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VIDOL Reminds Employers about Requirement to Reporting Job Vacancies to the Department

Workforce Development Division provides a reminder of services available.

VI DEPT LABOR

USVI-June 16, 2021- Labor Commissioner Gary Molloy would like to remind the employers of the territory that as mandated by Act 5174, all job vacancies shall be posted with the VI Department of Labor.

Title 27, Chapter 9, Section 303B – Registration of Vacancies with Employment Security Agency (sic) Job Services – reads as follows:

(a)       Any entity licensed pursuant to this chapter shall notify the Employment Security Agency, Virgin Islands Department of Labor, of its intent to fill an existing position, now vacant or soon to become vacant, or a new previously unfilled position.  Notice of vacancies shall include the title of the position, if any, the proposed salary, any required qualifications, and the general duties of the position, and the name, address or telephone number of the person to be contacted by applicants for the position.

(b)       For the purposes of the section, “position” means employment at an hourly, monthly or yearly salary, intended to last least 30 hours per week and for one month or more, but does not include temporary or day workers.

This legislation provides employers access to the largest pool of job seekers in the Territory.  The Virgin Islands Department of Labor (VIDOL) would like to remind the public that it is here to serve the community and assist in its human resources needs.  Demand-driven and employer-focused, the following services are currently available to employers:          

  • Post/Manage Job Openings
  • Host Job Fairs
  • Labor Market Information
  • Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) Program – Federal tax credit for new hires
  • Federal Bonding Program – Fidelity Bond Insurance for 6 months for hard to place applicants
  • Foreign Labor Certification – Hire foreign workers on a temporary basis
  • Layoffs/Downsizing – onsite layoff assistance from the Rapid Response Team

Please register and post job vacancies by registering for www.vidolviews.org.  For further assistance contact Ms. Charlene Hodge at charlene.hodge@dol.vi.gov in the district of St. Thomas/St. John or Mr. Patrick Cawdette at patrick.cawdette@dol.vi.gov in the district of St. Croix.

This publication is paid for by the Employment and Training Administration of the US Department of Labor as part of an award totaling $627,897.00 (USD) for the administration of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Adult Program Activities.

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Gross Domestic Product for the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), 2019

Released May 26, 2021 at 2pm EST.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)

Today, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released estimates of gross domestic product (GDP) for the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) for 2019, in addition to estimates of GDP by industry and compensation by industry for 2018.1 These estimates were developed under the Statistical Improvement Program funded by the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Gross Domestic Product for 2019

The estimates of GDP for the USVI show that real GDP—GDP adjusted to remove price changes—increased 2.2 percent in 2019 after increasing 1.6 percent in 2018 (table 1.3).

As shown in chart 1, the increase in real GDP reflected increases in private fixed investment, exports, and consumer spending. These increases were partly offset by decreases in inventory investment and government spending.2 Imports, which are a subtraction item in the calculation of GDP, increased.

How to Interpret Contributions to Percent Change in Major GDP Components

There is often interest in how much a specific GDP component contributes to the change in real GDP. BEA publishes this measure in news release table 1.4. Chart 1 shows both the percent change of total real GDP and the contributions (in percentage points) of each major component to that change. For example, exports of goods and services accounted for 4.49 percentage points of the 2.2 percent increase in real GDP in 2019. This means that, all else equal, had exports neither increased nor decreased in 2019, real GDP would have decreased 2.3 percent.

Private fixed investment doubled from the previous year, reflecting growth in business purchases of equipment and in construction, including of homes. A refinery and oil storage facility on St. Croix invested in major capital improvements during 2019 as part of the current owner’s preparations to resume refining operations that were shut down by the former owner of the facility in early 2012. Additionally, disaster-related insurance payouts and federal assistance supported the reconstruction and major repairs of businesses and homes that were destroyed or heavily damaged by two major hurricanes in September 2017.

Within exports, services increased 23.0 percent. For the USVI, exports of services consists primarily of spending by tourists and business travelers. According to USVI government statistics, total visitor arrivals to the USVI increased in 2019; the number of air visitors, who spend substantially more in the islands on average than cruise visitors, increased 30.5 percent. 2018 visitor arrivals by air had been low in the aftermath of the 2017 hurricanes.

