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‘You can’t show up on a job, do nothing & expect to get pay’- Hon Vincent O. Wheatley

- urged public servants to be more productive
Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) has admonished employees in both public and private sectors to be responsible and work to earn their pay. Photo: VINO
A resident of Virgin Gorda gives feedback at the Town Hall Meeting called by Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) at the Catholic Community Centre in Virgin Gorda on January 23, 2020. Photo: VINO
A resident of Virgin Gorda gives feedback at the Town Hall Meeting called by Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) at the Catholic Community Centre in Virgin Gorda on January 23, 2020. Photo: VINO
A resident of Virgin Gorda gives feedback at the Town Hall Meeting called by Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) at the Catholic Community Centre in Virgin Gorda on January 23, 2020. Photo: VINO
A resident of Virgin Gorda gives feedback at the Town Hall Meeting called by Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) at the Catholic Community Centre in Virgin Gorda on January 23, 2020. Photo: VINO
VALLEY, Virgin Gorda, VI- “You can’t expect a company to hire you, you show up at 8:30, you leave at 4:30, you have done nothing but you are demanding pay. As a public service too you have to bring productivity back to the workforce,” were the stern words of Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9).

Mr Wheatley was at the time responding to feedback at his Town Hall Meeting at the Catholic Community Centre in Virgin Gorda on January 23, 2020 when he made the admonishment.

A resident of Virgin Gorda had made a call for staff of the Social Security Board to have more educational programmes for contributors to the scheme, especially those about to retire.

It presented an opportunity for Honourable Wheatley to strike the proverbial whip across the backs of public servants in the habit of being unproductive during the eight hours they are being paid on the job for.

“It is not only at social security, it is something I have seen in government at large,” said Hon Wheatley, adding, that public servants need to be more diligent at serving the public.

Work for your pay!

Honourable Wheatley said that he will be inserting a clause in the revised Labour Code that obligates employees to be more responsible, “That where we have to assess the employee’s productivity, not always employer must, employer must, employer must, but what is your responsibility as an employee, you have to produce…employers invest their money to get a business going, all the overheads, and you want to show up on the job, public and private, and do nothing and expect to get paid, well that time is gone, sorry to say. We have to be responsible citizens on our work places.”

Hon Wheatley said he attended a recent meeting with all the public service departments and made it clear to them, “We are here to serve the public, everyday leaving your office, you can’t tell me who you helped today, you shouldn’t be paid because you are here to serve the public. If you can’t show who you helped, then you are not serving nobody, you are serving yourself and we have to move beyond that.”

He said persons need to realise that when they go into the workforce they need to be productive.

“Make sure you make a difference, you bringing value to wherever you are, private sector or public sector. Whether you are a sweeper or janitor or whether you are a manager, it is the only way to get things done.

“It is a competitive world, people don’t have to come here. We have to do our part to keep this place clean, keep it crime free, keep it drug free and keep it friendly, that’s our responsibility.”

24 Responses to “‘You can’t show up on a job, do nothing & expect to get pay’- Hon Vincent O. Wheatley”

  • HMMM (28/01/2020, 11:20) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    The politicians does it all the time
  • True (28/01/2020, 11:21) Like (26) Dislike (2) Reply
    Too much Government employees taken advantage our our hard earned tax money! We need more productivity.
    • Info (28/01/2020, 13:06) Like (14) Dislike (5) Reply
      @True, some of you people who are talking off of hear-say, need to come behind the scene in some of these Government offices, where one in employee is doing job of three.
  • Kingfish (28/01/2020, 11:33) Like (19) Dislike (3) Reply
    I have wondered for years what does our public employees do in their eight hour work day and I cannot come up with an answer. I am still waiting for answers on requests I made years ago.
  • Hmm (28/01/2020, 12:11) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    No where is this more prevalent than in government. They keeping opening new positions to make up for people not doing the work they’re getting paid for.
  • FREEDOM FIGHTER (28/01/2020, 12:40) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    Wow the headline is rather interesting. Hon. Wheatley you mean well and I guess you will hope that it is not happening but although they might be many persons who do that on a daily basis, I will like you to check up by the RVIPF, you will surely find plenty of that.
  • ta ta (28/01/2020, 12:51) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    He is right
  • Tolian (28/01/2020, 13:55) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    He is right. Just go to Admin Bld at 8.30am...car park bare empty!!!
  • oh boy (28/01/2020, 14:13) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    Well me boy. Freedom fighter,You really hate the Police. What Police do you. Public works and so many other Government Departments you can call but the Police who when every body chilling and liming,they are out working you on here talking bout de Police. I wonder if ah you realise that the Police is the only Government Department that is out helping people during hurricane. Maybe Fire Department will assist. Ask Donald De Castro who came to his rescue.
    Wha ah you really talking bout. Ah you so ungreatful it is not funny.
    All the other Departments that gets all the praise after the hurricane were home during hurricane. Best ah you can do is big up criminals
    I mentioned Public Works because that's the only Department I know that it takes five men to use one Shovel.
    • CCT Camera (28/01/2020, 14:50) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
      Yea during the hurricane (Irma) police were looting allegedly. Ask a number of business owners in town! Some on the force have a background and should not be purporting to "protect & serve"
    • FREEDOM FIGHTER (28/01/2020, 15:46) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ oh boy, I think you should read my comments again, yes I used the police as a reference but I also said although there might be many persons doing it. I know that there are a few officers who go over and beyond the call but most of them are guilty of what Hon. Wheatley is talking about. If you do a survey at the end of the week to show proof what they have done, I will bet that 3/4 of them cannot tell you.
  • yard fowl (28/01/2020, 14:52) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply

    Stop fooling the public be a man dont tell people you would call and never does any thing dont forget how vip get elected a stetn warning.

