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Expats require work permits to work @ Festival booths- VI Gov’t reminds

As the [British] Virgin Islands gears up to celebrate emancipation from slavery, expatriates are being reminded they need work permits to be employed at any of the booths in the Larina Loretta Jacobs-Lamothe Festiville. Photo: VINO/File
The 70th Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival will be held from July 14 to August 10, 2024. Photo: Facebook
The 70th Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival will be held from July 14 to August 10, 2024. Photo: Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- As the [British] Virgin Islands gears up to celebrate emancipation from slavery, expatriates are being reminded they need work permits to be employed at any of the booths in the Larina Loretta Jacobs-Lamothe Festiville.

The 70th Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival will be held from July 14 to August 10, 2024.

The Department of Labour and Workforce Development in a bulletin on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, said it is encouraging employers to submit work permit applications at least 10 days prior to the commencement of work during the upcoming Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival.

It said failure to do so will render persons in direct violation of Section 171 of the 2010 Labour Code.

Accordingly, all employers operating on the Festival Grounds are urged to apply for, and obtain a work permit for non-Belongers or non-Virgin Islanders that they are seeking to employ.

Violation of 2010 Labour Code

According to Section 174 of the 2010 Labour Code, a person who fails to comply with Section 171 commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding eight thousand dollars, and any work permit granted to him or her shall be cancelled.

Additionally, the Labour Commissioner may request the assistance of the Commissioner of Police, the Chief Immigration Officer or Comptroller of Customs or any other government agency for purposes of enforcing this Part.

For more information regarding work permit applications, persons are encouraged to contact the Department of Labour and Workforce Development by telephone at 468-4708 or 468-4780.

56 Responses to “Expats require work permits to work @ Festival booths- VI Gov’t reminds”

  • jack@$$ (02/07/2024, 15:13) Like (31) Dislike (43) Reply
    I actually think that's silly.
  • Hmm (02/07/2024, 15:29) Like (37) Dislike (46) Reply
    As they should. It is work right? They not from here right?
    • Hmm (02/07/2024, 16:27) Like (54) Dislike (41) Reply

      Yall hate these people because they get off their @$$ and make the money yall toooo lazy to get up and make smh.

    • LAW (02/07/2024, 21:06) Like (23) Dislike (7) Reply
      It is the law.
    • mf (03/07/2024, 00:00) Like (6) Dislike (17) Reply
      Expect service in the village to start sucking just like every other place they forcing this BS on. Government right now is the worst service provider
  • YAWN (02/07/2024, 16:14) Like (46) Dislike (4) Reply
    Why is this even a topic every year? The law clearly speaks to part time employment or employment period if you are not a local. If you are on a work permit, you need a part time permit to do other work. If you are visiting, you need a permit for part time work. The only people that can work in the village or anywhere else temporary or otherwise are locals. I don't know why that is hard to understand. We all know when the wuking up and rum drinking start nobody checking to see who serving where.
  • Hum (02/07/2024, 16:21) Like (10) Dislike (39) Reply
    Racist
  • @hmm (02/07/2024, 16:27) Like (9) Dislike (39) Reply
    AND I AGREE WITH YOU / THOS SHOULD BE AS WE DOES CALL THEM - ( ISLAND PEOPLE ) THATS THE NORM TO CALL OUR CARIBBEAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS IDLAND PEOPLE , SO WHATS THE USE OF EXPATS FOR ? WHEN THEM COME HERE , WE EXPECT THEM TO LICK OUR BOTTOMS AND WHEN THEY DON'T WE INSULT THEM LIKE THEY ARE DOGS , WE DONE LABEL THEM ISLAND PEOPLE , SO LETS CONTINUE , WE AIN'T CARE WHAT ANYBODY THINK , WE BORN HAE AND WE ARE ENTITLED AND IF THEM DON'T LIKE IT - *LEH DEM GO BACK WEY DEM COM FRON * WE CAN OFFER THEM A FREE RIDE ON A BARGE BACK TO
    THEM ISLAND CAVE
    • Well my dawg (02/07/2024, 18:45) Like (27) Dislike (6) Reply
      We in Hurricane season.
      Like you calling for a hurricane to come and clean your dirty mind. One Love BVI ?? Don’t ask for the Most High to level the playing field. Be more conscious please. We tired of this foolish barblings.
    • jack frost (02/07/2024, 20:43) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
      @ the response to @hm lack of knowledge is painful. That is how you sound, very less than smart and probably didn't make it pass infant school. I am sure you dont have the energy to say that to other groups who are not ftom the BVI. Your parent should have swallowed you or drop you on the bed sheet...A$$&0₩/
    • Sadly (03/07/2024, 08:46) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
      You all can't even build the road and u want to give us a ride back home on a Barge lol.......
    • @@ hmm (03/07/2024, 09:46) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      @@hmm, the Uppercase bandit is at it again wid his ‘ Island Man’ rant. I see him give E. Leonard break from ranting about him writing about the origin of the term ‘Island Man.’ Now I his rant is towards AC Frett about the same thing. Enough of that.

