VI musician work permits on agenda for IVIC meeting today
Government officials will meet to report to the council and further discuss areas of shared interests.
The issue of work permits for VI musicians has been a thorny issue since April 2015 when a number of musicians from the Virgin Islands had expressed frustration and embarrassment that the US Virgin Islands border patrol continued to restrict them from travelling to perform in that territory for gain and that the National Democratic Party (NDP) government seemed to be dragging its feet on the issue.
The matter had reached boiling point when musicians who were slated to perform at the St Thomas Carnival on Sunday April 26, 2015 were reportedly suddenly told by the St Thomas Carnival Committee that they could no longer accommodate them since they were not able to get the usual US Visa waiver for their bands to travel to the island to perform.
Recently, controversial Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn told a local news site of possibly putting a clamp on the sister territory’s entertainers from performing at Festivals in the Virgin Islands in 2017 since there has been no resolve to the difficulties faced by VI entertainers wanting to perform in the USVI.
According to a Government Information Service (GIS) press release this week, the council will receive updates on law enforcement, pleasure boating, tourism and education. “Also to be discussed are initiatives to explore the scope of cooperation in BVI musician work permits.”
About the IVIC
The IVIC is the formal side of the USVI-VI relationship and brings together the governor of the USVI and the premier of the VI as co-chairs of the council. Government officials and policy makers will explore with their counter parts different ways to enhance the relations between the USVI and VI by collaborating to monitor and introduce initiatives designed to improve the quality of life for the people of the two territories.
“Both the British and US Virgin Islands not only share a common culture and history, but today, we face some of the same unique challenges. We must strive to work together to secure our borders, enhance visitor experiences and improve the quality of life for all of our people,” said Mr. Mapp. “Our relationship with our neighbors has been greatly improved through joint efforts with our law enforcement, tourism and emergency planning agencies. As a direct result of meetings such as IVIC, we will continue to cultivate an atmosphere of cooperation and mutual goals that will benefit future generations of Virgin Islanders,” the press release stated.
Premier Smith will head the VI delegation, which will include permanent secretaries and relevant senior officers.
The council was established on Saturday, May 29, 2004, when former USVI Governor Dr Charles W. Turnbull and Chief Minister Dr The Honorable D. Orlando Smith signed a joint memorandum of understanding.
The council’s first meeting convened on St Croix in April, 2005.
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