Government House says USVI is pursuing CARICOM ties and visa waiver plan

Government House said on March 5, 2024, that the U.S. Virgin Islands was beginning discussions to work more closely with the Caribbean Community, or CARICOM, and was developing a visa waiver program aimed at addressing labor shortages in the territory.

Communications Director Richard Motta announced the initiatives during the weekly Government House briefing while summarizing meetings Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. attended in Washington.

Motta said Bryan took part in the annual meeting of the Interior Department’s Interagency Group on Insular Areas and the winter meeting of the National Governors Association. He also said the governor met with State Department officials to advance plans for a special visa waiver program to help meet recovery-related workforce demands.

According to Government House, discussions on a CARICOM relationship were in the early stages, with the Office of the Governor organizing policies, procedures and protocols for the partnership.

During the briefing, Motta also offered condolences on behalf of Bryan to the family, friends and listeners of St. Croix businessman and radio host Hugh “Mr. P.” Pemberton, whose death Government House said occurred on March 2, 2024.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/gvi-to-foster-caricom-partnership-new-visa-waiver-program/