Hon Penn predicts bleak future for VI without expat workers
Pointing to a collapse of the VI economy, during the Tuesday, December 14, 2021, budget debates Hon Penn said the reality on the ground is that that the territory needs imported labour.
VI needs expat labour – Hon Penn
“The size of the VI’s economy, if we have full employment of all VIslanders and we sent out all the persons that come to the VI to work, the economy would collapse,” he said.
Hon Penn continued, “The VI economy is such that it requires investment, persons coming from external to be persons providing some of the skilled labours that we need and we need to focus on where we can transition in terms of our people in as much areas as possible and I think wherever is possible."
He said in the VI, local businesses require a certain level of imported labour to be able to function.
“Mr Speaker we now have a situation where our Labour department has put and created additional hardships for persons and businesses to operate in the territory. Mr Speaker, you have a Labour Minister making comments that we will flush them out!,” this was done in September 2017 he stated.
Too much red tape @ Immigration Dept – Hon Penn
The Leader of the Opposition said another area of concern was too much red tape at the Labour Department.
“At a time where businesses have been down many of them over 16 to 18 months, a time when the economy is beginning to move again, we are now putting undue red tape and pressures on these businesses to get the skills that they need to get the economy going especially long-serving employees who have been working with these establishments,” he said.
The Opposition Leader further added that it is now his understanding that Work Permit renewals are now taking three months to process on average.
“A business that has been down for 16 to 18 months trying to get themselves back up on their feet have to now struggle under the burden of the policy of this administration to get themselves moving. Mr Speaker that is where the Government’s policies are creating hardships on businesses going forward," he complained.
Since taking office, the Government of Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has vowed to prioritise the employment of Virgin Islanders, while providing opportunities for the importation of skilled labour should the need arise.
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37 Responses to “Hon Penn predicts bleak future for VI without expat workers”
The elected member is very concerned due to the fact that local costal enforcement officers have the nerve to question the expats with charter companies(operating in bvi waters)
the caribbean expat workers that contributes to teaching our children; renting our houses; take care of our children are called all manner of nick names.....
however the expats with the boats and trust companies and private villas, when they say jump we must ask how high
the caribbean expats who seeks to forward some money to their families have to pay taxes whereas other expats electronic money transfers pays nothing
my people dont be fooled with the expat speech when you go labor department you mostly seeing the caribbean expats standing in line for hours on end whereas the other expats documents being hand delivered
double standard
foolish talk
But alot off u all never visit non off them island they are more develop than here..most people here for america money....an if u have to live here 20 yrs just to get papers why stay...leave it for the I from here mentality...