Chamber News

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — The Virgin Islands Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Virgin Islands Department of Labor (VIDOL) announced the launch of a virtual work readiness program for at- risk youth referred by DHS’s Division of Intervention and Prevention Services (DIPS).

The eight-week virtual training pilot program was developed by VIDOL’s Youth Services Team for at-risk youth between the ages of 14-21 years who are clients of the Division of Intervention and prevention Services’ program. This foundational Virtual Work Readiness Program is the result of a partnership between DHS and VIDOL to help develop critical life skills that strengthen the futures of at-risk youth in the workforce, school, and beyond.

The work-readiness trainings will consist of on-demand and interactive videos, weekly Zoom engagement sessions with motivational guest speakers, and a 6-week public speaking and leadership training program facilitated by the St. Croix Toastmasters.

The workshops will utilize the Workforce Development Board-provided Sistems platform as well as USDOL’s Soft Skills to Pay The Bills.The workshops will cover a variety of topics surrounding career exploration, networking, business communication and etiquette, budgeting, resume-writing, interviewing, and more. The program will not only help students enhance their skills for educational, technical, and personal success, but will also connect them to the network of caring community resources dedicated to their personal development.

Ten students – five (5) from St. Croix and five (5) from the St. Thomas/St. John district – will participate in the initial program launch from March 22^nd – May 21^st. Students who successfully complete the program will receive the opportunity of summer employment.

“Our goal in this launch of the program is to enable our participants to have a bright vision for their future as they interact with and get connected to community resources that exist for their success, stated Commissioner Causey-Gomez “Ultimately, the program will provide training that leads to placement in summer employment and prepares them for success in future education endeavors, the workplace and in life in general. We want to jointly empower them with a vision of themselves being supported, connected, assertive and confident to succeed at whatever they put their minds to. I am grateful for my staff and their commitment to wholistic planning program development for our clients. I am also grateful to the Department of Labor for their responsiveness and assistance in crafting this program, as well as providing oversight under the direction of Commissioner Gary Molloy,” the Commissioner continued.

VIDOL Commissioner, Gary Molloy affirmed his support of the program launch and said, The Training and Support Partnership that DHS and VIDOL have forged with the community will help the territory enormously to pivot into Workforce Strategies. The strategy is to connect individuals to services they need while helping them to focus on work readiness. As VIDOL continues to work with employers and youth providers in the Virgin Islands, we have learned that all first jobs are not created equal: different soft skills and abilities are necessary for success in different jobs based on the complexity of the tasks and the expectations associated with each job. To serve youth across a spectrum of experience levels, local program providers must create and source a wide variety of work experiences for youth, ranging from career exploration to classroom-like experiences to jobs that look more like traditional internships or the “gig” economy in the private sector. Therefore, navigating this new world of work requires the Departments to focus more on collaborating and directly engaging clients to assess, and then address the gaps met when we see the resources needed to address each client, as a whole individual, not solely their employment needs.”

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OTHER TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH ARE AVAILABLE AT VIDOL

Youth between the ages of 14 to 25 are invited to register for employment programs offered by the Youth and Apprenticeship Division there are approximately six hundred (600) available slots. Applications are available online and can be submitted electronically through the department’s website at www.vidol.gov (under the forms tab). They can also be picked up at any of the Department of Labor office locations on both islands. St. John residents may pick up registration forms at St. John Administrator’s Office. This summer, priority will be applied to individuals who submit complete applications accompanied with supporting documents, and: a) have not previously received a work experience; b) are high School Juniors and Seniors; c) are ‘Out-of-School/Unemployed & Dislocated Youth. If you have any questions regarding this information please email the territorial VIDOL contact (?)Kevin.Dixon@dol.vi.gov or contact our offices on St. Croix at (340) 773-1994 ext. 2144 or St. Thomas at (340) 776-3700 ext. 2030/2044. For general information, please visit the Department of Human Services website, www.dhs.gov.vi or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/usvidhs).