Consumer spending increased 5.8 percent, reflecting growth in household purchases of goods, such as motor vehicles and food, and services, including health care.

These increases were partly offset by declines in inventory investment and government spending. The decline in inventory investment reflected a slowdown of petroleum products imported and stored in the islands. Government spending decreased 15.4 percent, reflecting a decline in spending on disaster response and recovery activities by the federal and territorial governments.

Effect of Natural Disasters and the COVID-19 Pandemic on Data Availability for 2018–2019 GDP

The USVI suffered extensive damage from two major hurricanes in September 2017. These hurricanes, along with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, affected the availability of various data sources typically used in the estimation of USVI GDP. For example, as of mid-May 2021, several of the USVI government’s fiscal year 2019 financial statements were unavailable.3 In place of these financial statements, BEA used information from budget documents, unaudited operating and financial statements, reports on federal grant expenditures, and the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands’ new Open Finance database, which includes checkbook-level spending by the primary government.4

Gross Domestic Product by Industry and Compensation by Industry for 2018

The estimates of GDP by industry show that the private sector was the major source of the increase in real GDP in 2018 (table 2.5). Goods-producing industries were the largest contributor to the increase, reflecting increases in construction activity in the months following Hurricanes Irma and Maria.5

Accommodation and food services was the largest negative contributor in the private sector, reflecting a decline in tourism activity following the hurricanes. Total visitor arrivals to the USVI decreased in 2018; the number of air visitors, who spend substantially more in the islands on average than cruise visitors, decreased more than 20 percent. The territorial government sector also contributed negatively to economic growth, primarily reflecting operating losses of government utilities.

The compensation by industry estimates, which are measured in current dollars, show trends in compensation for major industries (table 2.6). Total compensation increased in 2018; the largest contributor was goods-producing industries, which includes construction. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data show that wages paid to construction industry workers in the USVI increased 84 percent.6

Revisions to GDP and Related Estimates

This release also includes the results of a comprehensive update of the territorial economic accounts. Comprehensive updates are typically performed every 5 years, based on the Census Bureau’s every-5-years economic censuses of island areas.

With the comprehensive update, estimates for 2002 to 2018 have been revised to incorporate improvements to source data and methods, including information from:

  • The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 Economic Census of Island Areas (ECIA), which provides the most thorough and detailed statistics on the structure of the USVI economy,
  • Newly available USVI government data sources, such as government financial statements for fiscal year 2018, a 2015 visitor exit survey, consumer prices for 2017 and 2018, and the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands Open Finance database,
  • Revised data on shipments from the U.S. Census Bureau’s International Trade in Goods and Services (FT-900) report, and
  • BEA’s U.S. national income and product accounts.

The revised real GDP estimates exhibit a similar pattern of growth as the previously published estimates (chart 2). However, there are notable revisions within the components of GDP, including to consumer spending and private fixed investment.

Consumer spending increased less than previously estimated between 2012 and 2017, reflecting the incorporation of 2017 ECIA data on sales to resident households and visitors. Private fixed investment also increased less than previously estimated over this period, reflecting the incorporation of 2017 ECIA data on capital expenditures by private businesses.

Revisions to GDP in earlier years primarily reflect improvements to the methods and source data used to estimate private fixed investment in structures. The new estimates incorporate newly available data on business revenues by type of construction from the 2017 ECIA and are inflation-adjusted at a higher level of detail.

The reference year for inflation-adjusted measures has been updated to 2012. This is the same reference year used in BEA’s national GDP estimates.

The estimates of GDP by industry and compensation by industry have been updated to incorporate the above data sources.

Future Directions

OIA and BEA will continue to work to extend and improve the estimates of GDP for the USVI. The information provided by the USVI government will continue to be critical to the successful production of these estimates.

BEA plans to release GDP estimates for 2020 for the USVI this winter. GDP by industry and compensation by industry estimates for 2019 will be released at the same time.

1 These estimates are based on limited source data and are subject to revision.

2 “Consumer spending” refers to “personal consumption expenditures.” “Inventory investment” refers to “change in private inventories,” which is abbreviated CIPI. “Government spending” refers to “government consumption expenditures and gross investment.”

