At a time when the territory urgently needs its tourism industry to recover quickly from the pandemic, we have been distressed to hear repeated horror stories about travellers’ arrival experience …
January 18, 2023
October 10, 2022
EDITORIAL: Government is dropping the ball amid a migration crisis
At a time when illegal migration is on the rise across the region, we are growing increasingly concerned by the Virgin Islands government’s spectacular failure to properly address the issue …
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May 26, 2022
Another migrant flees detention at Castle Maria
Immigration officials are asking the public to help locate Haiti national Elena Milford, who they say escaped from detention at Hotel Castle Maria last week and remains at large. “The …
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April 29, 2022
Joint Task Force nabs 15 migrants on Anegada
Joint Task Force officers on Sunday apprehended 15 migrants after responding to reports of an abandoned vessel on Anegada, barely a month after detaining 23 migrants during a similar operation …
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January 7, 2022
Immigration department seeks info on 11 men
Chief Immigration Officer Ian Penn is seeking information on ten Haitians and one Venezuelan, according to a Dec. 29 press release from government. “The matter was immediately reported to the …
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October 11, 2021
EDITORIAL: Belongership system urgently needs reform
For decades, the government’s system for awarding belongership has been broken. It is inconsistent and unfair, and it lacks transparency. Thus, much of the information about the topic aired recently …
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September 24, 2021
Two arrested in Virgin Gorda immigration crackdown
During a Sept. 12 operation on Virgin Gorda targeting people suspected of being in the territory illegally, Joint Task Force officers issued three summonses for immigration-related offences and police arrested …
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September 3, 2021
Crackdown coming on illegal entry
Covid-19 continues to plague communities around the world, which government leaders said last week was a main motivator for passing harsher border-control legislation that could lead to a 10-year prison …
July 21, 2021
Work permit system goes online
A new electronic work permit system has arrived just as the Covid-19 pandemic has led to more and more business being conducted remotely. Premier Andrew Fahie, during a virtual rollout …
January 8, 2021
Wheatley: Dominican Republic man escaped Virgin Islands after breaking quarantine
Virgin Islands authorities are currently tracking a Dominican Republic man who broke his quarantine after being refused entry into the territory on Dec. 20 — and who has since escaped …
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September 17, 2020
Two Venezuelans arrested in raid
Early in the morning of Sept. 6, officers with the recently formed Joint Task Force searched the Betteto Frett building in Wickhams Cay, where they arrested two Venezuelans who had …
August 16, 2019
Amended belongership law passes
The House of Assembly passed the Immigration and Passport (Amendment) (No.2) Act, 2019 on Aug. 1 after it was considered clause by clause through a committee of the whole House. …
June 12, 2019
Wheatley promises environmental law
Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration Minister Vincent Wheatley spoke at length at the House of Assembly on Monday on the importance of sustainable development both as it applies to environmental …
April 17, 2019
July 9, 2018
COMMENTARY — Passport Office staff draws praise
I am writing in response to Donald de Castro’s letter of last week, “Passport statement draws questions.” In June/July 2017, I needed to renew both my United Kingdom passport and …
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