Walwyn Slams Trade Department Policy
Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has condemned a reported Department of Trade requirement that business owners hold degrees or specialised training to obtain certain trade licences, calling the move "ridiculous" and harmful to entrepreneurship. Business owners have also raised concerns about licensing delays and unclear requirements, while the Trade Department has yet to publish official details.
Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has criticised reports that the Department of Trade is demanding degrees or specialised training for business owners seeking certain trade licences, saying the policy will hinder small enterprises across the Virgin Islands. "Now we are hearing that the Trade Department wants people to have degrees or specialised training before getting a trade licence in certain fields.
That is ridiculous," Walwyn said at a recent press conference, arguing that formal qualifications should not be a barrier to entrepreneurship. "Not every entrepreneur has formal qualifications. What matters is their drive and their ability to hire the right people." Walwyn warned the reported requirement would make it harder for residents to start and operate small businesses, potentially undermining economic growth at a time when many local enterprises are already struggling.
He linked the issue to what he described as broader failures of economic leadership, saying small businesses are "fighting to survive, with little access to financing," and that government support has been limited to "a few token grants after being pressured by the opposition. That is reaction." Business owners across the territory have also expressed frustration in recent months over licensing delays and unclear application requirements.
BVI News has reported growing concerns about increased bureaucracy in the Department of Trade and said entrepreneurs find the application process increasingly burdensome since new guidelines were introduced. The Department of Trade has not yet published the full text of any new policy or clarified which licences would be affected.
Walwyn’s comments have intensified calls for the government to review the reported measures and to ensure that licensing rules do not discourage local entrepreneurship. For BVI residents, the stakes include the viability of small, often family-run businesses that support tourism, services and local employment.
Requiring formal qualifications could shift the burden onto prospective entrepreneurs who lack access to tertiary education or specialised courses, and could slow business formation at a time when economic stimulus and job creation are needed. Stakeholders and business groups are likely to press for clearer, more flexible approaches — such as competency-based assessments, apprenticeship recognition, grandfather clauses for established operators, and transparent transitional arrangements — while calling for a public consultation on any major licensing reform.
The government has an opportunity to clarify its position and engage directly with the business community. Until the Department of Trade releases an official policy, debate will continue over how best to balance public safety and standards with supporting entrepreneurship in the Virgin Islands.
Primary source: BVI News