For more information on Covid19, the new strain of coronavirus, please visit the USVI Department of Health’s website, www.doh.vi.gov/coronavirus or text COVID19USVI to 888777. #COVID19USVI

The COVID-19 Vaccination Appointment Hotline is now open from 8:30 am until 3:00 pm Monday thru Friday. Operators are available in both English and Spanish. For additional information, including an updated eligibility list as well as vaccine information, call (340)777-8227 or visit VITEMA.Vi.Gov.

The Department of Human Services (VIDHS) exists to provide social services to members in our community with diverse needs. In times of national uncertainty and hardship we act as a safety-net and exist to inspire hope and empower change through non-judgmental, quality delivery of needed services and resources. Please visit the Department of Human Services website, www.dhs.gov.vi for more information.

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ViyaResidential and Business customers enjoy the fastest broadband network in the Virgin Islands.

Viya proves its position as the Virgin Islands’ leader in telecommunications by receiving the prestigious “Fastest Broadband Internet” award from Ookla, the global leader in fixed broadband testing.*

Ookla has the most comprehensive analytics on internet performance, and only grants these awards to top telecommunication providers worldwide. Viya’s out-performed the competition in thousands of tests taken by Virgin Islanders on the Ookla Speedtest® application from the Q2-Q3 2020 performance data tests. Remarkably, this award is for a period during the pandemic when having the most reliable high-speed internet connection was an absolute necessity.

“Achieving this award is a testament to the dedication of the Viya team that is committed to providing the best internet experience. The pandemic brought about major changes in the way we work, how we teach our children and how we entertain the entire family. We are proud of our achievement and we are grateful that our customers trust us to connect them to their varying interests. Creating value for our customers is synonymous with building connected communities; this is what we do every day,” stated Viya’s CEO, Geraldine Pitt.

Viya’s high-speed broadband is available to all customers including Lifeline, as Viya leads the way in connecting Lifeline customers.

Viya has invested millions of dollars to upgrade its mobile and broadband networks following Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. Today, the Viya network supports the residents and businesses of St John, St Croix, and St Thomas through more underground miles of fiber than any other network in the USVI.

Viya celebrates this crowning achievement, in addition to the recent advancement made in its entertainment platform with the launch of TV+, a 4K TV service with cloud based DVR, Video On-Demand (VOD) and all-inclusive multi-media, multi device experience along with “Wifi+” its mesh WiFi booster service delivered over Viya’s strongest and fastest connectivity network.

Viya’s support for small businesses continues to evolve with a recently launched value-add product that combines internet with free e-commerce websites. Small business is the foundation of the territory’s economy and as the largest provider of Broadband connectivity to this sector, Viya is making it easier to connect a more diverse customer base online.

“While Viya was the first provider in the USVI to ever receive the fastest network award, our work does not stop here. Our mission is to be the most trusted technology partner enhancing the lives of our customers and supporting business growth, our team is well placed to deliver,” Pitt concluded.

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About Viya: Viya is the largest telecommunications provider located in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), providing a full suite of telecommunications and entertainment services. Our family of services for both the business and residential markets include wireline and wireless voice service, fixed and mobile broadband plus cable television service offered over a hybrid fiber-coaxial wireline network and a newly deployed, state-of-the-art 4G LTE wireless network serving St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John.

Presented by Safety In Paradise, UVI Cell

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only impacted the way we see and experience the world but also the way we work and do business. This worldwide crisis has ignited a renewed interest and reinforced the value of keeping workers safe. Having a plan and establishing ways to care for and protect each other is of utmost importance, especially for the small businesses and organizations that provide services to the community. As such, there is no better way to start 2021 than setting safety and health goals for the work we do and the organizations we work for. These can be simple goals as part of the company plan or they can be building blocks for your occupational safety and health management system.

Setting safety and health goals may not immediately eliminate risks as it may not be entirely feasible to eliminate every risk from your business operations. What may be achievable is determining ways to mitigate hazard effects. Most importantly, goal setting is a way to create a risk-aware and safe culture across your organization. Creating and maintaining a safe and healthy work environment can be a real challenge these days since measures for protecting workers from the exposure and potential infection of Covid-19 depends on the type of work that is being performed as well as the exposure risk. Employers have been faced with challenges that require them to learn about hazard assessment, prevention control, and many other topics related to the occupational well-being of their workforce.