  • nonsense (28/01/2020, 15:50) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    wow look at that. some government employees stop work as they only giving promotion to the gossiper and news carriers and their friends
  • Diaspora (28/01/2020, 17:28) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    It is simple. A full day’s work for a full day’s pay. Work is a contract between workers and employers; the employer in this case is the taxpayers; the taxpayers are living up to the terms and conditions of the contract so employees must do like wise. Invariably, the rank and file employees are blame for unit, organizational poor performance. Well, every government employee from the Premier to other ministers to permanent secretaries to managers to supervisors to employers on the lowest end of economic ladder have a supervisor. True, employees have a moral obligation to produce a full day’s work for a full day’s pay. However, supervisors have the responsibility to ensure that their subordinates follow policies, practices and procedures, they are punctual, assigned work and set expectations and outcomes, counsel as needed, evaluate performance, terminate for cause.......etc. Employees owe an obligation to themselves, co-workers, residents, taxpayers and the territory. Moreover, the Hon Vincent Wheatley mentioned productivity. Low productivity drives up the cost of government doing business and drives up the need for increase taxes and fees.
  • hawk (28/01/2020, 18:02) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
    Productivity starts from your level, Mr. Minister. That productivity will then flow down and across. Lead by example.
  • Hmm (28/01/2020, 19:05) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hon. Wheatley what about the people who work and the employers don't pay their salaries? And that the labour department do nothing about because they are good frienhds with the employers. Do something about that sir.
  • CALL IT (28/01/2020, 20:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Not only that, the people that run the waste incinerator, the power plant and some other major equipment that is critical to the infrastructure of the island do not know how to perform some of the more difficult maintenance or are not certified to do so!
  • Good Point (28/01/2020, 20:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I completely agree. I have seen many people do what would be considered one or two hours’ work in most countries but the people here do it so slowly and with so many breaks/ looking at videos on their phone etc that it takes a full 8 hours! I’m astonished by how little people are expected to achieve in a days’ work here.
  • Quiet Rebel (28/01/2020, 20:59) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    It sounds good standing at a town hall meeting calling out workers but then goes back to one’s plush, air conditioned room and does nothing. Engaging in tons of activities with little or no outcome is not work but just self serving noise. It is an open secret that the civil service (approx 3000) is bloated but neither government or opposition has courage or stones to touch it. True, it is a tough decision but HOA members are elected to make tough decision. It is the animate force of elected office, for if it were easy, all we would need is a one man band. The civil service falls under the Governor in the awkward and supposedly self governing arrangement. The governor and government need to coalesce to right this tilting ship. There are many hardworking and dedicated civil servant but the overall ineffectiveness is the butt of jokes. For example, trying to call a government office to get information and the lack of knowledge, run around you get.........etc will frustrate a robot. It is not a stretch to conclude that the level of productivity is low. This low productivity cost residents in several ways, ie, little/no/delayed service, increase cost to deliver services. Putting pen and paper to the cost of low productivity will show a sizable sum of money; the cost to bring it to an acceptable level will be eye popping.

    Moreover, the Workforce needs sharpen and strengthen its teeth. For example, ensure effective oversight in ensuring that employers are putting forth a good faith effort in hiring qualified locals and belongers. It must be a neutral arbiter in ensuring terminated employees get a fair review and hearing. It must put process(s) in place to ensure that employees are paid for work performed for employers. Can go on and on.

  • hm (28/01/2020, 21:56) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Its true work for pay. But some employees are working for two or three companies and calling it being a "personal assistant." Employers are very unfair and christian people especially adventist, the latter I was warned about are WORST!
  • Dont talk (28/01/2020, 22:33) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    Let me inform you well, dont talk about Hon. V. Wheatley because when you and I are sleeping he catching a boat on the ocean to make sure he gets the job done. This man works hard that I sometimes have to remind him to take a rest. The man have the territory at heart and is a hard worker. In fact hard work is in the D and A of dedicated VG People. He is not a talker but a man that stands by his words. What more do you want. Transparent, accountability and integrity counts. Stop being a play hater and embrace the good.
  • Another one. (29/01/2020, 05:07) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    That's a do nothing. Refuse to or excuse not to give workers justice labour department talking point.. Always believe the employer over the employee... We thought with this new government. This new minister things will change... Yet again the people not getting what they vote for. ... Change...Most people wanted to see some kind of change in labour. The mentality.. This minister is embolding them.


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