First phase of BVI’s new border management system to be installed in weeks
The first phase of the territory’s modern Border Management System is expected to be installed in the coming weeks, Immigration Minister Vincent Wheatley has said.
Wheatley, who was delivering remarks during a February 25 sitting of the House of Assembly said the Border Management System will be installed in three phases.
“It is hoped that the first phase will be rolled out by the end of April at all the seaports,” Wheatley stated.
The Minister further said details on phases two and three “will be forthcoming as soon as they are in progress”.
More about the new system
Wheatley informed the House that the new system aims to ensure efficiency for travellers while simultaneously maintaining a high level of security for the British Virgin Islands.
He said Canadian Bank Note — the team who will be developing the system — has since met with various local stakeholders who will utilize the system.
Some of the stakeholders include Her Majesty’s Customs, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, the Civil Registry & Passport Office and the Department of Information Technology.
$6.4M system
Back in June last year, Minister Wheatley had told the House of Assembly that his Government would be spending some $6.4 million to purchase a new state-of-the-art Immigration border management system to improve border security in the territory.
And in a subsequent statement around the same time, Wheatley said: “Though we are unable to give full details to the public, for obvious security reasons, we can see the introduction and reintroduction, in some cases, of passport scanning upon entry at all ports, e-visas, and proper people tracking.”
Wheatley had also stated that the new system was expected to be fully functional by June this year.
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Good !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can do it for less.
Does this mean we don’t have to fill out so many duplicate forms we we arrive?
By the way what happened to all of those forms that we were forced to filled out over the part 30 years? Are they accessible in any way or was the form just an inconvenience?
Ok. The Hon Vincent Wheatley, R9, MNRLI, teased the HOA, the people’s house, that VI taxpayers committed to spend $6.4M on a border management programme but provided little information. And the reason for the scarcity of info was security concerns. Interesting! No doubt customs, police…..etc mode of operations should and must be protected. Nonetheless, security aside, much more into should have been provided. Don’t slaughter the people’s right to know on the altar of minimal security concerns, By the way, is this procurement a done deal? Will the HOA be debating and voting on this procurement? Was the NDP not criticized for spending $7.2M on a bruk airline, BVI Airways, with little input from the full HOA? Spending $M of dollars should not be a one man decision or cabinet decision. The HOA must be involved. Some may argue that the Cabinet has legislators but the opposition and back benchers are not in Cabinet, I think.
True, the VI has an extensive open border and needs more effective management to protect the territorial sea (3-12 nmi) and exclusive economic zone against fraud, trafficking and criminal activities. It also needs more efficacy in managing legit/illegitimate immigration, trade and commerce. The application programme may help in more effective managing of the border. Keep the people informed.
Now to address the over population.
Big brother coming to an island near you.