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Foreigners favoured in top positions – radio show caller

Douglas Wheatley said that there should be succession planning in companies and organisations to groom locals to take over top positions. Photo: VINO/File
A caller to the radio talk show Speak Out BVI with Douglas Wheatley on Tuesday evening July 8, 2014 on ZBVI 780AM expressed dismay with the current trend of employing foreigners to certain top positions over locals who are qualified for those same jobs. Wheatley concurred and said that there should be appropriate succession planning programmes to ensure locals fill top positions. Photo: VINO/File
A caller to the radio talk show Speak Out BVI with Douglas Wheatley on Tuesday evening July 8, 2014 on ZBVI 780AM expressed dismay with the current trend of employing foreigners to certain top positions over locals who are qualified for those same jobs. Wheatley concurred and said that there should be appropriate succession planning programmes to ensure locals fill top positions. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – A caller to the radio talk show Speak Out BVI with Douglas Wheatley on Tuesday evening July 8, 2014 on ZBVI 780AM expressed dismay with what he said was the employment of foreigners to certain top positions over locals who can do the job.

“It seems like almost every major position we need help [from overseas],” said the caller, referring to the employment of expatriates over locals.

“We have a number of persons who have gone on their own out there to be educated to the highest level in all sectors of the economy. And yet when a position is opened we going to England or America to bring somebody to fill these positions,” said the caller.

Wheatley said, “It is not only positions but sometimes when there are economic opportunities for the people to benefit we bring in an expatriate company to benefit from some of those same economic opportunities that should be available for our people.”

The caller said, “All these things should be examined carefully because we have our own educated persons. With all of the persons who have been working at the establishment for years nobody could have fit in that spot?” the caller asked?

Wheatley said that there should be succession planning in companies and organisations to groom locals to take over top positions. “It seems as they are not capable of taking the BVI and entities within the BVI along the development path. But we did it very successfully in the past,” he said.

30 Responses to “Foreigners favoured in top positions – radio show caller”

  • Manager (10/07/2014, 08:37) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    While it may be ok to air some grievances you may need to watch the tone... It seems that we always 'bashing" foreigners. It may end up being that the foreign investments (businesses) need to keep the economy afloat will find the environment to hostile and thus conduct businesses elsewhere. Remember their are other countries with larger populations and as such these companies can realize their profits elsewhere; it will more that make up for the loss of the US dollar. Some of you commentators with political ambitions need not always pander to the ranting of the people just to gain political mileage; be careful what you say and wish for. People are who keep the economy afloat and that includes foreign investment.
  • Treason (10/07/2014, 08:49) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply

    Well do not depend on the NDP to fix it, for sure. All of them are foreigners so you know that they are only looking out for themselves and foreigners. You see that big contract they give P...y the other day and the scholarship that is reserved for nationals? Where else in the world, does this happen? Treason.