Having a robust occupational safety and health management system will not only help protect your workers, but it will ensure that you comply with the OSHA standards that apply to your type of business. It may also provide a plan to wisely invest resources, allocate and even save money. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for employees. OSHA’s role is to help ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and providing training, education, and assistance. In January, the U.S. Department of Labor announced adjustments to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) civil penalty amounts based on cost-of-living adjustments for 2021. OSHA’s maximum penalties for serious and other-than-serious violations increased from $13,494 to $13,653 per violation. The maximum penalty for willful or repeated violations increased from $134,937 to $136,532 per violation.

As we move forward in 2021, don’t let the absence of safety and health goals adversely impact your business. The Safety In Paradise program can help you set smart safety and health goals to protect your employees and business. You can request a consultation for your company and join us on March 5 on our seminar: SMART Safety and Health Goals.

Contact the Safety In Paradise team today!

To register for the FREE webinar visit: https://safety.uvi.edu/about/training.aspx

ST. CROIX—On Tuesday, February 9, 2021, Chairman Kenneth L. Gittens and members of the Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture, received updates in the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room on the territory’s economic status from the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority (VIEDA), Bureau of Economic Research (BER), and the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Wayne Biggs, Chief Executive Officer of the VIEDA, gave a status report on the Authority’s accomplishments and activities for Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021. The Authority implemented a voluntary telecommuting platform to remain accessible to the public, small businesses and stakeholders by conducting webinars, client-specific outreach activities and several surveys to provide assistance during the pandemic.

This fiscal year, the VIEDA plans to utilize existing economic development tools and marketing strategies to encourage high-net worth companies and individuals within the pharmaceutical, manufacturing, hospitality and financial service industries, as well as providing technical and financial resources to the small business community.

Commissioner Joseph Boschulte of the DOT testified virtually on their efforts to improve the local tourism industry. The USVI Travel Screening Portal, a crisis communications initiative, “Ensures the safety of the Territory’s residents, as well as that of incoming visitors, by eliminating or limiting the inflow of COVID-19-positive travelers,” said Boschulte. The portal is supported by a 24-hour, in-house customer service center, handling inquiries and concerns from passengers via phone or email. Managed by Marketplace Excellence, the public relations agency has processed over 168,000 travelers to date.

The Department’s plans also include overhauling its Tourism Ambassadors’ website to further connect Virgin Islanders at home and abroad. Digital campaigns and platforms including Pandora, Refinery29 and Condé Nast Traveler have been instrumental during the pandemic, “To keep prospective visitors engaged with the destination, while simultaneously educating the public about COVID-19 and the importance of complying with public health protocols,” said the Commissioner.

Donnie Dorsett, Senior Policy Analyst at the Bureau of Economic Research, presented historical and statistical data on the territory’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the Tourism and Employment sectors. “Historically, Tourism and the export of refined petroleum products contributed largely to the Territory’s GDP,” said Dorsett.

Approximately 51% of businesses were strongly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, 8% of small businesses may be at risk of closing permanently in 3-5 months, and 18% are at risk of closure in the next 6-12 months. The pandemic continues to impact the local travel and transportation, hotels, restaurants, retail, and tourist attractions. The Unemployment Rate has begun an uptick in both districts,” Dorsett added. In the first quarter of Fiscal year 2021, the average unemployment rate in the territory is 9%, with the following rate in each district:

• St. Thomas/St. John- 10.0%
• St. Croix- 7.9%

“We’ve had a very wholesome and productive dialogue as we all to do our part to continue driving our economy,” said Chairman Gittens. “This pandemic has created a number of opportunities for us as a territory to continue to thrive and diversify our product,” he concluded.

Committee members present during Tuesday’s hearing: Chairman Kenneth Gittens, Vice-Chair Milton Potter, Senators Dwayne DeGraff, Novelle Francis Jr., Donna Frett-Gregory, Javan James Sr., and Alma Francis Heyliger. Non-committee members present during the hearing:  Senators Franklin Johnson, Genevieve Whitaker, Kurt Vialet and Samuel Carriòn.

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