3 Fiscal year 2019 for the Virgin Islands primary government and most independent agencies covers the period from October 2018 through September 2019; for select independent agencies, the fiscal year covers the period from July 2018 to June 2019.

4 The Government of the United States Virgin Islands Open Finance database is available at https://usvi.spending.socrata.com/.

5 Construction activities performed by private companies on behalf of the government sector are reflected within private sector industry value added.

6 The data are available at www.bls.gov/cew/.

Reminder: DLCA Hurricane Price Lists Due Tuesday, June 1, 2021

Commissioner Richard T. Evangelista, Esq. of The Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs (DLCA) reminds merchants that their first monthly Hurricane Price List submission for the 2021 hurricane season is due on Tuesday, June 1, 2021.

Every year, at the onset of hurricane season, DLCA requests businesses to furnish an official price list of their goods and merchandise in stock, and for the services they offer to the public. This information is required by law as a protective measure for all consumers in the event of an emergency and to prevent speculative practices related to those goods and services of primary need which are essential to face and recover from such emergencies. After the submission of the first price list, businesses must continue to submit an updated price list on the first of each month, until November 30, 2021. If a business has not changed its prices or acquired new products/services; they can submit a certified letter stating the previous price is still valid.

The request for a price list primarily targets businesses whose goods and services are necessary for hurricane preparation and recovery at all levels of Virgin Islands distribution and marketing. Businesses that must submit price lists include, but are not limited to, all retailers, wholesalers, producers, manufacturers, importers and providers of food items, water, beverages, general supplies, health and medical care products, fuel, rents, construction goods and services, clothing, furnishings, and others such goods and services as are deemed appropriate under the circumstances presented. It shall include commercial establishments and service providers such as supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, pharmacies, hardware stores, water and delivery businesses, laundromats, contractors, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, engineers, mechanics and masons.

Failure to submit a price list or certification letter by the first of each month, may subject a non-compliant business to administrative fines of up to $200 for each item sold or service provided in violation of the law in accordance with 11 VIR&R § 1015-1 and 3 V.I.C. § 272(b)(5).

Businesses may retrieve a sample price list form click here to download form

Kindly submit your business price list by emailing hurricanepricelist@dlca.vi.gov. Businesses should also be reminded that the Price Freeze Order dated March 13, 2020 is still in effect on all items relative to the fight against COVID-19. As such, businesses shall not increase the cost of those items without approval from DLCA.

Consumers or Merchants with questions may contact the Consumer Affairs Division on St. Croix at 713- 3522, on St. Thomas at 714-3522, or on St. John at 693-8036. For consumer-related issues, email consumerawareness@dlca.vi.gov or call the hotlines to report scams or alleged price gouging at 340.727.SCAM(7226) on St.Croix or St. Thomas/St. John at 340.771.SCAM(7226). Follow DLCA on Facebook @dlcavi.

Governor Bryan to Hold Third Community Business Forum

Free Two-Hour Online Session Will Focus on COVID Financial Relief and Business Advice for Local Small Businesses

Community Biz Forum May 2021

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — Governor Albert Bryan Jr. will hold the third session of the USVI Community Business Forum series focusing on connecting businesses to opportunities for financial relief provided through President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan and business advisory services available through local economic-related agencies.

Bouncing off the successes of Parts I and II, Part III of the USVI Community Business Forum series will be held virtually via Zoom from 9  to 11 a.m., on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. The forum will also be streamed live on the Government House Facebook page, Facebook.com/GovernmentHouseUSVI. Business owners and those interested in starting a business are encouraged to register for the forum by visiting www.vi.gov/cbf/.  For more information call 340-774-0001. The Community Business Forum is free.

The agenda includes presentations from the University of the Virgin Islands’ Business School, the VI Small Business Development Center, the US Small Business Administration, the VI Economic Development Authority and UVI’s Research and Technology Park.

“All of us know and have felt how adversely the pandemic has impacted our local businesses,” said David Bornn, Chief Legal Counsel for the Office of the Governor and facilitator for the Forum. “The American Rescue Plan provides significant and tangible support to help businesses regain their footing and to strive forward. It’s important that our business owners know and understand what is available to help them rebuild, and how to access it.”