  • qc (10/07/2014, 08:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    nothing new here
  • dude (10/07/2014, 08:58) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Some people bash Wheatley but how is it that he is more in tune than a lot of them. He can see clearly some things that they are blind to. And a talk show host's job isn't to provide solutions. It's to create discourse and conversation, provoke thought.
    Clearly his global outlook is beyond what a lot of them can see. The caller was right the BVI belongers are betrayed by these people's lack of global awareness.
  • . (10/07/2014, 09:03) Like (8) Dislike (25) Reply
    This is always the case with a NDP lead government.
  • dead man (10/07/2014, 09:12) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    Just check the private sector
  • True (10/07/2014, 09:20) Like (12) Dislike (3) Reply
    Problem is everyone thinks that gaining a work permit gives them the right to emigrate to the country, this is what needs to be addressed all top positions should require a local deputy so they can learn the position over the period required to fulfill that position.
  • wize up (10/07/2014, 09:46) Like (14) Dislike (8) Reply
    lets be fair. most time local business people refuse to employ their own. people who leave their country to work DONT sit on the jobs pressing chair or dont take 2hrs lunch time they are dedicated workers. kindly check ayo self,
    • please (10/07/2014, 11:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Seems like your brain has no sides at all or you need to go back to school to learn how to construct sentences.
    • @wize up (10/07/2014, 16:54) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      I have witnessed on several occasions " people who leave their country to work" DO sit on the jobs not pressing the chair, but call their friends in other offices to do the work they are getting paid to do, then have them send it to them when the boss is out. I have also witness them taking other people work and presenting it as their own and doing personal business on the company time so they are not so dedicated workers as you claim.
    • @Wize (10/07/2014, 23:23) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Clearly you do not know what you are saying. The problem is that you people speak as if you are all knowing. People are people everywhere. I have seen foreigners do exactly that, both blacks and whites. You all need to stop the brain washing and propaganda. It it now becoming.
  • vi (10/07/2014, 09:47) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    True, the labour code states what you are saying, but as with most laws in the VI it is not enforced.
  • DON Q (10/07/2014, 10:15) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    Poor locals got to suck salt for another year or so
  • The real problem (10/07/2014, 10:19) Like (20) Dislike (4) Reply
    I am a VIP and I believe we must protect Virgin Islanders and Belongers- that said- the real problem is this one- we have an entitlement culture that will put an incompetent person in a top position. All this does is drag the country down. Then we have to invite those self same expats to fix the mess. A significant number of our youth are in social trouble- especially our young men- that too has to be fixed- who will get the jobs when our kids are in prison? Till we have competent Virgin Islanders in place at all levels- and the education system is designed to fix just that- then expats will continue to get top jobs- simple reality of the global economy -
  • Local (10/07/2014, 10:24) Like (30) Dislike (6) Reply
    Stop & ask yourself why most times you end up with outsiders in certain positions over the locals...I can tell you why. Most locals lazy & feel that because they from here they entitle to some form of special treatment & treat the work with no care. An outsider will come & they will do the work because they have agendas & goals. They will come & work hard but a local now? Oh let's see...stroll in to work 15, 20 maybe 1/2 hr late, take the 2hr lunches, chat/txt all day, away from their desk gossiping with the otrs but bet your bottom dollar 4:29/4:59 they through the door. Come on now. Companies want & need productivity and many locals don't want to give or can't give so what happens? the company goes outside where they know they will flourish. Now don't get me wrong u know, there are locals who work their behinds off, give their all on their jobs & aren't recognised and the same goes for outsiders. If locals don't want outsiders to take certain job positions then ya'll need to address yourselves better & change the mentallity of oh I born here so I got all rights, no you don't. Not because you born here means everything must be handed to you on a silver platter you have to put in the work.

    P.S. I am a local & will speak out against otr locals if I see they doing foolishness & blaming otrs for their own wrong doin.
  • True VIP (10/07/2014, 10:41) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    You are no vip
  • question (10/07/2014, 13:51) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    What about locals who are offered positions but turn them down saying "I'm not ready for that.." or "I'm good where I am, I'm not able with all that drama"...etc.? We talk a lot of shit around here without facts but keep it up and see if it gets better. They said the more expats leave, the more jobs there are for locals. How's that working for ya? Ask Labour/Immigration how many left and tell me if locals are better off? When will we wake up?
  • wise up (10/07/2014, 16:50) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    educate our people then change those dumb labour laws....
  • Music (10/07/2014, 17:17) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
    Where are all these qualified locals who lose out to expats? Are they sitting at the roundabout waiting for a job, or sitting outside the premiers office waiting to complain. NO! They don't exist! It's a myth and cannot be substantiated by the complainers. Our economy cannot be run by locals alone, simply on the numbers of workers, qualified or not, so expats will always be needed.
  • Expat (11/07/2014, 05:40) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
    There is no doubt that BVI should always be striving to employ locals where locals can do the job but as others have said on here: you'll never reach that goal 100%. I've worked in BVI as an outsider for a UK company that the BVI asked and enticed to Tortola. In fact the BVI Government paid us to be there and after some negotiation my company obliged and set up an office. Whether you like this or not please try not to take out your disappointment on the expats who are working there. We weren't begging to be on your lovely island but some locals assumed otherwise. I had a good job, which I could have left, but I wanted to keep doing it. The company offered me and my family all sorts of incentives (house, car, private schooling, extra allowances, tax free pay, holiday flights, etc.) to relocate to the islands so we accepted.