      Any where one goes in the world one has to follow the laws of land, ie, Jamaica,,SVG, DR, US,,Cuba, PR, UK, and so on. Why should the BVI be any different?
  • Really (02/07/2024, 17:38) Like (12) Dislike (7) Reply
    When are those permits going to be ready? Christmas Day for sure.
    If regular permit renewals where they already have all the information that was already scrutinized and approved, and it takes months, how are you going to process these in two weeks? Craven choke puppy.
    • fact (02/07/2024, 19:24) Like (13) Dislike (3) Reply
      Temporary Work permits can be done in 2 days
      • ? (03/07/2024, 00:06) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        What's the cost?. If it's a significant portion of what you would earn in the village it makes no sense.
      • Fact? (03/07/2024, 07:26) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        The law may say that, but you have no idea what you are talking about. This is still the BVI.
      • lol (03/07/2024, 08:47) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
        by what miracle can work permit be done in 2 days? Clearly you have no dealings with it
  • candy (02/07/2024, 17:49) Like (11) Dislike (9) Reply
    I dont agreed with that a health card is good enough
  • vi (02/07/2024, 18:15) Like (18) Dislike (6) Reply
    And I thought we were celebrating freedom. Free-up the thing let our brothers and sisters celebrate freedom with us.
  • my2cents (02/07/2024, 18:28) Like (25) Dislike (5) Reply
    A food handlers certificate should be sufficient if they have a valid VI Work Permit.
  • james (02/07/2024, 18:38) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Health card should be an addition for those workers at the speak easy.
  • Hmm (02/07/2024, 19:47) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
    So if someone living here and have a work permit and have the experience to work in a booth do they need a permit too even though it's a 2 Weeks side hustle?
    • #HMmm (03/07/2024, 00:29) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
      Pay attention to the labor code that speaks directly to your issue.
      Yes you still need a permit knowledge or no knowledge work is work it could be for 3 days
  • Miley (02/07/2024, 20:00) Like (10) Dislike (8) Reply
    Since the Fahie import/export business got plugged they need to get revenue from anywhere they can
  • 2024 (02/07/2024, 20:21) Like (23) Dislike (7) Reply
    It is amazing how folks comes into to the territory and circumvent the law of the land

