Locals express frustration over 'discriminatory hiring practices' in yachting industry
.jpg)
Despite the Virgin Islands (VI) being one of the world's premier yachting destinations, qualified native captains reported that they are systematically overlooked in favour of foreign crew members.
'As long as we are Black, they don't hire us'
Speaking to Virgin Islands News Online, a boat captain stated that some charter companies hire only Caucasian captains. “As a Black captain in the VI, it doesn’t matter which island we’re from. As long as we are Black, they don't hire us. Many will say, 'Yeah, okay, we’ll call you,' but they never do. The moment a white captain shows up with whatever resume, they are immediately given work,” he explained.
He added that local Black crew members, regardless of their qualifications and experience, are often not hired due to their skin colour. “From all angles, as a Black local captain, we are fighting against various forces,” he remarked.
A local chef, who has been in the cruise industry for over 14 years, shared her experience of recently being terminated under the pretext that the company had no job openings, even while they continue to hire chefs from outside. She questioned why foreign workers are being brought in when residents with equal or greater qualifications are unable to find work. “We are suffering here; we aren’t getting jobs, especially the Black community,” she said.
Impacting local boat owners & chefs' livelihoods
Another local boat captain, who has been in the profession for 30 years, noted that locals typically only get hired if companies cannot find Caucasian workers. He expressed concern about the impact this has on their livelihoods, stating, “These guys live on boats and only call us if they can’t find any white people to work. Almost all of the companies don’t want Black people on board. It feels like a white industry in the Caribbean.”
Another chef pointed out that local chefs often only get work when someone is sick or on vacation. “We need at least two jobs per month. We’re not asking for all the jobs; we just want enough to feed our families and pay our bills. It’s unfair because when companies hire these foreign workers, they don’t have to pay rent, utilities, or buy food,” she said. “All we want is just some more work instead of constantly calling different people and scrambling for jobs.”
These captains and chefs have stated that the Labour Department and the government are aware of this matter; however, something needs to be done to bring this matter under control, and locals can be hired by these charter companies.
Virgin Islands News Online attempted to contact charter companies for comments on the issue, but was unsuccessful.
.jpg)
.png)
Follow Us On
93 Responses to “Locals express frustration over 'discriminatory hiring practices' in yachting industry”
- Having a valid, up to date, commercially endorsed captain's license.
This involves training, sea time, math & navigation skills, and passing a rigorous examination.
- Having valid Standards of Training certificates (STCW).
The minimum international safety requirement to work on vessels with paying passengers (whether a captain, chef, or deckhand) - takes at the minimum a 5 day course, not cheap.
These are crew and captain qualifications - Point is, getting the qualifications to start with isn't cheap. Shelling out the $$$ and the time isn't on everyone's budget page.
On shore, employers are looking for skills and training already in place.... Diesel, electrical, A/C, so forth. Again, the job-seeker needs to have spent time and $$$. Not on everyone's budget page.
Appearance
Speech
Mannerisms
Ability to work along with others without feeling entitled and providing the bare minimum.
Punctuality
The above listed areas, are the most commonly spoke about things most employers face when it comes to hiring.
Now, I’m not saying, everyone is the same, however, we have to learn to take accountability, fix what needs to be fixed then when it doesn’t work we can throw blame. If the shoes were on the other feet, some of these persons looking for a job won’t even hire themselves an employee.
Phiñlopinose busy Taxing in S plates becaude their phiñopino family and friends work at front desk so they call them direct as Taxis and nothing is being done business ss usual THE BVI WAY
You have D@*** in labour siding with those said employers, so they getting away with their nonsense, one charter company in east fired a ton of staff an replacing them with Philippinos and is continuing to do so.
these companies are ran by mostly white personnel. they only hire the black and spanish to do the hard labor and put the whites in the hire positions . you ever went and see a white person washing a boat ? or working under a black person ? and when you don't kiss their a** they fire you . and don’t even think about going to labour because as you finish complaining the companies “connection” already on the phone with the manager letting them know that you were there . The yachting companies and labor department is very corrupt . These white ppl taking over and y’all allowing them to do it just for a couple extra dollars in your pocket.
