Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Jul 03, 2025

Premier & Labour Minister Want Names Of Callous Employers

Premier & Labour Minister Want Names Of Callous Employers

Employers who forced their employees to work as hurricane Dorian was approaching, even after the NEOC urged for everyone to be indoors, were described by Premier Hon. Andrew Fahie as callous. In fact, the BVI Leader stated that both himself and the Minister for Labour, Hon. Vincent Wheatley, will be inquiring to find out who these employers are.

The report about the behavior of these unknown employers was made in the House of Assembly on September 2 by Third District Representative and Opposition Member, Hon. Julian Fraser.

In bringing the matter to the House, Hon. Fraser said that some employers showed little regard for their employee's safety and for the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) during the preparation for hurricanes Dorian, as they insisted that their staff stay and work.

Hon. Fraser said, “Long after the Government had announced that the Civil Servants were not to report to work, except for essential workers, and even after there was the talk of a curfew to be issued, in the private sector, employees were being asked to come to work and threatened.”

According to the Third District Representative, the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) was informed about the situation and even attempts by NEOC officials to have the employers see reason failed. Hon. Fraser said that the employers responded unfavorably to the NEOC’s intervention into the matter.

As he called on legislators to take action on the matter Hon. Fraser said, “Mr. Speaker I think it’s incumbent on us as legislators to ensure, even before we saw what took place with hurricane Irma, to ensure that we don’t put our citizens at risk. If we knew long in advance that hurricane Dorian was going to pass over the BVI, we knew not what the consequences were going to be. To risk the lives of citizens out there in the morning...You can go to work yes, because it looks ok to go to work, but you don’t know about getting back home. It could be a lamppost, it could be a tree…”

Hon. Fraser added, “Mr. Speaker our legislation on curfew, our legislation on impending disasters has to be clear and concise. I think in my mind, as a former Minister of Labour that was a point at which the Minister of Labour could have intervened or should have intervened and I don’t know, but I am not taking this lightly and I don’t expect any of the 13 of us to do that either, to take it lightly.

In stating that action would be taken, Premier Fahie explained that he did not know about the situation.

“It's people’s lives; you can’t replace a life. When the Territory, the state announce that everyone is to be off the road, everyone is to be off the road, whether it is public, or it is private. It shiver me when I heard you say it, because it’s the first I have heard it. To know that there would be employers who would be so not only callous, but so distasteful…to have their employees out even although the Territory has announced a curfew that everyone should be home.”

As he announced that both himself and the Minister for Labour would be looking into the issue, the Premier said, “I could assure the members of this House that we would look into it. The Minister of Labour has heard you, so he would also work with us so that we could find out who these companies are and not only the companies, but to make sure that we make a statement that is clear. You would think that it would be clear that the state made a declaration that there is a curfew that the curfew covers everybody. I don’t think it should have need us to say public officers and private. It covered everyone so they should have been off the road not some businesses demanding that others be there. Even before the curfew given the conditions people should be more caring for their employees.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
×