Opposition Leader slams decision to shut out work permit & exemption holders
The Government of the Virgin Islands (VI) stated on August 2, 2020, it was moving with immediate effect to restrict all holders of work permits and work permit exemptions from entering the Territory following the discovery of the Territory's ninth confirmed case of COVID-19, on Saturday, August 1, 2020, in an individual who recently returned to the Territory.
According to reports, the individual returned from the Dominican Republic, which has the highest infection rate in the Caribbean.
Government had said the new measure comes as the Territory remains cautious but said it would continue to follow the protocol for the Controlled Re-entry of Nationals and Permanent Residents to the VI.
Decision lacks clarity- Hon Penn
According to Honourable Penn, in a statement today, August 6, 2020, “a responsible Government, a planned Government, a transparent Government,” would assess how many work permit holders or exempt persons are currently outside the Territory, and their circumstances, and then make a policy decision.
“This decision lacks clarity, and therefore, it creates an uneasiness and uncertainty for families and the business community concerning its labour force.
The Opposition Leader further said a decision with such far reaching implications should never be a blanket decision and that such a decision requires consultation and probably should allow for discretion on a case-by-case basis, and in conjunction with local businesses.
‘Additional hardships’
In his statement, Hon Penn asked whether the Government has considered that the Territory has work permit holders and work exempt persons who are married to Virgin Islanders and are gainfully employed as the bread winners for their households who may have been shut out of the Territory.
“Because of this policy decision, they are unable to provide for their families or meet their financial obligations (loans, rent, food and statutory obligations) causing additional hardship on family units and the overall economy. These persons should be allowed to return, following clear re-entry protocols.”
Hon Penn also questioned whether Government considered that employees are either work permit or work permit exempt holders for functioning industries like Construction and Financial Services.
According to him, shutting out key employees from the construction industry would have devastating consequences and that making critical labour unavailable in this industry, will create economic hardship for many companies and their limited employee base.
Financial Services
With respect to Financial Services, according to Hon penn, the impact is slightly different but has far reaching socioeconomic impact on the Virgin Islands.
He argued that several persons in the Financial Services Industry are high earners and instead of going through the hassle of re-entry, would just opt to not return to the Virgin Islands and work remotely.
“This would mean the loss of work permit fees, rent to landlords, and spending in the local economy (restaurants, bars, supermarkets and other local establishments), placing additional hardship on already struggling businesses. It could also mean a significant detraction from the strides we have made to have Financial Services companies and their personnel based in the BVI.”
Negative impact on small businesses
Hon Penn was of the opinion the decision to block work permit holders and work permit exemption holders indefinitely will have serious implications for all businesses in the Territory, especially the small business sector.
“The fact is that a large percentage of our businesses depend on work permit holders to supply their labour needs. Businesses which have been shut down or struggling for the past six months need some certainty in the policy decisions being made, so that they could adequately plan how they would restart or maintain business operations.”
He said External Human Resources is a key component of many businesses and many businesses may be forced to close their doors permanently.
‘Shutting down cannot be the solution’
Hon Penn called on Government to communicate clearly with the business community and wider populace on the decisions they continue to make surrounding COVID-19.
He continued that decisions that seem to be made in a vacuum without consultation have ripple effects on the economy and livelihood of our people and the Territory cannot continue to be reactive every time someone is COVID-19 positive.
“Shutting down and constant redirection cannot be the solution. COVID-19 is not going away in a hurry, so we need a coherent and well-articulated plan as to how we intend to co-exist with this virus and safely re-open our economy.
“We need this urgently, before we cause irreparable harm to our economy and our way of life. We must protect our borders and we must protect our people and our health, but we must balance this against the needs of our families, businesses and our economy,” Hon Penn said.
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32 Responses to “Opposition Leader slams decision to shut out work permit & exemption holders”
Plus, if companies cannot have their people here they will make alternative arrangements. That is detrimental to the BVI interests.
Why not do as other IFCs and just get Essential people in and tested with proper quarantine operations? It really is not that hard as long as the testing is good and the quarantine properly done.
Then if the borders are locked down with those essential controls, there can be no reason to shut schools etc.
The amount of expats going and always coming to the VI, I would say that the VI do not lack for candidates in the job market. So no loss for those whose decision it is to work elsewhere and certainly,no loss for the VI. Winners all around. Change is good.
So, are they irreplaceable?
The amount of expats going and always coming to the VI, I would say that the VI do not lack for candidates in the job market. So no loss for those whose decision it is to work elsewhere and certainly, no loss for the VI. Winners all around. Change is good.
I hope that your smart mouth a$$ deal with the change when it bites you in your r@#$! Guess you don't own a business so you will never understand. The BVI is heading to the cliff and all the sheeple are gladly following along. when you all wake up and wondering what happen to the BVI we use to have?
oh my God, watch a wicked bunch of humans.. They are all on some kind of Power addiction medicine...Some of them parents so so nice and Godly,.. These cant be sons and daughters of their parents...Or they have been exposed to satanic medicine and belief
This law is only for the black expats, a white family came in from puerto Rico after this law was passed and it was not a problem. This will cause a lot of trouble in this small bvi if things don't change. Stop killing us blacks and protecting your rich white friends. We are one people treat us as such.
This country seems to be runner by a bunch of vindictive boys that is power hungry and don't fine tune their decisions before making them law.
This is not governing , sorry to say.
THINK BEFORE YOU ACT, IT CAN CAUSE A MESS IN THE COUNTRY