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Young Virgin Islanders want to work but are struggling to secure interviews and employment opportunities, Opposition Leader Marlon Penn has said.
Speaking recently in the House of Assembly, Penn said employment was the biggest concern raised by young men and women he spoke to before a youth forum held about a month earlier.
“They apply to government, they don’t get a response, and when they do get a response, they don’t get a chance to get an interview,” he said.
Penn said some young people wanted to become captains and pursue training at the college, yet were hearing that the charter industry was bringing in workers from overseas.
He cited reports of the industry bringing in 20 people daily and questioned the handling of trade licences and work permits while Virgin Islanders were seeking opportunities in those same industries.
“We have to ensure that we build a Virgin Islands for Virgin Islanders that live here,” Penn said.
He warned that young Virgin Islanders did not feel they had a stake in the territory or that opportunities were available to them, a concern he said he heard in daily conversations.
Penn said his office helped young jobseekers prepare résumés and, when they secured interviews, coached them to give them the best possible chance of success.
“They want to work,” he said. “But far too often they’re not getting the opportunities, and we have to fix that. People are struggling.”
Speaking recently in the House of Assembly, Penn said employment was the biggest concern raised by young men and women he spoke to before a youth forum held about a month earlier.
“They apply to government, they don’t get a response, and when they do get a response, they don’t get a chance to get an interview,” he said.
Penn said some young people wanted to become captains and pursue training at the college, yet were hearing that the charter industry was bringing in workers from overseas.
He cited reports of the industry bringing in 20 people daily and questioned the handling of trade licences and work permits while Virgin Islanders were seeking opportunities in those same industries.
“We have to ensure that we build a Virgin Islands for Virgin Islanders that live here,” Penn said.
He warned that young Virgin Islanders did not feel they had a stake in the territory or that opportunities were available to them, a concern he said he heard in daily conversations.
Penn said his office helped young jobseekers prepare résumés and, when they secured interviews, coached them to give them the best possible chance of success.
“They want to work,” he said. “But far too often they’re not getting the opportunities, and we have to fix that. People are struggling.”
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