The American Rescue Plan provides new funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) – originally introduced in the CARES Act – this time in the form of grants instead of loans. It also expands the PPP to include eligibility for more types of non-profits and introduces the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). The RRF provides $28.6 billion in grants to restaurants and bars – among the hardest hit businesses in the pandemic – as well as to caterers, food trucks and companies that provide live performances.

The Business Forum will also provide information on the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and the Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP) offered through the VI Housing Finance Authority. The ERAP helps individuals and families who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic keep up on their rent and remain in their homes. The HAP assists homeowners behind on their mortgage and utility payments avoid foreclosure and eviction.

“The USVI Community Business Forum is working in tandem with our efforts to reach herd immunity and get to a new COVID normal,” Governor Bryan said. “This is essential because there is no option for fully reopening our Territory without our businesses being able to fully reopen their doors, particularly as we prepare for the return of cruise ships to both St. Thomas and St. Croix, possibly as early as this summer.”

“I encourage all businesses owners, landlords and homeowners to attend the forum, join the conversation and give their input,” he said.

The CBF series is an initiative of the Office of the Governor, the V.I. Economic Development Authority and the V.I. Department of Tourism to provide business owners with the tools and resources they need to adapt, innovate and embrace technology to rebuild the VI economy.

For more information about the USVI Community Business Forum, materials presented in previous sessions or to register, visit www.vi.gov/cbf.

The Bryan-Roach Administration is committed to transparency, stabilizing the economy, restoring trust in the government and ensuring the disaster recovery is completed as quickly as possible.

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Senators Adopt Rules of the 34th Legislature, Amend Committee Memberships

A majority of senators voted to adopt rules that will govern their tenure in the 34th Legislature and made changes to the composition of four standing committees on Monday afternoon, January 25, 2021 during Legislative Session at the Capitol Building.

Photos by Barry Leerdam, Legislature of the Virgin Islands

The meeting of the full body was a continuation of their first held on January 11, 2020, where they announced officers and the majority caucus after taking the oath of office.

With the passage of Bill No. 34-0002, a resolution to adopt the Rules of the 34th Legislature, they approved their organizing document, which dictates the authority and conduct of its members, officers and staff; legislative processes and procedures; and day-to-day operations; along with the jurisdiction and appointment of members to its standing committees.

Next, they reconsidered and amended Bill No. 34-0001, by primarily making changes to the memberships of the Committee on Education and Workforce Development; Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection; Committee on Housing, Transportation and Telecommunications; Committee on Youth, Sports, Parks, and Recreation.

Both measures passed 11 to 4 with Senators Donna Frett-Gregory, Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Genevieve Whitaker, Marvin A. Blyden, Samuel Carriόn, Kenneth L. Gittens, Carla Joseph, Steven D. Payne, Sr., Milton E. Potter; Janelle K. Sarauw; and Kurt A. Vialet voting in favor; and Senators Dwayne M. DeGraff, Alma Francis Heyliger, Javan E. James, Sr., and Franklin D. Johnson opposed.

A motion by Senator Dwayne DeGraff to consider null and void any business outside the normal functions of the legislative branch to include appropriations, expenditures, pre-emption, bills passed between January 11 and 25, 2021 failed.

President Frett-Gregory recessed the meeting until 6:30 p.m. for the State of the Territory Address.
Composition of the 34th Legislature’s Standing Committees:

Committee on Education and Workforce Development
Chair: Senator Genevieve Whitaker Vice-Chair: Senator Janelle K. Sarauw
Members: Senator Donna Frett-Gregory, Senator Kenneth L. Gittens, Senator Milton E. Potter, Senator Carla Joseph, Senator Kurt A. Vialet

Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection
Chair: Senator Carla Joseph
Vice-Chair: Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr.
Members: Senator Marvin A. Blyden, Senator Milton E. Potter, Senator Javan E. James, Sr., Senator Franklin D. Johnson, and Senator Alma Francis Heyliger

Committee on Housing, Transportation and Telecommunications
Chair: Senator Marvin A. Blyden Vice-Chair: Senator Genevieve Whitaker
Members: Senator Steven D. Payne, Sr., Senator Kurt A. Vialet, Senator Samuel Carrión, Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff, Senator Janelle K. Sarauw

Committee on Youth, Sports, Parks and Recreation
Chair: Senator Samuel Carrión Vice-Chair: Senator Steven D. Payne, Sr.
Members: Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff, Senator Carla Joseph, Senator Franklin D. Johnson, Senator Alma Francis Heyliger, Senator Javan E. James, Sr.

