Deputy Premier of the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Lorna Smith on Tuesday encouraged Guyanese residing in the BVI to return home to support the ongoing transformation of the country’s oil and non-oil sectors and to ease the county’s labour shortage.
She was speaking during a press briefing on the recent BVI Trade Mission to Guyana.
Smith told the press that as discussions are ongoing at the level of the BVI Cabinet on removing the existing visa restrictions for Guyanese, there is no expectation of Guyanese flocking the shores of the Virgin Islands.
“The Guyanese authorities said early that they would love to have their people back,” Smith said as she provided an update on her recent trip to Guyana to scope out investment and other prospects.
Indicating her support for lifting visa restrictions to the UK Overseas Caribbean Territory, the deputy premier noted that while this is currently up for discussions before the cabinet, she is hoping it becomes a reality.
Smith who is also Minister responsible for Financial Services, Trade and Labour said from her personal research, there are no expected ramifications on the labour market in the BVI to flow from such a move.
She referenced data which showed the number of visa applications by Guyanese that were turned down in recent years being minimal to none.
“It’s negligible… there was little or no refusal,” Smith said while noting that the removal of the visa requirement does not translate to an automatic approval to live and work.
“Lifting the requirement will not change the workforce in the BVI. There is so much work in all the fields and it’s not like people will be flocking,” the deputy premier postulated.
According to her, removing the visa requirement was just part of removing hindrances to heightened business and political relations in the future.
Questions were raised in relation to the astronomical prices for the shipment of commodities to and from the British Virgin Islands as many deemed it too expensive.
In this regard Smith agreeably acknowledged that this should be another area of focus at the cabinet level.
“One merchant here told me he imports sand from Guyana, and the cost of that sand you know is a million dollars, that is no exaggeration, however it is the shipping because when you add the shipping to that it is more than the actual cost of the sand”.
“Similarly, there is one person here who imports the Demerara Sugar and he too said that it is very expensive, however it is something we must address because both those commodities together with other commodities from Guyana are very important to the economy of this country” she noted.
Junior Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. Carl Dawson, who was also present at the press briefing provided an update on the trip to Georgetown.
Dr. Dawson said there are many lessons to be learnt from Guyana on its agricultural ambition and work that has borne fruit for the entire region.
In relation to the exorbitant cost of shipping which has affected the price for commodities imported from Guyana for resale in the BVI such as sugar and sand, the subject minister like the Deputy Premier said this matter should be one of prioritization as it is currently putting pressure on supply chain and trade operations in both countries.
He was particularly impressed with the use of shade houses by Guyanese farmers to boost productivity and the modern system used by authorities to track farmers across the country.
The BVI is currently discussing establishing a permanent presence in Guyana to ensure and continued and mutually beneficial relationship.
Another visit is slated soon to address other issues like air and sea transport, bilateral trade and long-term support for the oil and non-oil sectors.
