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Residents want Labour Dept. system to weed out illegal workers

The Labour Department falls under the Ministry for Natural Resources and Labour.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The suggestion of having a database set up to aggressively police individuals on work permits with the view to get rid of illegal workers was given by at least two residents to Hon. Kedrick Pickering, the Minister for Natural Resources and Labour at a labour meeting held in Carrot Bay recently.

“One of the things I am concerned about is that people are using work permits just to stay in the country, and not really working full time, not working for whoever sponsor them or not working at all. I think that is going to call for greater policing and surveillance by Immigration and Labour departments,” the resident charged.

To this end, he recommended that the Labour Department put a system where people, who are on work permits and supposed to be paying social security tax and income tax, be in a data base system where the work permit number and card is tied to the system.

“That will show if the individuals are working and contributing to the system...because a lot of them are working in the VI and not really doing nothing, this way the data base will help in the weed out,” the resident added.

Meanwhile, another Carrot Bay resident urged the Minister to look into persons who come on vacation and never leave. She disclosed that she is aware of a number of instances where the individual arrive for a few weeks, only to be seen working at some establishment.

22 Responses to “Residents want Labour Dept. system to weed out illegal workers”

  • Voice of Reason (17/02/2012, 08:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I think the greatest area where the BVI needs to investigate is the Yacht charter industry. The BVI is the sailing capital of the world and this area needs proper policing. I am not against the industry but there needs to be a greater contribution from the industry to the local government. Afterall, this is where they earn their millions and it is only right that they help repair some of the damage they have helped to create. With all the mega yachts sailing in our waters and the myriad of private charter companies that operate from various marinas or even from other islands, what are their contributions to our system other than provisioning and cruising and national parks permits (if paid at all)? These boats that come and go do they all clear customs? Are all the crew and accupants accounted for? How many "jump ship" and live and work in the BVI undocumented?
    • positive vision (17/02/2012, 18:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      that respond is correct about what you saying ,knowing my self to hear and see this is still happened,while some people clearded there boat and one our to get left behind not account for on the clearence.
  • critic (17/02/2012, 09:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    we started this at the dmv with the licenses and mark is trying his best to cut it out...sometimes i wonder who he really represents
    • BREAKING NEWS (17/02/2012, 10:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      VIP created this whole MESS!!! Giving out work permits to all their voters outside women them, maids, nannys espeically them spaniah women. Omar give them out like a burst pipe.
    • Real Talk (17/02/2012, 10:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      LOL!! Your ignorance doesn't ever amaze me! What about illegals that do not drive? Do you think someone living here under the radar really cares about going to the DMV etc.? Look at how many people among us rely on buses/taxis or hitching rides to get around. The DMV rules are doing more harm than good, no level of thought went into it. The DMV deals with vehicle issues. Let Labour and Immigration do their damn jobs. They need to start scanning and fingerprinting at the ports of entry, not the damn licensing department. How can that make sense? When people arrive here, legally initially, they come through a port, not the DMV, so their rules are moot. Let the people at Labour wake up and stop doing favours for friends, family while killing the country. They should have their system flagging when people's time is up. They should have staff that conduct surveillance of these jobs. They should also stiffen the requirements for issuing work permits like making the business person prove that they really have a job available. Too many people here 'sponsored' but not doing a damn piece of work. Until that changes, it's pure hot air. Do like the USA and keep track of who's entering via your ports. That's the only way. If people are fingerprinted upon entry they just might think twice before doing nonsense. DMV fingerprinting and requiring a work permit? LMAO! THe biggest joke of the century!! Imagine you can get a BVI passport without fingerprint but you need it for licensing. LOL!
      • ta ta (17/02/2012, 10:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        now that you ah Minister 'Real talk'..we watching to see what you do for dey people beside screeming like a littile girl in the house! hit the right spot
        • Nonsense! (17/02/2012, 12:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          Why some of you just concentrate on knowing who writing. Read the dawn post and see decide whether it makes sense or not. Who the hell care who wrote it - whether a Minister or not? sickening....
        • Real Talk (17/02/2012, 12:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          Every other month I'm a different person. First I'm a Guyanese who need to go home, then I'm OJ, then I'm Myron, who am I today, Fraser? LMAO!! I'm a concerned citizen working for a private firm. That's as much as I need to say, I don't have any inside scoop nor am I a part of any Government organisation. As the other poster said, it's either you agree or disagree with my post. Knowing who I am won't make whatever I said any more true or false than it already is. Good?