Committee on Rules and Judiciary
Chair: Senator Milton E. Potter Vice Chair: Senator Kenneth L. Gittens
Members: Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Senator Steven D. Payne, Sr., Senator Carla Joseph, Senator Genevieve Whitaker, Senator Franklin D. Johnson

Committee on Finance
Chair: Senator Kurt A. Vialet
Vice Chair: Senator Donna A. Frett-Gregory
Members: Senator Marvin A. Blyden, Senator Samuel Carriόn, Senator Javan E. James, Sr., Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff, Senator Janelle K. Sarauw

Committee on Health, Hospitals & Human Services
Chair: Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr. Vice Chair: Senator Marvin A. Blyden
Members: Senator Kenneth L. Gittens, Senator Kurt A. Vialet, Senator Samuel Carriόn, Senator Alma Francis Heyliger, Senator Janelle K. Sarauw

Committee on Disaster Recovery and Infrastructure
Chair: Senator Janelle K. Sarauw Vice Chair: Senator Kurt A. Vialet
Members: Senator Carla Joseph, Senator Marvin A. Blyden, Senator Genevieve Whitaker, Senator Samuel Carriόn, Senator Franklin D. Johnson

Committee on Economic Development & Agriculture
Chair: Senator Kenneth L. Gittens Vice Chair: Senator Milton E. Potter
Members: Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Senator Donna A. Frett-Gregory,
Senator Javan E. James, Sr., Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff, Senator Alma Francis Heyliger

Committee on Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety
Chair: Senator Steven D. Payne, Sr. Vice Chair: Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff
Members: Senator Kenneth L. Gittens, Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Senator Javan E. James, Sr., Senator Alma Francis Heyliger, Senator Franklin D. Johnson

Committee of the Whole
Chair: Senator Donna Frett-Gregory, Vice Chair: Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr.
Members: Senator Genevieve Whitaker, Secretary; Senator Marvin A. Blyden, Majority Leader
Senator Samuel Carriόn; Senator Dwayne M. DeGraff; Senator Alma Francis Heyliger; Senator Kenneth L. Gittens; Senator Javan E. James, Sr.; Senator Franklin D. Johnson; Senator Carla Joseph; Senator Steven D. Payne, Sr.; Senator Milton E. Potter; Senator Janelle K. Sarauw; Senator Kurt A. Vialet

Veterans Opportunity for COVID-19 Vaccination

The VA Caribbean Healthcare System will be offering COVID-19 vaccinations to the following groups of Veterans:

  • Veterans eligible for and receiving care at VA who are 55 years of age or older
  • Veterans that are Hemodialysis, Chemotherapy, Spinal Cord patients
  • Veterans that are Organ Transplant patients
  • Homeless Veterans
  • Veterans that are First Responders (EMT, Police, Nurses, Firefighters, etc.)

NOTE: Vaccinations will be offered for Veterans both in the St. Croix district and St. Thomas/St. John district.

St. Croix Veterans will have the first opportunity on January 27th and 28th 2021. Coordination is currently being finalized for the St. Thomas/St. John district and will be published once completed.

Location Time:

  • Old Nissan Building, Christiansted, JAN 27 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
  • Old Nissan Building, Christiansted JAN 28 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Priority will be given to those veterans who schedule a vaccine appointment by calling
(787) 641-4591. Walk-ins will be accepted only if vaccines remain once all appointments have been accommodated. Those, if any, will be available while inventory lasts. Veterans taking the vaccine must be available to receive their second dose in 28 days to complete.

Veterans can get up-to-date information on the Office of Veterans Affairs website at
www.veterans.vi.gov calling the office @ (340) 774-8387, or by texting the word VIVets (no spaces) to 888-652-8387