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New Labour Tribunal Chairman should be in place by January 2023– Hon Melvin M. Turnbull

Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) says after months without a Chairman in place at the local Labour Tribunal, moves are being made to have a new chairman appointed. Photo: VINO/File
Former Chairperson and attorney Jamal S. Smith, appearing on Talking Points show ZBVI 780 AM on November 7, 2022, said since July 31, 2022, there has been no matters put matters before the tribunal given the absence of a chairman that he noted has left persons with matters in a hostage situation for the last four. Photo: Facebook/File
Former Chairperson and attorney Jamal S. Smith, appearing on Talking Points show ZBVI 780 AM on November 7, 2022, said since July 31, 2022, there has been no matters put matters before the tribunal given the absence of a chairman that he noted has left persons with matters in a hostage situation for the last four. Photo: Facebook/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) says after months without a Chairman in place at the local Labour Tribunal, moves are being made to have a new chairman appointed.

Speaking on the sidelines of a press conference today, December 2, 2022, the Minister said advertisements have gone out so the process is currently ongoing to have a new chairman in place.

“The Labour Tribunal has gone through; I think the Commissioner for the tribunal post came to end at the end of July. Advertisements have gone out, applications have been received, so it is now going through the process to be able to have that position filled,” he told the press following questions.

Former Chairman and attorney Jamal S. Smith, appearing on Talking Points on ZBVI 780 AM on November 7, 2022, said since July 31, 2022, there have been no matters put before the tribunal, given the absence of a chairman. Mr Smith had lamented that the absence of a chairman has left persons with matters in a hostage situation for the last four months.

Process being streamlined- Hon Turnbull 

Hon Turnbull expressed his sincere apologies to the persons with cases waiting to be heard before the Labour Tribunal; however, he added that part of the hold-up is due to budgetary plans for the commission.

“We have some issues that we're going to regulate, that we're regulating now through the budgetary process, because one of the things that I met when coming in as a minister is the amount of work that the Commissioner and his team carries out based on the stipend that they're getting,” he added.

“So before I hope and say by January [2023], hopefully, the interview process and the appointments happen, we should have a new Chairman in place with the budget to support that entire operation,”  Hon Turnbull indicated.

12 Responses to “New Labour Tribunal Chairman should be in place by January 2023– Hon Melvin M. Turnbull”

  • when (02/12/2022, 19:13) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    I long for the day when we have a government that operates in a proactive manner. This reactive style of leadership, doing things when the situation becomes a crisis is not good.
  • any bets? (02/12/2022, 19:54) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am willing to bet that its somebody from his district
  • jokers (02/12/2022, 20:18) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    A bunch of jokers. " Grass getting greener and the horse starving." Go figure. (Colloquial)
  • NezRez (02/12/2022, 20:57) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    We will never forget what he did to the Labour commissioner victimization must be a thing of the pass
  • lie (02/12/2022, 23:22) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Turnbull I need help. I call to make an appointment to see you and your secretary asking me all sort of question like I'm in court. She never call me back. I hate how you guys treat people mehson
  • hmmm (03/12/2022, 09:40) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    1. The Labour commissioner needed to go. She to bias.
    2. The whole department and the process needs to be looked at and revamped. Only certain big hotels and companies getting through with work permits quickly.
    3. There needs to be some confidencilality in that department
    4. There has to be a time frame for processing not 2 and 3 months. Businesses are lacking quality workers.
    5. We need to come to the reality that 80% of locals do not want jobs in the hospitality industry. Our young people dont like hard work and can't deal with pressure.
    6. The labour inspectors need to be rotated and not have two who look for money or beg the females for sexual favors to get their papers processed.
    7. Get competent people to work at front desk who are quick at data entry.


    • time will tell (03/12/2022, 10:18) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      You mean the Labour Commissioner followed the law and wasn't a push over like the last one? I might have to get on some of these tribunals and committees and stop sitting back watching comments like this. It is high time we followed the law and clean up the BVI. ALOT of people are what the law calls "a burden to the country". if there is no job and you have no where to live, the law says you had an open ticket for a reason. Use it!! Thank god politicians can't help no more.
    • Struped (03/12/2022, 14:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      You lie! I have been applying for 3 years straight and no call back.
  • Great. (03/12/2022, 10:06) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Labour is better now than ever before, especially since DV guy ain got much say, he is being bad for Labour...Mitch is onto them with their bad and corrupt ways ..
    • @ great (03/12/2022, 15:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Mitch is bad news he going run independently hoping to have a trump card, he will be in for a shock
  • out of his league (03/12/2022, 14:24) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Isn't this the guy who supposed to sort out the horse track situation?
  • Egypt (03/12/2022, 16:36) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I think he looking to bring somebody from Egypt. Did he even bring back a dirt from the pyramids to say here people, here is your money worth from what I use up on this environmentally UNFRIENDLY trip?? NO!!!


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