UPDATE: Paul B. Dennis QC appointed chair of labour tribunal
“I have since taken to Cabinet and have since received approval for the appointment of Mr Paul Dennis QC, a local Attorney at Law to serve as Chairman of the Tribunal for an initial period of two years,” said Dr the Hon Pickering this morning March 13, 2014 in the House of Assembly during the Statement by a Minister segment of the proceedings.
He said that Dennis QC possesses the qualifications and experience to serve in the capacity of Chairman of the Tribunal.
“There is no uncertainty that Mr Dennis is capable of the undertaking and will provide the leadership that is required,” said Hon Pickering.
“The Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour and the Attorney General’s office are currently collaborating on the Order of Appointment after which it will then be forwarded to the Cabinet office for publishing in the Gazette,” he said.
The appointment came after much public expressions of concerns about the NDP's failure to fulfil promises to have the position filled and the department operational. Dr Pickering back in May of 2013 had given all assurances that the post would have be filled in June of 2013.
At a special sitting of the Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands (VI) on April 19, 2013, Jamaica born Barrister-At-Law Mr Paul Barrington Dennis was admitted to the Inner Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court as a Queen's Counsel.
See previous story published on February 16, 2014:
Labour tribunal making baby steps – Businessman
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – “We have finally come to the point where one of our local Attorneys has agreed to do it for six months to help to clear the backlog that we have in place and someone from the office in Trinidad is coming to the BVI in June (2013) I think it is to work with that person to give the necessary background and orientation in dealing with labour and labour disputes that we have in default.”
That was an assurance given in May of 2013 by Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering. However after several follow-ups with the Ministry, Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, Mr Ronald F. Smith-Berkeley had told Virgin Islands News Online that they were still in dialogue with and working closely with the International Labour Organization (ILO) office of Trinidad and Tobago to have the local labour tribunal in place at the earliest possible time.
Several persons in the private sector opined that the NDP term in government will come to an end without any significant move towards the realization of the tribunal but according to one businessman who is very close to the NDP Government, “They are doing things too slow, the right things are not being given the right attention as urgent and their term will end next year and it would be another change of government with no labour tribunal in this place (VI).”
According to the Government Information Services (GIS) in a recent release, President of the Industrial Court of Trinidad and Tobago, Honourable Deborah Thomas Felix, as well as the Registrar, Mr. Noel Inniss visited the Territory during last week in an effort to provide the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour and the Labour Department with strategies pertaining to the creation and administration of the Arbitration Tribunal.
Our reliable source described this new development as, “Only a baby step”.
Dr. the Hon Pickering, according to the release, said that the timely visit by Honourable Felix is a part of Government’s plan to further develop the labour sector and “place the Department and Government in line with international labour laws.” Honourable Felix and Mr. Inniss were in the Territory from February 9 to 12.
Minister Pickering stated via GIS, “In November 2013, Mrs. Janice I. F. Rymer was confirmed to the post of Commissioner of Labour. Now, despite various setbacks, we are moving forward with the plans for the Arbitration Tribunal, which is a necessary component of the Labour Department. Its implementation will mean that persons within the Private Sector, employer and employee, will be provided with a greater opportunity for social justice within the Virgin Islands labour force.”
Additionally, Mr. Clive Pegus, the primary draftsman of the 2010 Labour Code of the Virgin Islands has also come to the Territory to provide consultancy services specific to amendments and regulations for the labour code, as well as the labour policy to the Ministry and Labour Department from February 9 to 14.
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