Internship Leads to Full-Time Employment
The Department of Labour and Workforce Development is marking another success after a former intern, Rafael Del Rosario, moved from placement to full-time employment at Harneys Fiduciary following completion of the Department's Standard Workforce Readiness Training Programme in 2025. Both the Government of the Virgin Islands and local outlet Guavaberry report that the case underlines the value of targeted training, on-the-job experience and ongoing private-sector support that will continue into 2026.
The Department of Labour and Workforce Development is celebrating another successful outcome from its Internship and Professional Development Programme after a former intern transitioned into full-time employment. According to the Government of the Virgin Islands, Mr. Rafael Del Rosario completed the Department’s Standard Workforce Readiness Training Programme and was placed with law firm Harneys Fiduciary in 2025 as part of the Department’s structured internship scheme.
After demonstrating strong performance and professional growth during his placement, Mr. Del Rosario was initially offered a part-time role and has now been retained as a full-time employee of the firm, the Government statement said. Guavaberry also reported on the case, describing it as another internship-to-employment success and noting that the outcome reflects the Department’s workforce development framework designed to prepare Virgin Islanders and Belongers with the skills, discipline and workplace readiness employers seek.
The Department’s programme combines classroom-based Standard Workforce Readiness training with real-world placements. Officials say this mix is intended to bridge the gap between job-seeker qualifications and employer expectations, giving participants both the technical and professional competencies needed to perform at a level that encourages firms to convert internships into longer-term roles.
For residents, the Department points to two practical routes into permanent work: targeted skills training followed by on-the-job experience. The Department and local media reports emphasise that these structured placements can increase a candidate’s chance of being offered paid work after the internship period.
Both the Government and Guavaberry confirmed that private-sector partners have pledged continued support for the Internship and Professional Development Programme in 2026. That commitment from local firms, the Department said, will allow more participants to benefit from hands-on work placements and clearer pathways to career-building roles across professional services and other sectors of the BVI economy.
Officials stress that employer partnerships remain central to the Department’s strategy for building a stronger, more resilient local workforce. Sustained collaboration between government, training providers and private employers, they say, is necessary to create meaningful job placements that lead to long-term employment for residents.
Residents interested in upcoming training programmes or internship opportunities are encouraged to contact the Department at labour@gov.vg or call 284-468-4780. For general government services and appointments, the Government of the Virgin Islands can be reached at 1(284)468-3701 or via WhatsApp at 1(284)468-9760.
The Department says it will continue to promote training, employer partnerships and targeted placements to help Virgin Islanders and Belongers secure stable employment in the territory, a message reiterated in both the Government release and local reporting by Guavaberry.
Primary source: BVI Government