    Undeclared Income
    • ok (03/07/2024, 09:18) Like (4) Dislike (6) Reply
      2024 You dam well know the laws are unfair.
      They were created to hide your injustices and keep the expats in chains
      • bvi (03/07/2024, 10:58) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
        Chains you say you can book a plane and go
      • @ ok (03/07/2024, 20:52) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
        that US-Dollar got you going Crazy because you leave your Big Country. No one ask you to stay in BVI……
  • Stop fooling people (02/07/2024, 21:15) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well comditional permit taking months, you cannot work without it being approved but still have bills to pay. Wondering how long these will take with festival around the corner.
  • Just wondering? (02/07/2024, 21:31) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    What is the law in your native land.? Stop coming in the people place and telling them what the$%# to do. Why the %$@! are you here? Oh yea because life was hard in your own dam country.
  • little known (02/07/2024, 21:44) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    so if you are on a work permit you can work part time up to 4 days with another employer without telling your employer or the labour dept...
  • Madussa (02/07/2024, 22:17) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    Can we BVI landers go to any other country and set up a booth and start making money off of the books? Listen to how stupid that sounds. They would make you pay a fine and then deport you if not jail time. So why should the BVI accept less? Too many outsiders want to do as they please here when they cannot get away with that anywhere else. The gall of these people!
    • facts (03/07/2024, 10:29) Like (2) Dislike (6) Reply
      Madussa, reading is fundamental. Nothing here is about expats setting up booths. It's bout expats working for booth owners. Geesh, you so hasty to display your ignorance and hate.
    • @Madussa (03/07/2024, 20:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I thought the topic is about the workers and not the booth.
  • Haha jokie (02/07/2024, 22:26) Like (0) Dislike (7) Reply
    Governor ain't from here yet he doesn't need a work permit
  • More Pressure on Xpats (03/07/2024, 04:04) Like (52) Dislike (0) Reply
    Most people who there are helping a friend or family. What I would say is that "All Booth owners should register all helpers and workers and make sure everyone has a BVI food handlers certificate be visible at the Booth for anytime inspection". If they want to make money raise the FHC fee for helpers..
  • Noni (03/07/2024, 05:26) Like (15) Dislike (2) Reply
    Why don’t y’all just go home
  • tola (03/07/2024, 06:36) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    This country make everything about money
  • asura (03/07/2024, 06:45) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    what's the big deal they are expat!
  • Comments (03/07/2024, 07:20) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
    Hey BVI your xenophobia is showing
  • VISAR!? (03/07/2024, 07:24) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    Stupidness!
    Turn on you brain. The reason all expats here is not enough people to do all the work.
    After Irma expats them step up. Now we require work permits? When VISAR save fisher that sink, you go fine they for no work papers? PAWS people help with cats and dogs run amuck, with no pay, so now they have to stop?
    The politicians need stop and think. We need these people. When they volunteer to work free, stop this stupidness.
  • Emancipation (03/07/2024, 09:32) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Only the BVI was in slavery so everybody else could go kick rocks!
  • Goldy (03/07/2024, 10:01) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    That'ts why expats have to take and marry allu men
  • Really (03/07/2024, 10:12) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    People wake up . You was born in this world, forget about where you was born. Why do you need documents for a booth to participate in a Devil ritual. This is why the 15%rh negative elite bloodline control this Earth. It has nothing you can do with the devil's paperwork. It's so funny how you all bow down and comply to everything. You have to pay for the booth,work permit and everything else LoL. People are just dumb. I will be laughing at everyone because they proof during the lockdown that they control us. When the digital control beast system kicks in without a warning what do you think will happen. Everyone will run to the bank and have no access of your money. Could you access your money after the man made hurricane. Where is all the millions of dollars that was raised. The money they gave you you have to give a bank account number to receive the money. Wait for when you have to pay it back with the digital system
  • Interested (03/07/2024, 10:48) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Just make sure each person has a valid up to date health certificate.Do’nt want any diseases spreading.We know the health facilities cannot handle it.
  • tola (03/07/2024, 10:50) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    If you don't like it don't go easy as that. Nothing is free in this world
  • Local (03/07/2024, 14:10) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    Well, I don't discriminate or hate anyone, but it seems like the expats wants everything to go against this country.
    Why stay in a country and complain as if you have rights? You all think you'll be treated like locals after the Commission of Inquiry is concluded?
    • @local (05/07/2024, 09:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      There are basic universal human rights regardless of immigration status anywhere, except maybe here per your comment.
  • Norris Turnbull (04/07/2024, 07:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    WHAT PART OF THIS YOU PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND?

    According to Section 174 of the 2010 Labour Code, a person who fails to comply with Section 171 commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding eight thousand dollars, and any work permit granted to him or her shall be cancelled.

    Additionally, the Labour Commissioner may request the assistance of the Commissioner of Police, the Chief Immigration Officer or Comptroller of Customs or any other government agency for “purposes of enforcing this Part.”

  • we (04/07/2024, 11:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    we celebrate freedom with them hefty price tickers and asking for work permit in this economy?

    if its really freedom them make the nights free and drinks and food will have to be paid for.

    its a celebration not a another profit.

  • Easy. (05/07/2024, 09:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Give Labor Dept free tix so they can check vendors paperwork. Shut them down and arrest them. Fine them and then expel them. No sense in downplaying the rampant xenophobia in the name of draconian compliance for those who are not Belongers.


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