Joint task force! 34 Customs, Immigration workers sworn in as auxiliary officers
Some 34 Customs and Immigration Officers have been sworn in as auxiliary officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), creating a joint task force between the three law enforcement entities.
An RVIPF-commissioned media release indicated that the deployment, which was done on Friday, April 17, will be temporary.
“This new joint task force was developed to maintain the security and integrity of our borders within the territory, and to provide effective enforcement of curfew requirements whilst giving visible reassurance to our communities,” the release said.
Commissioner of Police, Michael Matthews, said the threat brought on by the Novel Coronavirus Disease meant soliciting all available human resources including assistance from private citizens to increase the RVIPF’s capacity and capability.
“I am exceptionally grateful to my colleagues and their staff for the provision of this assistance in boosting our response at this challenging time for all of us,” the commissioner said.
In the meantime, the RVIPF further said in the release that the safety of residents of the territory is ‘paramount’ and in the weeks ahead, the curfew will be ‘strictly enforced’.
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Awesome.
I really don’t understand this Commissioner Mathews! Where is the social distancing? Where are the face masks? Were all these people tested for COVID-19 and cleared for work, before this meeting?
YOU are supposed to be setting the example for the people of the BVI and these “officers” will be out in public, moving among the people, yet they are breathing all over one another.
Keep telling y’all the Elmer glue ain’t sticking.
A mockery.
I am willing to bet that there were more than 20 in that room
Royal Marines from the Navy ship and we might get some semblance of law and order round here.
Always wearing hats… we all love to feel cool and peacock. At what point does it become silly?
hehe we are all grown up children some things never change.
Nonsense
Some people need glasses ,can’t u c social distance , why waist the test . Think for a minute, say something if necessary, to improve not to criticize
This is a good move. The police still busted after Irma. They need help. Please people, let’s support these guys! We all need to pull together now. We will get through this, but each of us has to think about the at risk people in this community. We all have older friends/family, people with respiratory problems, diabetes. We can not have small thinking kill all these people. Police need help reminding people to stay home. Don’t forget – these are the GOOD GUYS!
This task force was needed 20 years ago.
Dear Government Officials,
I am currently in California where masks and gloves are saving lives.
Your evening curfew is essential and so are your initial stay at home orders. I believe that essential services need to be accessed normally and all employees returning to work need to be tested or be given a nurses slip on a regular basis to work with each other and with the public.
That nurse with her forms recording temperatures if any and physical symptoms can routinely visit all businesses who apply to reopen. The public eventually need to register for the same quick check and registration. Those who display symptoms will given a voucher for testing free of charge. Visitors to the islands must also be tested in the first 24 hours to the island.
Prevention systems are easy to maintain on an island. It is impossible to prevent infection without protocols in place, unless you keep people confined for months.
Serious fines or imprisonments need to serve as warnings to those who do not respect the protocols.
You have an advantage of being on an island in that all cases would be discovered in short time.
I agree , businesses must open with common sense safety health procedures. This virus will be here for at least the rest of the year. Remove the lockdown and require masks and gloves.
You cannot hide in lockdown forever. Virgin Islanders should have a hotline to call in anyone not practicing safe distancing.
St. Thomas has more cases but not enough to keep every caged in their homes. They are open. Officials should coordinate with the other islands and share what works for each island.
Investigation of spreading can be done with curfews, protection and health infections. Eventually you may have 20 or 30 families in lockdown but not for everyone for each case discovered.
We can do it!