BVI News

Gov’t exploring Bermuda’s model for a local coast guard — Premier

Premier Andrew Fahie. (GIS photo)

The government is considering to adopt ‘Bermuda’s model’ of maritime security which would see the BVI having its very own coast guard.

Premier Andrew Fahie gave that indication at a recent press conference.

“That is a future project that we are looking at. I’ve written to the governor so that he can start to help us get the ball rolling along those lines and will continue to push in that area,” the Premier stated.

At the time, he noted that the issue of territorial security and illegal immigration was a keen topic of discussion between the British Overseas Territories at a recent Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) hosted in Glasgow in the United Kingdom.

According to Premier Fahie, illegal immigration is of particular concern to the Turks and Caicos Islands which is small in stature compared to neighbouring Haiti, from where an abundance of illegal immigrants have entered the overseas territory.

“It’s something that the whole Caribbean is experiencing more and more, so it’s going to take a unified front to deal with it. Hence why also that I call for the introduction of a coast guard team — that I’ll be following up with — that has met. I would say [we’ve received] tacit approval from the governor and together he and I will be working towards how we can bring this into fruition so that we can even have an extra layer of our people in the Virgin Islands serving in their own coast guard,” the Premier said.

In his remarks during the press conference, Premier Fahie also spoke of some of the challenges and successes experienced by the security forces in keeping the territory safe.

“This year, there have been a number of successes in foiling major drug runs as well as addressing compromised officers who have hurt the police’s integrity and hampered the force’s ability to fully function,” Premier Fahie said.

Premier Fahie also said his government will continue to support the territory’s Joint Task Force which includes Her Majesty‘s Customs, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and the Immigration Department.

During the JMC, the Premier said he reiterated his government’s commitment to the National Security Council and pride in setting up the Joint Task Force that was formed in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to protect the territory’s sea borders.

“I believe that an integrated approach to national security is the best way to address the Virgin Islands security challenges,” Premier Fahie noted.

“We know that security itself under the constitution is one of the governor’s responsibilities but you still have the National Security Council there to help advise, so we still have our role to play. But at the end of the day, security is everyone’s business,” the Premier stated.

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24 Comments

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  1. BS! says:

    I predict consultants will be hired and tenders will be waived.

    Like 41
    Dislike 1
  2. Captain BVI says:

    More wasted money on boats that will be broken/out of commission for months on end.

    Like 30
    Dislike 1
  3. WTF says:

    We have a coast guard… The boats just say CUSTOMS on the side. Stop wasting money. Make what we already have effective.

    Like 58
    Dislike 2
  4. 1st District says:

    Big( ). He is such a poppy show. When is election?

    Like 26
    Dislike 2
  5. Hmmm. says:

    The guy for real? It’s a good idea but the way the BVI waste money we’ll never get value for money. We can’t even keep up with the upkeep of the current boats. lol lol. Talking season soon here. Time to send this man back to the opposition.

    Like 27
    Dislike 1
  6. Voters says:

    Good idea premier keep moving forward

    Like 3
    Dislike 32
  7. Please and thanks says:

    Please just leave the BVI in that boat to parts unknown and don’t ever come back. Keep all that you done have and disappear for xmas for us.

    Like 18
    Dislike 3
  8. Public Disclosure says:

    Andrew you have made it quite clear,you are not in favor if effective patrolling of our s homes bd our oceans. You made it clear by your unapologetic bold actions when you rejected costfree UK offer of staff and equipment, radar etc for patrolling our waters in favor of a local barge at a cost of millions from our treasury.
    Andrew Andrew it is thoroughlydocumented and the COI interview,private and off camera confirms and reiterates this astounding truth. It is painful and embarrassing to the peoples when you treat us like idiots. Give up the pretense and foolery. This is not a game. it’s the future of the VI and its people. Your compulsion to consistently expulse makebelieve is evident to all,locally and nationally.

    Like 19
    Dislike 1
  9. Secure says:

    The US and Royal Navy along with the US Coast Guard are all actively monitoring the US and BVI waters and airspace 24/7 so why waste money for a BVI coast guard.

    Like 15
  10. strupez says:

    as if enough illegal things ain’t done traveling the sea under you. hmm

    ask her a west end

    Like 9
    Dislike 1
  11. What? says:

    If we allow Fahie to set up his own Airport Police (as he tried last year) and his own Coast Guard, we will have no problem with immigration because the place will be riddled with crime and no one will want to come here

    Like 18
    Dislike 1
  12. Bermi says:

    Bermuda is 750 miles away from the nearest land mass what in h**l do our coastal protection policies have in common!

    Like 18
  13. Common sense says:

    I am sure the Royal Navy would be delighted to assist with such a project, but, of course, like every other failed venture the Premier will want it staffed by locals who have no idea or training on the subject. Likewise, we could contract with the US Coast Guard to extend their services to include the BVI, after all, most arrests here involve them anyway.

  14. lol says:

    This area comes under the Governor

    Like 10
    Dislike 1
  15. Exploring says:

    1. Bermuda is at least 700 odd miles away from anywhere out of helicopter / few light planes
    2. Has a uninterrupted 360° radar view of any vessels or planes approaching.
    3. The whole island is protected by both external and internal reef
    System which makes attempting any nighttime or indeed daytime landing away from the main very narrow channels almost suicidal.
    4. A rout to nowhere for illegal immigration so no people trafficking.
    5. Drugs are in the main imported through docks and cruise ships for the islands use.

    But very nice for a pointless Government free bee vacation

  16. Cruising boats? says:

    Great! One more way to chase away cruising sailboats. The customs guys will turn this into a goat rodeo.
    The sailboats are just starting to comeback. Why put up more barriers? The only illegal immigrants are DR strippers and prostitutes, and they make everyone happy….

    Like 7
    Dislike 1
  17. Marine Police says:

    What is the Marine Police / Marine Customs if not the BVI version of Coast Guard

  18. PT09 says:

    @Bermi, For your information Bermuda is located about 600 miles due east of the nearest mainland and
    900 miles north of the Caribbean.

  19. SMH says:

    Is this man for real. You’re going to model something that has no similarity to the BVI. BVI has 60 Islands. Wide and varied. You have marine police and customs and you can’t even maintain those boats but you instead paid a barge to stop the speed boats. Putting rat to mind cheese. Can’t stop human trafficking, guns and drugs. Go grow a brain?.

  20. Sailor says:

    Great move but your start us to find ppl that are willing to be train in paramilitary as coast guardand where will this training come from British or USA but for starters Jamacia has a fantastic training base suited for the Caribbean and can give information on ideal boats from day petrol to off shore two to five day petrol and can’t train personnel from captains coxwain plus engineering
    And your legal advice first is to make law on the amount of speed a boat can have to be registered in the island just like the scooters as to not to exceed the speed if what vessel vessel you planning to get

  21. @ VOTERS says:

    SO WHAT THE BRITISH OFFERD FOR FREE WASN’T GOOD ENOUGH ? ? THE POLICE COULD HAVE BEEN TRAINED / AT LEAST 2 PATROL BOATS COULD HAVE BEEN BOUGHT AND OWNED BY THE BVI / BUT THE BARGES WAS A BETTER DEAL ? AND WIGO AND SKELO HAVI FUN IN
    THE SU WITH TAXPAYERS MONEY ???

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