Local ice-cream business vows to close rather than forced to hire 'unfit' locals
ManJack Creamery, owned by Hezikiah E. Maddox and Deborah Maddox and located in Cutlass Tower in the heart of Road Town, gave the notice of closure via social media today, August 10, 2020.
It accused Labour Commissioner Mrs Janice I. F. Rymer of wanting to force the business to hire someone against their wishes.
‘Not a good fit’
“It is with a heavy heart that we are forced to close ManJack Creamery. The Labour Commissioner, Mrs Rymer wants to force this business to hire someone who is good for this country but not a good fit for our business. Before we are forced to lower our standards and add to the already poor customer service climate in our beloved British Virgin Islands we will respectfully close our doors,” the notice read.
Many persons have since taken to Facebook to express their different opinion on the issue.
The notice also came to the knowledge of Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9), who issued a brief response on his Facebook page.
‘I will not be threatened, blackmailed or held hostage’- Hon Vincent O. Wheatley
Hon Wheatley was of the opinion the proprietors of the business were presented with enough locals to fill the position at the establishment and that he was not going to be pressured into going against principles at this time.
“As the Minister responsible for Labour I cannot in good conscience let this float around without responding to it. The records show that he was sent about a dozen locals to fill that position, his attitude was that he would rather close than hire a local. If this is your attitude in this country at this time, good luck. I will not be threatened, blackmailed or held hostage for trying to help my people in this most difficult of times,” Hon Wheatley stated.
Hiring locals ‘did not work out’- Hezekiah E. Maddox
Mr Maddox promptly responded to Hon Wheatley’s post, stating that he interviewed eighteen individuals that were sent to him by the Department of Labour and Workforce Development.
“I hired three BVIsander/Belongers. They did not work out. I used Facebook, put ads in the newspaper and I did all that Labour asked me to do.”
Mr Maddox added that the person the establishment wishes to hire is not a local or a Belonger but has resided in the Territory for some 19 years.
“Her work permit had been in Labour since March 2020. We are now in August 2020. Somehow Labour knows what is best for my business. This is not about blackmail or held hostage, I don't have that kind of power. You and your Commissioner do.”
According to Mr Maddox, who is also a photographer by profession, he chose someone long before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As I said in my post, Labour wants someone that is good for the country, I need some that is a good fit for my business. Somehow, your people got it in them craw that I don't want to hire a local. I did, you'll don't seem to want to acknowledge that. You run the country and I will run my business,” Mr Maddox said.
Challenges
Meanwhile, Mrs Deborah Maddox told Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) that they are not against hiring locals or Belongers, as they have employed them before; however, they believe the person they wish to hire at this time is the right fit for the business.
She said one of the challenge has been getting persons to work the hours the business is open, which is in the evenings. She noted it has been a challenge particularly to have persons work on Friday evenings.
Mrs Maddox said their experience with hiring locals have also often not worked out for varying reasons, including that the employees lacked commitment and good customer service, while one of them was found consuming alcohol on the job.
She said the ice-cream business appeals to the ‘wants’ and not needs of people and a good image and great customer service are crucial.
Further, Mrs Maddox said she was appalled with how Labour Department has handled the matter and that their choice for employment has since been treated in an undignified way.
Asked if the business would be reopened in the future, Mrs Maddox said it is a possibility.
Government has been adamant that locals and Belongers should be first priority for jobs in this COVID-19 era.
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122 Responses to “Local ice-cream business vows to close rather than forced to hire 'unfit' locals”
Whilst the problems with employing locals in financial services is a matter of qualifications, and in the boating industry is a matter of experience, his issue is the lack of customer service skills and attitude.
The problem of local looking for jobs in the private sector is going to get worst when the Government is forced to lay off many persons before the end of the year - years of training in Government levels of customer service mean that those persons will never have the right attitude to waiting tables, cleaning boats, changing beds etc. This is not going to be pretty!
I hope this article makes the government truly understand what is going on in the BVI.
Partial garrot of persona non gratis in the VI.
