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‘Influx of foreign workers will ride against us’ – warns Hon Pickering

-said growth of the territory will continue with or without locals
Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr The Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering has warned that the influx of foreign migrant workers will continue to be a disadvantage to locals if they fail to take the opportunities presented to them and work hard to achieve their dreams over time. Photo: VINO
"Just as an aside, there are people in the country who are saying that young people can't find work. But the Labour statistics show that 60.7% of the labour force is non-local. What that means is that only 39.3% of the workforce comes from among locals, meaning belongers, BVIslanders, whether you were born here or you were naturalised,” Dr Pickering said. Photo: VINO/File
A section of the audience at the launch of the Job Fair and Career Expo. Photo: VINO
A section of the audience at the launch of the Job Fair and Career Expo. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr The Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering has warned that the influx of foreign migrant workers will continue to be a disadvantage to locals if they fail to take the opportunities presented to them and work hard to achieve their dreams over time.

He was speaking at the launch of the First District Job Fair and Career Expo held at the Leonora Delville Primary School in Capoon’s Bay, Tortola on Friday October 16, 2015.

"Just as an aside, there are people in the country who are saying that young people can't find work. But the Labour statistics show that 60.7% of the labour force is non-local. What that means is that only 39.3% of the workforce comes from among locals, meaning belongers, BVIslanders, whether you were born here or you were naturalised,” he said.

“In any context what that means is that this country has over employment. It is not fair enough for anybody to say that they can’t find a job. The issue that we have is to help to guide young persons on a career path where they can find meaningful work,” he said.

“This is what we are striving to achieve otherwise the statistics are going to continue to ride against us where we are going to have to continue to employ workers from outside,” he said.

“The growth of the country will continue with or without us, it is how we avail ourselves of the opportunities that are presented to us is what will determine our future success or failure as a people,” he said.

32 Responses to “‘Influx of foreign workers will ride against us’ – warns Hon Pickering”

  • wize up (18/10/2015, 12:24) Like (16) Dislike (5) Reply
    we need to bridge that gap by educating our people in those areas where the most working permits are issued: as you move about this territory we are also seeing more and more non belongers selling items such as DVD's and clothing from the trunks of their cars and most of them have no permission to conduct such trade: we have persons on work permits doing jobs on the side and that cash is undeclared to the tax authorities: I personally believe that our politicians spends more time focusing on foreign affairs BUT leave Home Affairs to run down: We need to educate our youth from the primary school stage in subject araea where we continue to hand out permits( is there any stats on this)...
  • Yes (18/10/2015, 12:44) Like (46) Dislike (21) Reply
    That's because tortolians think they privileged and don't want to work. They want best jobs that they not qualified for or government handouts.
    • wize up (18/10/2015, 14:12) Like (26) Dislike (6) Reply
      @ LOL: just a pont of information: a number of us graduated from BVI Hight around 1980 and we have been gainfully employed up until today; we are owners of our own business, have continued family business or still at the same place of employment over the past 30-years( you sound like you just reach BVI and taking your dumb !uck).if you are a BV Islands with your level of conversation you need to be pushed from a moving train:
      • Yes (18/10/2015, 15:33) Like (10) Dislike (14) Reply
        @ wize up

        It hurts because its true. I've been here for over 20 years and see it everyday. People here come up with all kinds of schemes to milk the government here then wonder why they close treasury.

        Even the businesses that you start here are based around government contracts (I would guess your business is government based). So don't come at me like that just because I hurt your feelings.

        Its sad but true!
        • wize up (18/10/2015, 18:31) Like (8) Dislike (6) Reply
          @ LOL; so why don't you leave BVI if you have issues here(just asking)...you probably took some VI Lander's job....so whay you are not working where you are from(any how I understand your point): you could not get a job in your own country and here talking !uck bout you here over 20-years( you are an @$$).....just for your info I really don't have a job & I have been living off the government for the past 53 years(you sick !uck)...BVI government can't even pay their bills much less!!!!
        • I from here and Proud of it (18/10/2015, 20:17) Like (8) Dislike (8) Reply
          I am a proud BVIslander and will stand unfazed by comments like yours. I own my own business from hard work, not Government handouts to people like you who just come to the BVI. What I would recommend that you do is thank whomever kind BVIslander who sponsored you to reach these shores and stop hating on the people who have made way for your coming. Go and Sit Down!
          • wize up (18/10/2015, 21:42) Like (10) Dislike (8) Reply
            @ I from here and proud: as you know, our forefathers work hard for our territory and now our elected officials are slowly giving it away to fools like "LOL" they cant hold any job were them from but come to our little territory and try to belittle our people BUT I know the devil to be a liar: because of this little BVi most of them own something were dem from( pass by money gram on Fridays)
        • Road Town Rebel (18/10/2015, 20:38) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
          IN LOL! What have you contributed to this country other than paying tax if you do that at all.
        • Ghost (19/10/2015, 09:51) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
          Agree, its obvious that a small island can not support the number of Government workers it has, it is not sustainable.

