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VI Labour & Immigration policy a mess! – Natalio Wheatley

The immigration and labour policies of the Virgin Islands are in dire need of a fix according to commentator Natalio Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru. Photo: VINO/File
Wheatley expressed on the Umoja show aired last evening, August 29, 2013 that over the last thirty to forty years there have been immigration and labour policies that have not adjusted to the times and suggested that certain laws have not been enforced properly. Photo: VINO/File
Wheatley expressed on the Umoja show aired last evening, August 29, 2013 that over the last thirty to forty years there have been immigration and labour policies that have not adjusted to the times and suggested that certain laws have not been enforced properly. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The immigration and labour policies of the Virgin Islands are in dire need of a fix according to commentator Natalio Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru.

Wheatley expressed on the Umoja show aired last evening, August 29, 2013 that over the last thirty to forty years there have been immigration and labour policies that have not adjusted to the times and suggested that certain laws have not been enforced properly, “In my opinion the whole labour and immigration policy is a mess, it’s a free for all.”

He noted the British Nationality Act that governs the related policy would be difficult to adjust but said, “There are some areas that we can focus on that are under our control and that’s our immigration policies and our labour policies.”

Host of the programme Cromwell Smith aka Edju En Ka questioned why persons living in the VI in excess of thirty (30) years, remain on work permits even while they have children born in the Territory who have Belonger Status.

Smith further questioned whether there has been any real plan or strategy over the course of the Territory’s development from the 1960’s to present day when the economy transitioned from an agrarian economy to a service economy.

According to Wheatley it was important that these issues were ironed out in order to be able to manage the tensions between the various communities of the VI. He highlighted ethnic tensions in Trinidad and Guyana as examples of these situations. “People should be aware of all the conflict that has taken place between Africans and Indians in Guyana and Trinidad,” he said while suggesting that large populations of people could not be introduced into a place without the expectation of resulting pressures.

He applauded a measure taken by Premier Dr The Hon. D. Orlando Smith on his Facebook page urging persons to take pictures that reflect the diversity of the VI community. “This is an effort to build a unified BVI but it’s 2013, I applaud the effort in 2013 of course but from the beginning you should have had a plan of how to introduce a group of foreigners into the BVI and have a smooth transition,” he stated.

Smith felt that it was time to make a decision about people who have built their lives here in the VI and have made significant contributions to the Territory, “Put those people on the fast track for residency,” he said, “don’t have those people on a work permit every year or every two years as the case may be.” He felt that this would serve notice to Caribbean nationals that they are a part of the VI community and their contributions are appreciated.

“I think you should regularise the situation by establishing [expatriates] here and giving them some security and then you put a proper process in place,” Wheatley said. He felt the incoming Immigration Head, Guy Hill, would be able to help put this process in place that would allow persons who become part of the community to be truly assimilated into a VI identity.

12 Responses to “VI Labour & Immigration policy a mess! – Natalio Wheatley”

  • Sam (30/08/2013, 08:12) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr. Wheatley you are absolutely right. At some point and time our Government should have said enough. How in the world did we allow it to get to this point where persons born in countries outside the BVI now out number born BVIslanders? This is not about hate for our fellow brothers and sister. Its about national identiy and cultural heritage. I am interested in finding out whether or not this situation can be corrected given that we have allowed it to go on for so long. This is a vexing situation.
    • skills (31/08/2013, 10:14) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      IMHO part of the problem (as in being outnumbered by people from somewhere else) is that belongers do not seem want to learn or do the work that expats seem to be willing to do (eg masons, plumbers, electricians, carpenters etc.). Those that do have limited opportunity to learn those skills, but are hampered by having limited knowledge as to how to operate and manage a business, skills that should be taught in schools. We (as parents and citizens) tend not emphasize the importance of education, and the self discipline it requires. Neither has the government invested much in it over the years. We complain about expat teachers and many students disrespect them. Our students graduate from high school, but their education is insufficient to get them into university. So, we also need to import educated workers (lawyers, bankers, medical professionals). And, when it comes to medical professionals, the pay that is offered is absurdly low that belongers who do eventually become qualified have zero financial incentive to return. Moreover, we fail our children when we don't teach them that as you sow so shall you reap. Work ethics leave much to be desired whereby even our own people are reluctant to hire us.
  • Tell UM (30/08/2013, 08:35) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    conwell is a sell out!!
  • Expat (30/08/2013, 09:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thank you MR. Wheatley and MR. Smith.
  • --------------- (30/08/2013, 10:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    How to break the cycle?
  • Gromyko (30/08/2013, 11:44) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Seize the time fellas. we allowed persons to migrate in droves because they took our kindness for weakness and they are now trying to conquor. Unchecked migration results in the situation u are facing now. Just ask Antigua.
  • Food for thought (30/08/2013, 11:45) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wheatley will be the perfect candidate to put up against pickering.
  • mvw (30/08/2013, 13:11) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    I say give them all status so they can vote for me..lol
  • Belongers (30/08/2013, 13:30) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    We have eighteen voters in our family and come next election we gon see who we voting fah, but leh mi tell ayou if the rest ah mi family don't get belonger soon we sure will make our decision ...thank ayou.
    • bottom hole (31/08/2013, 11:11) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      You need to go back in you filthy gully with that kind of talk, (idiot) you could had eighteen hundred I don't care
  • jungle (31/08/2013, 22:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    its good fun to seat on the side and listen to you all people fight each other may the best team win


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