Strongly suggest he close his opportunities afforded him by the VI and keep it moving. He is not needed nor is he or his businesses a necessary requirement of the VI. His business was/ on quicksand anyway,so take the excuse and vacate. His kind is a danger to the well being of the VI and its people.
Local ladies wont tolerate such ,so you've unwittingly demonstrated one of the reasons why locals as employees are at times " problematic". They are,for the most part, tuned in to the subtle and not so subtle disrespect. Tolians don't tolerate disrespect. They are proud folks.
There are people whose work ethic speaks volumes and it doesn't matter how much you try, if they have a certain criteria that they prefer and you do not fit, the you just will not get it. Some people prefer expats cause they do typically work hard, and would more likely stay within a job BECAUSE these people are here on permits mostly. And all the hoopla that they went through to get here, get a job and keep a job is in the forefront of their minds.
Most of these business owners do not tell you upfront that they do not want to hire locals, they wouldn't even entertain you with an interview. I tried repeatedly to get a labor intensive job and several.occasions and most companies didn't even bother call and say anything to me. They have it in their mind that I am one of them lazy Tolians. Now when they see me doing manual labor, they ask me where I am from and who I for? Really?! I was raised to work for what I want to, and I am sure there are BVIslanders who were raised to do the same. We just sometimes need to give people a chance, no matter where they come from.
As someone who was born here and spent all of my life here, I am sick and tired of this ‘us’ versus ‘them’ drama. It is disgusting to hear us being called dumb, stupid, etc., by persons we INVITED to live here. A privilege given to them, not the right they think they are entitled to.
And while there may be lazy locals who are in the minority, isn’t it the same in so many other countries? Are we the worst of the apostles, Hell, NO!
Personally, I blame the governments past and present for what has taken place, beginning with locals being outnumbered, because they did no proper screening and as a result we have all kinds of undesirables living among us. The US dollar lured them, and they appear to want to cut our tails, especially Mr. Bald and Ms. Snobby who both take to social media and blast us and stir up confusion and set expats against us. Of course they have rights here, especially the right to high-tail it back to where they came from.
Biting the hand that feeds you is not nice.
We are frowned upon because people came from outside and had to build up our islands after the hurricanes of 2017. Guess what? The workers were well paid for their services, as the price of construction went through the roof. What about the piles of expats who scampered out in a rush? Their countries chartered planes to fly them out, they got seats on military planes, and they ran away leaving us to face the heat. When they realised that we were back in business, they rushed back in numbers. Think we forget?
Maybe the government needs to start deporting those who are trying to run us out of our own country. We have nowhere to run to. We don’t want to run, even if we had places to go to. This is OUR country, and we love it here.
They fuss about everything, and anyone can see that a lot of them are only here for what they can rake up and scrape up. Disgusting.
And having said that, all the drama in this story is unwarranted. What about the locals who does buss dem tail?
I make no apologies for what I have written. Sick and tired now. Who don’t like it, lump it.
And don’t waste your time blasting me cause I won’t be reading.
Keep experts out I'm sorry for yall with the big building/ apartment bank will be happy to grab it back and sell it cheap n yall can't even buy it back expect build this island n now wanna treat we hope yall remember Irma once was her we in the season expects crying pon yall
oitside, they do not want to work with the person from here, ask the woman from St. Lucia who works with Mrs. J Rymer
Nobody ain’t looking at the fact she here 19 years and still on work permit
How much expat worked for Vincent he done send home
Maddox never said he not hiring an expat
Your minister did!
#BVIYOUTH
#VIPtheWorst
This whole work permit thing got out of hand it was never meant to be this way where people demand to the Government they can employ whoever they want. In the first place the work permit was not set up for holders to be in the BVI for 19 years but somewhere along the line it was changed now is the time to change it back to what it should be BVI citizens first unless you can’t find citizen to fill the position. For some Reason he wanted to employ this person and if labor had send 100 people he would have found fault. Do think that someone from the BVI can go to any of the Caribbean islands and tell the government they have a right to employ who they want? Employers have been getting away with this for too long. To the labor department hold your ground on this.
It is a shame that the Maddox family chose to shut down, and it is their business and their choice. I do agree with them