GOVERNMENT FURTHER TIGHTENS SEA BORDERS
Written by Fuze Team on August 24, 2020
Officers of Customs continue to further intensify the protection of the sea borders of the British Virgin Islands amidst the ongoing battle against the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Officers of the Immigration Department have also teamed up with Customs Officers under the theme: “BVILOVE: Partnering and Protecting our Sea Borders in The New Regular.”
The joint team is utilising locally available resources to establish strategic platforms in the Territorial waters from which officers will be able to monitor vessels at sea and to rapidly deploy patrol vessels to intercept them, if necessary, on a 24-hour basis.
The initiative is being driven by newly-appointed Acting Commissioner of Customs, Wade Smith in collaboration with Acting Chief Immigration Officer, Ian Penn with the full support of the subject Ministers and the entire Government of the Virgin Islands.
According to Commissioner Smith, “our sea borders must be further strengthened to prevent illegal entry of persons generally, and more specifically during this period of COVID-19, where there must be screening and monitoring of persons and other precautionary measures to prevent the importation and spread of the virus.”
Smith added that it is customary that where it is necessary to procure equipment or services from the private sector, Customs does this from time to time. In this instance, the radar equipment and the vessels for this exercise are in the Territory, and they needed to move promptly to further tighten the sea borders.
Meanwhile Premier and Minister of Finance Fahie visited Customs and Immigration officers early Sunday morning, 23 August, ahead of the mission to thank them for their dedication to duty.
He also expressed thanks on behalf of the Minister for Immigration.
The Minister of Finance explained that officers of Customs and Immigration will be working from these marine platforms in shifts so that there will be a more intense 24-hour surveillance of the sea borders.
The platforms will also be a launching point for patrol and interceptor vessels, which will be able to quickly intercept any suspicious vessels in the Territorial waters.
