Gov’t exploring Bermuda’s model for a local coast guard — Premier
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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I predict consultants will be hired and tenders will be waived.
That’s all. Point blank.
Just maybe Claude be available? He the expert on everything
More wasted money on boats that will be broken/out of commission for months on end.
We have a coast guard… The boats just say CUSTOMS on the side. Stop wasting money. Make what we already have effective.
Big( ). He is such a poppy show. When is election?
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.
Good idea premier keep moving forward
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.
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.
They kno and is part of the drug man them clique we all kno that
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.
as if enough illegal things ain’t done traveling the sea under you. hmm
ask her a west end
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
Bermuda is 750 miles away from the nearest land mass what in h**l do our coastal protection policies have in common!
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.
This area comes under the Governor
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
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….
What is the Marine Police / Marine Customs if not the BVI version of Coast Guard
@Bermi, For your information Bermuda is located about 600 miles due east of the nearest mainland and
900 miles north of the Caribbean.
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?.
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
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 ???