BVI News

Immigration detainees escape custody again

A section of the main island of Tortola. (BVI News Photo)

Another set of Immigration detainees have escaped custody, BVI News has been informed.

Information to our news centre is that the escapees are two Haitian men.

They were reportedly being held at Hotel Castle Maria on Tortola and were being guarded by a well-known security company contracted by the government.

BVI News understands that the detainees were able to escape custody by removing the air conditioning unit attached to their room and climbing through the gap.

The police were summoned and a manhunt is said to be underway. The incident is said to have happened before daybreak this morning.

This is at least the second time within the last month that Haitian detainees have escaped the custody of Immigration while being held at a quarantine facility.

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46 Comments

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  1. hmmmm says:

    Obviously Immigration needs to stop using Castel Maria and house these people at the Police Station until its time for them to return

    Like 52
    Dislike 1
    • To hmmmm says:

      That’s the thinking of someone with common sense. Apparently, the big heads in immigration have a different way of thinking.

    • hmm says:

      The security firm should be looked into especially the close ties with the Chief. Imagine we have to feed these persons 3 meals a day and up to now the Chief havent put out a bulletin or photo of the last person that escaped. and now 2 others, when are we going to have these photos to see who is among us. The immigration department really gone to the dogs since the new change. Mr. Penn hurry up retired, you aint serving no good justice there!

      • SMARTY says:

        exactly so ,very correct no photo no ID who to look for

      • Really? says:

        Sounds like an Immigration Employee. To be specific, this sounds like the Immigration employee who is on rotation to the Court. “The fox and the grapes mentality. Hurry and retired or retire? Not deputy material with that grammar.

    • BuzzBvi says:

      How would Leonard and others, then make loads of money. Yellow people got to eat. Although why would they get paid if they are not performing to their contract? People keep escaping!! WE paying a security company??? Are we idiots…..

    • SMARTY says:

      hotels are for guest / tourist , lol lol, lol , do you expect anything different , and you have to pay for the hotel room for them on tax payers pay slip while i cant even get a pay increase for more than 10 years, stop that foolishness , use money wisely

  2. BVI incompetence says:

    Does not fail to surprise me…how many times should this happen before someone fixes?

    Like 22
  3. hiphop says:

    Why do I get the feeling money is passing, all these people are escaping, and no one is getting into trouble, this makes no sense!

    Like 29
    Dislike 1
    • I second says:

      Check the Chief and see how much money already spent. Madness, Hon. Wheatley that change you made in Immigration is not paying off. Aluviscious say pompom rule but it definitely leads to destruction. Fix that Department cause it out of control, the ports, admin and now these detainees.

      Like 3
      Dislike 1
      • Sounds like a Rose says:

        Stop worrying about Immigration and focus on your rotation. The best move was to rotate you. You forgot you stop a boat load of BVIslanders from coming home. Girl go have two seats.

  4. SMH says:

    Change the Security Firm, apparently their employees are not forthcoming and reliable.

    Like 21
  5. wow says:

    24/7 and this is the results? Somebody needs firing

    Like 18
    Dislike 1
  6. is there a money racket running? says:

    Whatever happened to the detention center at balsum’s ghut???

    Like 24
  7. Jokes says:

    The employees of the security firm are loyal to the US dollar and not this country, so what do we expect.

    Like 15
    Dislike 1
  8. ghut? says:

    Why aine they housed up balsam?

    • AReminder says:

      Balsam is beyond holding capacity. Completely filled with at least 99.9 % of those and or their children who allegedly came to “build us up” their way and for their comfort with the assist of those we elected. Thousands have been granted that privilege this year alone by the current elected. The reason can only be for votes.
      No positive benefit for these Islands to date in all these years but rather a stripping away of what once made the VI a desirable place to live and to invest. A copy of home away from home for the marauders.

      Like 4
      Dislike 5
    • Because says:

      The specifically constructed holding facility (build under Mr. Frett, blessed memory) at Her Majesty’s pleasure was repurposed for holding females.

  9. See Stuff says:

    Not only is anyone not held responsible. The escaped detainees are not all located. No wanted photos.No public follow up and reminders.

    Very troubling doubts and concern surrounding our safety with known murderes hiding in plain sight and escaped and detainees of unknown background mixing and mingling in this miniscule population with the eyes of officials, their kindreds, wide shut. How did the VI sink so low and become unrecognizable?

    Like 17
  10. WEW says:

    Nice work guys. Again

  11. Resident says:

    somebody paying off somebody

    Like 15
    Dislike 1
  12. Earl says:

    Didn’t escape,, paid a release fee !

  13. Jim says:

    I saw them
    Running the streets

  14. welsaw says:

    How these people does get away . No security .

  15. come on says:

    is this really making headline?? it have countless Jamaican and vincentians in the east end area alone that are here illegally and two Haitians making headlines. any day you stop in the east end area to have a simple conversation you would hear them saying that one here seven months without time that one here two yrs without time that one here nine yrs without time.several women from Jamaica and st Vincent that came to this island and from the time they pass through immigration at beef island Airport immigration never see them again or pretending that they never see them and all of them working night and day. so why is it that two Haitians making headline news.. go look for the Vincentians and Jamaicans that are here illegally. and please don’t start otherwise I’ll put up names.

    Like 10
    Dislike 2
  16. What!!!! says:

    Obviously gov needs to fire the security firm, which they won’t do if it is owned by one of their members or friends..

  17. Scared says:

    Why is the Governor still using Castle Maria as a holding cell. The security company is at fault for lack of attention.

  18. AReminder says:

    Balsam is beyond holding capacity. Completely filled with at least 99.9 % of those and or their children who allegedly came to “build us up” their way and for their comfort with the assist of those we elected. Thousands have been granted that privilege this year alone by the current elected. The reason can only be for votes.
    No positive benefit for these Islands to date in all these years but rather a stripping away of what once made the VI a desirable place to live and to invest. A copy of home away from home for the marauders.

    Like 1
    Dislike 5
    • John doe says:

      All you giving these people air condition room to be comfortable and meals three times a day while I am sleeping on the floor with nothing to eat

  19. Photo's Please says:

    Was it those two strange looking men in Bobby’s buying lunch today?

  20. rastarite says:

    Sending them back to Haiti would be a disaster for them. There should be some kind of due process and allow them to stay as refugees. Anegada is almost empty – start a farm there and allow them to resettle…

  21. hey says:

    The Chief wanted that particular security, i wonder why?

  22. haha says:

    No, that when you have junior managers running the department that’s what will happen.

  23. BuzzBvi says:

    Yellow man security perhaps. Want another contract? No problem.

  24. Resident says:

    Immigration gone to the dogs since the retirement of Mr Guy Hill and Mr.Walters on Tortola and and Mr.Stevens on Virgin Gorda. Its really sad. The minister should reshuffle the senior heads. They are not ready.

  25. buttah says:

    EMBARASSING!!!!!! AGAIN?!?

  26. John doe says:

    All you giving these people air condition room to be comfortable and meals three times a day while I am sleeping on the floor with nothing to eat

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