Tell that to D@*** who is siding with the charter employers because their skin is fairer and their pockets are not empty. So they getting away with many wrong doings
I know some folks from the Caribbean are blogging good for you because you do it to us. Well, Virgin Islanders have to be first somewhere and the only place they can be is at home. If you were in Grenada, St. Kitts, Antigua, Jamaica, Trinidad, etc and Virgin Islanders were coming in droves and taking all the jobs, what would happen? It would never happen in the first place. Reading this foolishness is just disheartening because some of you profess to be christians. As a Virgin Islander, seeing persons coming in having two and three jobs and you have family members that are trying to get a job or a little part time in the case of the students and can't find it, how should we feel? Please, God don't like ugly. If all of you are unhappy in the Virgin Islands, leave. The world is a big place. You don't have to stay here on this little dot in the Caribbean and make our lives hell. You didn't help us build, by the way. You had a job that you were paid for. You think Virgin Islanders who went to America says that nonsense after working there for 10 and 15 years and coming home? Please, if you are not a nice person, get the **ll out. Tired of all of you. And Hon. Walwyn and whoever else who are trying to divide this country down the middle about who from here and who aren't from here and who lazy and not lazy, don't worry, your time will come. Because I run into a lot of lazy and mean workers all over this island and they are not Virgin Islanders.
AND THAT'S FACTS
These VI should take notes from the Yachting BVi industry and follow suite, Careful discriminating selection of the immigrants entering. Doing otherwise has made this place a chit hole of poverty and criminality. A degraded August festival, loss of family structures, police can never be enough,schools and weapon density and on and on...
Please continue what has made the Yachting Industry our International claim to fame.Much appreciation and respect! Those who are claiming biases are also beneficiaries of the yachting industry in the Vi,as they bask in the glory of a reputation to which they are neither contributors nor participants, thank goodness. So be it.
I’ve spent three years seeking growth and applying for jobs, attending interviews, only to receive the same sweet note: “We were satisfied with your documents and interview, but we are moving forward with someone more qualified.” Then you look and see the person hired came from a supermarket, cleaning, messenger, or similar background. Such is life, I guess.
No hate toward expats because everyone is trying to grow and make a living, but it hurts when locals born here feel overlooked in their own homeland. Sometimes it feels like the country is slowly being taken over while locals are left behind.
Typing this with tears in my eyes because it’s truly discouraging.
White people do not want Black's around, anywhere, anytime- PERIOD!
Can the Department of Labour fix this?
NO!
They're not interested, and, their hands are tied!
You see, the politicians gave this country away to Eastern Caribbean Islanders, so many years ago, and, to appease all foreigners, they have to, appease Whites!
You can't argue against White foreigners, while at the same time,accept Black foreigners , because, of marriage, incestuous alliances, situationships, and so on!
This topic is just another " looking in the glass darkly", kind of gimmick, to shore up brownie points for election votes!
NO REAL SOLUTIONS, FORTHCOMING SOON!
NEXT!!!
Today, skippers are earning around 275 a day as a skipper and 325 as an instructional skipper. Plus gratuity. Regardless of colour, ethnicity,gender. It is a is rewarding job, and one which needs more young people pursuing it.
There are some great skippers in the BVI, and to be a great charter skipper, beyond the qualifications you obviously need, you have to be a great people person, polite, punctual, respectful, well informed, flexible, a good listener, tolerant, patient, pragmatic, professional, an outstanding ambassador for the BVI, as well as for the company or owner you work for, honest, hard working, willing to go the extra mile to give clients an outstanding vacation. You have to remember it is their vacation, and your job. There are definitely charter companies who do not see colour, or gender, only professional skippers who can deliver on the attributes listed, and then some.
Yeah for the Filipinos and boo fothe melanated cursed updeislun burdensome thiefs killers and lowlife group.Everywher they washup they contaminate and degrade.
I know exactly where my edge lived.
What system are you referring to...
Their country system for certain..no matter where they are from...their place is a ziĺikn more bigger and nature endowed than these skimpy dry weather BVI..
Why can't they reside and survive in their natural endowed islands is what they need to figure.,.,
#1 their gratitude is nonexistent.....