          The Hon Mr Pickering should address this issue with the creation of none government jobs and skills for local people. Although government service is a worthwhile career, but it shouldnt be the only aspiration.
          • Lizzy (19/10/2015, 12:19) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
            Well Ghost, the reason why Government is ballooning with workers is that is the only place Virgin Islanders can get a job, the privite sector has black listed Virgin Islanders, it has been done in such a very crafty way that the Government condones it.
  • qc (18/10/2015, 17:45) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    so in other words you local must suck salt me and Myron not looking out for ayo only the island people
  • @LOL (18/10/2015, 18:58) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    BVIslanders have applied for several jobs that they were more than qualified to do and were told they are over qualified. The companies should have been glad they are over qualified, but they were over qualified because the places done had their friends line up for the jobs. In most of these places there are people in there who hiring not because of qualification, but hiring friends who don't know their hand from their foot, just to keep the BVIslander out.
  • idk (18/10/2015, 21:26) Like (30) Dislike (1) Reply
    Th good minister for the subject talking piss. They keep stamping permits for those trust companies dis-enfranchising our local who are educated to do those jobs. Tell me how many of our own people wee sent away on scholarships and return home and could not get work and had to return to the USA or England? The minister and ministry of labor and the government proper is NOT going out of their way to give our people work when they return home. Always some stupid excuse. So many have teaching degree and cannot get a job teaching, yet we still importing teachers. They form all kind of commission our people have to go through to get a job an all those commission does is insult our people intelligence. Nonsense they doing man.
  • wize up (19/10/2015, 08:27) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
    the rate of exchange will continue to kill us in BVI because the VI Landers won't work for the dollar but others will take that same dollar simply because that same dollars value more where they are from: another example in the 60s & 70s no VI Lander worked on Sunday(that was the Lord's day) other came to the territory and had no issue working on Sundays: truth be told,a major of persons are here just because of United States Dollar: although some of them here trash talking this place:most of them will commit suicide if immigration ask them to leave(pass by any location of money gram or westen union on Friday)
  • Voter Too (19/10/2015, 09:04) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Whether we are from here yes or not we just have to make a contribution to the development of the BVI.It's like home away from home for many I have seen so many foreigners and locals alike have made significant contributions to the BVI and I give them thanks. There gonna be a lot of hiccoughs as in many countries but it is for us to try live together and help each other. As a people we need to get involve in some form of nation building strategy or something of the sort. Whether you are fully employed or not get on board volunteer at the library, a school, club,play a sport,organise an exercise group in your area, etc .We need each other more than ever. Together we can achieve much to make this our BVI a better place.
  • Check yourself (19/10/2015, 09:06) Like (22) Dislike (1) Reply
    Tell the minister to check the amount of managers he gave work permit to. When BVI islanders. Belongers or non permit holders can confidently hold those permission once given the chance. Give us the chance. Don't allow them to fail us without trying us. This problem is created by the minister himself.
  • man to man (19/10/2015, 09:24) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    Some of these BVI islanders managers are very disrespectful. Very abusive very bias to their workers both expats and locals. A good manager doesnt need a degree. Just knowledge. A good personality. Fair and unbias. Now how to motivate. Treat people the way the want to be treated. Don't encourage staff to rat on each other. But encourage them to work together learning from each other. Satisfying customers. Achieving targets. That's to me is a good manage.
  • monotony. (19/10/2015, 09:45) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    This dude don't care amount local. God bless those of us who work for government. They will get a pension. What happened to the national pension plan?. He has employers dictating if they going to do it and on their terms...struupppeess. How about increasing the minimum wage.this dude is all good talk..empty barrel...I gave Ronnie credit for make NHI happened. Good or bad. I like people that make things happened.
  • Bvi nice (19/10/2015, 09:48) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    This dialogue is very important for the country. Immigrants helped to develop the country yes! But pilicies, limits and proper regulations are needed to be put in place to ensure good governance. The foreign investors and employers cannot be allowed to have their own way with employing who they want all the time while qualified belongets ate unemployed and barely qualified people from all over the globe are getting work permits at the press of a button.
    The quality of life has deteriorated for many since foreign investors have so much clout.

    BVI was a much nicer place to live in the 80s and 90s and the economy was doing well and the population was generally satisfied. Since greed got into play no one is happy here now except for the rich investors and the corrupt.
  • Street reporter (19/10/2015, 10:02) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
    We cannot stop work permits. Why is every white person importing has to be a manager? The message is not a good one when that happens. It says black people are stupid. I don't think we have any white ministers. Most of the people coming here now or whites....I will say this though. I may sound foolish and contradictory but I rather work for a white person. Black bosses are to show off and spiteful.
  • suggestion. (19/10/2015, 10:13) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    A good idea would be to do a survey of all expats managers on work permit. Interview their bosses. Interview their employees. Interview the manager themselves. Then make a decision on weather to renew or not.
  • Lizzy (19/10/2015, 12:12) Like (30) Dislike (2) Reply
    Why so many work permits are being approved for simple jobs that many local can do? The fact is most employers just do not want to hire locals. Most of it has nothing to do with education and qulification. Worst expat in certain position make a point of keeping local out and looking out for their own country people. You got to mingle with people on the ground to know what is really going on this territory. The comments about locals not wanting work or under qualified are mainly coming from expat and other locals who enjoy exploiting people on work permit.
    • Trin (19/10/2015, 13:28) Like (53) Dislike (1) Reply
      Figured it out long ago that education and qualifications have nothing to do with locals getting employed in the private sector. Funny thing is along with Government condoning this against locals, there is a high level of discrimination in Government against locals also. That is the full truth and I don't care who tries to say that it's not so. They too bias against their own people.
  • Bvi nice (19/10/2015, 12:28) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply

    The laws are in favour of employers. According to ILO employees should also have rights. Howevever, there are employees who exploit and are abusive to their workers and do not pay them. They get away with that due to the nature of the status quo.

    Many others are qualified yet unemployed due to unfair discrimination. While w**** folks walk in with a driver's licence; a high school diploma and get good Jobs in no time

  • Bvi nice (19/10/2015, 12:40) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    The International Labour Organisation is watching!
  • one eye (20/10/2015, 01:49) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    OK THE LABOUR MAN DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE LOCAL SAD SAD


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