Unemployed on work permit? 'You should have to leave!' - Hon Vincent O. Wheatley
Rebuilding jobs on a slump
"The work is starting to slow down, businesses are finally being rebuilt and so workers are being laid off... If you're in the BVI on a work permit without work, you should have to leave," Hon Wheatley said on Public Radio ZBVI 780am last Tuesday, October 8, 2019.
"You are here to work and if there is no work, you should be made to leave... but we are very kind and welcoming persons, we give them time to find another job. But it's sometimes very difficult tracking these persons the way we should," he told Claude O. Skelton-Cline and the 'Honestly Speaking' listening audience.
Hon Wheatley said; however, that persons changing jobs who have resided in the Virgin Islands for 5 years or more will no longer have to leave.
"It used to be that you had to leave when you are changing jobs, right now if you are here over five years you don't have to leave, we know who you are... only the new ones have to leave."
Dilapidated Immigration System
Hon Wheatley, turning his attention to immigration, said the system is in a state of disrepair as a result of neglect; however, he is working to transform the sector.
"Our current immigration systems are dilapidated, and that's why we passed in the House... monies to upgrade the Immigration Border Security System... $6.4M would have already been approved to upgrade our border security," he said.
According to Hon Wheatley, "If we are going to empower our people, we have to ensure we're securing our borders... the BVI is a very attractive place to live, work and do business, that's not going to change anytime soon... but we also have to make sure we are securing our people."
The Minister noted that Government will be consulting a local database so that every single Virgin Islander and Belonger looking for jobs will be able to find work; however, they must register.
"This database tracks every single work permit, the minute you apply for a work permit, it triggers the database... Is there anyone in here that suits this work permit application? And if there is, it is denied automatically," he said.
The Minister noted that the system will also alert local colleges of high demand job fields with the aim of getting them to offer courses.
"We have the resources here, so we are pushing strongly for our people to upskill themselves," Hon Wheatley said.
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21 Responses to “Unemployed on work permit? 'You should have to leave!' - Hon Vincent O. Wheatley”
Or simple. Put Guy Hill ona two(2) tear contract with “Soldiers”and see how fast we get this place clean up
Even the LAZY ( B. H ). Holders will get them arse in gear if Mr Hill is given the Task to “cleanup”
Think about it. The man work spoke for him
Immigration Officials are sending people home. The minister is say something different from his officers.
You are not wrong, but please come with a plan and a proposal before just getting these thoughts out in the open to gain popularity.
Commenting on problems is easy, fixing them is what you should do.