          • QICK SAND (17/02/2012, 13:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
            real talk scatter and go sit down your anti-self...try and do something for the four years you got from just in SFC mekin confusion and pissing off Drs. SMith and Pickering.
          • Real Talk (17/02/2012, 15:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
            LOLOLOLOLOL!!!!! I won't tell you who anti on here. Ya'll think you so smart and is dumb you DUMB! You think Myron with a law firm, hotel, restaurant and ministry to run could be on here studying ya'll? Schuups!! VINO knows who I am, they should have my IP address like everyone else, ask them for confirmation..hahahaha!!
          • school house (17/02/2012, 17:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
            ok li lil children the teacher will bring you ah Apple now...would you like it red?
          • Sick Sick (17/02/2012, 20:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
            No"Real Talk" you are not Fraser today. You area Fraser hater. You are just who they said you are, and then some. A piece of $h$$t
      • positive vision (17/02/2012, 19:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        SERIOUS TALKING
  • oh boy (17/02/2012, 09:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    more talk....4 years from now it will be business as usual.
  • I don't get it (17/02/2012, 10:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The residents are complaining about expats coming to the BVI and not really working but having a work permit just to stay here? I'm sorry...WHERE is the ill that is being done to the people of the BVI or to the economy in that? If they're not actually doing any work, that means that there is a job there to be done by a BVIslander. If they're just doing not much and earning a token salary, they're still paying for Social Security and Income Tax - benefits that they can't even take advantage of as they are not BVIslanders. If they're living in the BVI, unless they're VERY creative, they're going to have to be buying food and other goods here in the BVI and spending money and contributing to the economy! So let's summarise this for the slower minds out there: 1) They're contributing to the economy; 2) They're not taking anything away from the economy or from the people of the BVI. So what's the problem? I think the BVI needs to have a new class of immigration status whereby people can reside here if they have the financial means to do so and can demonstrate it. What possible harm could it do the BVI to allow people who have sufficient means to live here without having to work here or own property here. If they want to spend their money here it should be encouraged! What does it matter if people are using work permits to stay here without working? If there was a valid, legitimate way of staying here without working then they'd probably go for that.
    • Wellsah (17/02/2012, 10:43) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      You blowing smoke, an unemployed person has to eat, sleep & s$$t. Where is the money coming from for their maintenance?? Dont forget they still sending money home.
      • I don't get it (17/02/2012, 12:43) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        To Wellsah. Where are you implying the money is coming from? You're totally missing the point. If they're here, they're SPENDING money HERE. So that's doing GOOD for the economy. If they're not working, how the hell are they sending money home and how is that taking away from the economy? To WTF so someone buys a home and they're only allowed to live here 6 months of the year? That's stupid isn't it? They're the people we should be encouraging to spend more time here and spend more money here! Where's your evidence that these people on one work permit are actually just working in other jobs? Surely if they're working in jobs that could be filled by a BVIslander they should be obvious that they're working without the correct work permit, no? They're still spending money here unless they're growing their own food and building their own houses or camping.
        • WTF (17/02/2012, 14:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          To I don't get it: You are still missing the point. The country should let rich people from overseas buy up all the prime real estate for their homes and allow them to stay here as residents just because they have money when everyone who works here must work for 20 years before applying for a residence permit. Bit of an elitist mind set you have. People who do not have the correct work permit for their jobs are breaking the law but according to you as long as they are buying some food and shelter its okay. You live in a messed up world in your little mind.
    • WTF (17/02/2012, 10:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      You really don't get it. For your information a residence visa can already be obtained to live in the BVI without working if you can show you have enough money in the bank. For 6 months of the year with an alien land holder license and lets face it if you have enough money to live in the BVI for 6 months of the year then you can afford a house! The work permit holders who aren't working for their sponsors are working elsewhere and so are not paying tax or social security and taking a job that could be filled by a BVIslander. Is that simple enough for your slow mind?
  • Wellsah (17/02/2012, 10:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    this spanish bar upstairs Peoples shoe store has a spanish girl work permit and she has not one day work in the bar. Talk about permit of convience.
    • Ha. Haaa. (17/02/2012, 12:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Maybe the spanish girl is working - we just don't know where and when...lol.
      • buz (17/02/2012, 17:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        ayo always wid dey people dem business on the streets...maybe she got a man in dey labour place>>>>


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