    I had a wonderful time on BVI and still have some good friends there but a few people were simply nasty to me and my family just because we weren't from the islands. You have a lovely place but you are fooling yourselves if you think expats are all just trying to emigrate there as if there is nowhere else like it.

    If you don't like it fix the system.
    • Reality bites (11/07/2014, 12:37) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      I have to agree. I'm still here as an expat, but not for long... i arrived in this amazing wonderful territory and was initially concerned and shocked by the amount of expats doing jobs that i felt locals should be doing. In my role, i am responsible for recruitment and succesion planning so declared quite grandly that it was my intention to train and develop local staff to the point that the office was run by locals only.

      8 months later, several spells at Labour being told to do whatever i can to keep disgruntled, lazy and malicious staff happy - despite the disruption they are causing to my other local staff who WANT to progress and improve - and being the target of some downright nasty action against me, for no other reason than i'm 'not from round here' (in my country we call that racism), i have admitted defeat, realised some people just cannot be helped and am off back home before the beautiful BVI loses it's shine for me altogether.

      I really feel the sense of entitlement that pervades amongst some locals will be the eventual downfall of the economy here, and thats sad, as it could be completely avoided if only they felt the need to compete for their jobs, like the rest of the world has too.
      • Expat (11/07/2014, 18:03) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        I can relate to your post in many ways. I too tried to give as much back as I could to the locals who worked in my field of expertise. I tried to empower them to take more responsibility themselves but I came to the conclusion in the end that they simply didn't want that responsibility. I truly believe a lot of them were more content letting me take the responsibility.

        As for the days we all used to have to waste lining up for our annual visa renewal at the Immigration Dep't and some of the lectures we had to endure from the jumped up officers having their little power trips... I'll stop now. Overall I loved my time there and met some truly wonderful people and don't regret it for a minute.
  • SometingWrong (11/07/2014, 21:51) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    Wait. How all you expat white people being so damn nice?
    Something fishy here. You didn't hear you supposed to be pure evil?
    Now I really confuse.

    • Expat (12/07/2014, 08:34) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      You racist. Where do you get off saying stuff like that? Get over slavery, get the chip off your shoulders and get out there and take the world in your hands and make the best life you can for yourself. Stop sitting back and waiting for someone to take care of you. If you can't get the job you'd like in BVI go and get some different experience somewhere else and come back and give it another go. Try learning something from the white expats for a change instead of moaning about them.
  • WillyLynch (14/07/2014, 16:13) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    No we would never get over slavery until the jews get over the holoucast. You want us to forget and that is our downfall. No, we will never forget what the Europeans did to our forefathers while there was a church on top where they shipped the slaves off in Ghana. How can we forget 300 years of slavery. How could we forget the damning effect it did to us? How must we forget how the Europeans stole whatever was good from Africa and claimed it as their own invention? How can we forget that they met us with a religion and want to dump their not-connected evidence in Christianity on us? Oh, sons and daughters of Africans, don't sleep in these Virgin Islands, the clandestine plan is on to re-institute a different kind of slavery. Leaders, people, this is what is happening -- dividing the people so they can conquer. Malcolm X was right...
    • YesNNo (15/07/2014, 18:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      WillyLynch, what you say is mostly true - except the last part about the clandestine plan to blah blah blah.
      The question people are asking themselves is: how do we co-exist on these islands, on this planet?
      The Jews have not got over the Holocaust. The Jews have, in the form of Israel, become the bullies, brutalizing their powerless Palestinian neighbors. They went from victims to bullies.
      How is it helping them?
      In the Caribbean, are all we Caribbean people to do the same? Is it justified to hate based on skin color and people's origin? People who are not the perpetrators of the sins you are justifiably angry about?


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