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Only 'fit & proper' expats will enter for work in VI- Hon Wheatley

- says renewed vigour & focus coming @ Labour & Immigration Departments in 2020
Following the successful recent processing of some 1500 expats living and working in the Virgin Islands for Residency and Belonger status, Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) says come 2020, only 'fit and proper' individuals will be allowed to enter and work in the VI. Photo: HoA/Youtube
Hon Vincent O. Wheatley made the remarks at today's Tuesday, December 17, 2019, Fourth Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) while delivering statements. Photo: HoA/Youtube
Hon Vincent O. Wheatley made the remarks at today's Tuesday, December 17, 2019, Fourth Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) while delivering statements. Photo: HoA/Youtube
More than 1500 expats living and working in the VI for more than 20 years were given certificates of Residency and Belonger at a ceremony at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex on December 16, 2019. Photo: Facebook
More than 1500 expats living and working in the VI for more than 20 years were given certificates of Residency and Belonger at a ceremony at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex on December 16, 2019. Photo: Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola VI- Following the successful recent processing of some 1500 persons living and working in the Virgin Islands (VI) for 20 years and more for Residency and Belonger status, Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) says come 2020, only "fit and proper" individuals will be allowed to enter and work in the VI.

The Minister made the remarks at today's Tuesday, December 17, 2019, Fourth Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA).

"The year 2020 will augur a renewed vigour and focus for the Ministry for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration and its constituent departments," he said. 

Virgin Islanders will not be left behind 

According to Hon Wheatley, following the successful awarding of Belongership and Residency certificates to 'deserving citizens', who contributed to the Territory's development, at a ceremony held yesterday, December 16, 2019, his Ministry will now be making moves to further modernise the immigration process.

"The introduction of the border management system, coupled with the digitisation of the work permit process, will allow our frontline officers who have access to up-to-date information required to ensure that individuals are fit and proper to not only enter but work and enjoy what the Territory has to offer."

He said these policies will also ensure Virgin Islanders are not left behind. It will ensure that locals like young Virgin Islanders can harness opportunities in sectors of economic growth and this he said will work in tandem with the private sector through government partnerships in all key sectors.

Expats to face scrutiny 

While it is unclear the requirements for being 'fit and proper' regarding expats looking for opportunities in the Territory, Hon Wheatley noted that with the new 2020 policies, immigrants holding work permits in the VI will face greater scrutiny.

"Mr Speaker, it will be the requirement of all work permit holders to show proof of good standing with NHI, Inland Revenue and Social Security. Many persons work in this country but pay very little or no tax at all. This is not at all sustainable, we cannot build and grow a country in this manner," he said.

16 Responses to “Only 'fit & proper' expats will enter for work in VI- Hon Wheatley”

  • duh (17/12/2019, 22:56) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    If a country really wants to track people they can do so via a unique social security number tied to their passport and all other records - bank/credit, medical, government assistance, tax, etc. in other words, no one can do anything without this unique number
  • Sax (17/12/2019, 23:31) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
    U gave out 1500 some people 30 plus years didn't get a call. Still waiting...
    • @ sax (18/12/2019, 08:37) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
      You should call them. Since a lot of persons did not get a call but their name was on the list
    • @sax (18/12/2019, 11:09) Like (0) Dislike (6) Reply
      Are yousupposed to or entitled to get a call? How long after being here a person is supposed to be called?
      I am just asking becausr this giveawayhrre in the VI is strang diifferdnt from other vountrirs.
  • Rabsatt (18/12/2019, 02:54) Like (11) Dislike (4) Reply
    Many persons in the construction field does not contribute to S.S. & I.R. etc.
  • first (18/12/2019, 06:43) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
    You will have to closely monitor the individuals at both the Labour & Immigration Departments who are circumventing the laws to suit their friends . Especially those that are taking bribes.
  • nonsense (18/12/2019, 06:43) Like (28) Dislike (0) Reply
    If labour and social Security and immigration do their job properly there will be no problem.. labour and immigration are unfair and bias they engaged in Nepotism.. People working when time of sickness or pregnancy show up to social security to be told no contribution is made for them.. yet none of these bad bossed that taking out workers money and not paying it in never got locked up. There is some bosses that. Don't even take no deduction at all from workers... Stop picking on the wrong people. Get your people to do their jobs Good...
  • voter (18/12/2019, 07:47) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    Good move VIP
  • rewrsdffds (18/12/2019, 07:51) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    The VI has a self defeating habit of nonenforcement.
    This will be no different. Chaos and eventual collapse which willplace us in the league of other beleaguered Caribbean countirues .
  • good move (18/12/2019, 08:56) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    Monitor them, majority of them making so much money and not contributing
  • SORT OUT (18/12/2019, 09:14) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    Minister Wheatley please look into the cases where some people come into the territory to "visit" and are actually working. These same people are getting family or friends and other people that live here to help them get additional time so that they can stay in the territory and keep working. Some ain't even working and God knows how they getting their money whilst staying here. I think immigration and the like need to go around this territory and just pop up and these work sites for undocumented people.
    • Me (18/12/2019, 22:51) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Good idea. They did this in Turks & Caicos sometime back where they had a stop and search exercise every morning around working hours and a number of undocumented persons were found. So many persons came in after the hurricanes and have not left. Do they now have work permits? Why aren’t BVI islanders employed? A whole new way of tracking persons entering needs to be implemented and random checks made.
  • vi (18/12/2019, 09:17) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Not citizens! Only BVI naturalized persons are to be referred to as citizens.
    • Citizen X (18/12/2019, 12:23) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      The BVI doesn't have citizens; the UK does. You must be naturalized by the UK at which point you become a British overseas territories citizen.
  • Drinker (18/12/2019, 10:03) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well if you are checking NHI etc. then the spanish bars and certain other establishments dead now! This will be very interesting.


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