT FROM HERE!"
Permit exemption is a mockery, and selling one's birthright to become a "belonger" is an insult to one's nationality! The fact is, if one is not respected first as a human being, and secondly for their contribution to a community, be it known that it is an absolute waste of time, energy and resources to even be associated with a community. The fact is, if exploitation has become the norm for the immigrant community in the VI, immigrants need to have more dignity in themselves and immediately make better decisions for themselves and their families. "Dogs are not invited where no bones are provided" - and if this is the current reality of immigrants in the VI, all immigrants need to take immediate steps to reposition themselves where they can grow, make a decent contribution to a community, and be respected for it. If this is not the case, the time has come to take the most drastic, yet the best decision ever as we move into the twenty-first century.
Thanks for reading.
(Please note: The thoughts reflected are those of locals and immigrants within the VI).
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35 Responses to “The plight of immigrants in the VI- The message is clear”
The Vi,its people,its social services,its educational structure, its prison,its Courts and its hospital are all saturated and utilized to the max by immigrants with no give back. Its culture and character has been anihalated and disrespected by an immigrant population with little to offer but menial labour,poverty and crime. I agree with the author that they would do themselves good by taking flight to a place or places with an appreciation for their questionable contributions.
Thanks to the influx of immigrants from the Caribbean Islands. This is the plight of the USVI and The BVI.
Mr Premier, you gave status to 2000 plus of the harbingers of lesser Caribbean values and now they saying Thank You the way they always do. Not even to God do they give thanks.
And, yes, I am a proud BVIslander who is nevertheless deeply disturned and embarased by the plight of our Caribbean brothers and sisters (not "down-islanders"). We came here on the same boats from Africa, we are in the same economic strangelehold from the more developed countries who have all exploited us for centuries and continue to do so, and unless we find ways to live and work together, we will die alone.
let who has an ear to hear, hear.
The truth is evident !
Its the most honest piece of blog Ive everseen in my 50yrs. in regards to such matters.
Mr. Gladstone needs to talk positively about the BVI and its locals as well.
Why are they still here?
Could they do the same thing where they come from?