Malone promises to probe reported ‘airport child separation’ incident
Health & Social Development Minister Carvin Malone has promised to investigate a complaint regarding a woman that was allegedly separated from her infant child after being asked to leave the BVI to change employers recently.
The issue which was first raised by talk show host and government contractor Claude Skelton Cline, received widespread condemnation on various platforms, especially on Facebook.
In response to a Facebook post on Saturday, the Health Minister said, “[I] will certainly look into this report but I’m sure that there is much more to this than this. Just saying!! Why always jump to one side so quickly? Ok, Ok – don’t answer that.”
According to Skelton Cline, he received a call to aid a woman who had to leave the country and return because she had to get her work permit transferred to a new employer.
The outspoken talk show host condemned the Immigration policy that led to the alleged separation, arguing that it needed to be suspended. He further suggested that BVIslanders needed to treat expatriates better.
As some commentators levelled criticism at the Immigration policy underpinning the alleged incident, others suggested that there must be some justification for the circumstances surrounding the matter.
The incident comes in the wake of Labour & Immigration Minister, Vincent Wheatly’s disclosure that government will be mulling a quota on the number of nationalities that will be permitted into the BVI at any given time.
Wheatley said these decisions must be considered since persons are flocking to the BVI, which is considered an attractive jurisdiction to work, live, visit, and invest.
Last year, former Governor Augustus Jaspert said a general revision of the Immigration & Passport Act (Cap 130) will be conducted to bring the legislation in line with international best practices.
This measure is also expected to assist with ensuring that the Act is in keeping with the transformation plan in store for the Immigration department.
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The investigation will openly reveal the racist and xenophobic tendencies of our immigration officers. That won’t be good for tourism.
Why don’t you wait to find out what happened before jumping to conclusions?
For an island that boasts of being Christian this has been the most unchristian dehumanising trump-like behaviour. May the pain of that mother be visited on all who make these decisions and those who carry them out and on their offspring. God is not deceived. Repent of your sins you have committed against the strangers and aliens living among you BVI.
Waste ah time
That’s what they always say
ayo will wait fo dah
Please get to the bottom of this. I just want to understand why a 6 month old baby was separated from his/her mother at the airport.
The bvi is getting like the US under Trump.
When??? After he return from his beach officer??? Just from hid reply alone, we know he’s not gonna do $h!+
Do we usually go through Immigration when you are departing? How did they know her reason for leaving? Who told her she couldn’t leave with the baby?
It wasn’t immigration; it was the gate agent for the airline who wouldn’t allow her to take the baby on the plane without the proper identification (i.e. birth certificate). They were following proper procedure, and it applies to everyone, no matter who they are or why they are leaving.
Why don’t you probe the situation with the Filipino lady who allegedly died from covid. We are yet to get the truth surrounding that. Also tell us why you made it seem like the lady did not come forward seeking assistance when you made the Assembly aware of the death? Bring that information first.
There is nothing to be investigated. The woman didn’t have the proper paperwork to take the baby out of the territory (i.e. birth certificate) and officials followed procedure to keep the child safe. It’s unfortunate that the woman still had to catch her flight because she was require to leave, but parental kidnapping happens all too often. She should have known this and gotten the paperwork ahead of time, or at least arranged for child care.
Now THAT makes sense!!
@ Service and Secret bear
This is not the case.
The child is a 6 month old baby who was born right here in the BVI to Filipino parents. Her mother was changing jobs and was asked to leave the island even though immigration fully well knew she had a infant baby and all attempts were made for her not to have to leave. As is customary she was issued a temporary BVI travel document from the BVI Passport office of which she paid $ 100.00. Dominica accepts these documents all the time or the BVI passport office would never issue one for her. When she got to the airport, after checking in, the airline called Dominica immigration to make sure that the document would be accepted and surprisingly they said no as they said they would only accept that document if one of the parents were from Dominica. The mother had to make a frantic and heart breaking last minute decision then and there to separate from her infant child and leave him with her husband. Then to add to her frustration she was only going to travel for 3 days but Dominica decided that she must quarantine at the hotel for 7 days (Money-demic) and so she ended up staying 10 days as the next available flight was not until then.
Why during these covid times we are asking people to leave the island for change of work permits?
Why could an exception not be made for a mother with a 6 month old baby?
Why could she not just pay a fee to remain here? This went straight to the top and no results. How can we trust Carvin to investigate anything when he is yet to reveal the findings of the young lady who died due to Covid?
I would not hold my breath.
If this is true, it sounds like having to leave the baby is Dominica’s fault, not the BVI. Yes, you can argue that she shouldn’t have had to leave to begin with. But it’s nonsense that the BVI is somehow guilty of “separating mother and child.”
@Secret bear
She would not have been in that position in the first place had the Immigration not asked her to leave during a PANDEMIC.
He ain’t going to do anything .
Instead of exiting the Territory, why can’t we just turn the situation into a government revenue generator and ask those changing employers (below 5 years) to pay a corresponding fee proportionate to their new job/salary/work permit fee.
“Persons are flocking to the BVI”. I would love to know where he gets his information from. The population of the BVI has decreased considerably over the last 2 years.
Exactly, such BS! The population decreased since Irma and continues..
It is just me or did anyone else notice Wheatley’s statement?
,,,,,,,Wheatley said these decisions must be considered since persons are flocking to the BVI, which is considered an attractive jurisdiction to work, live, visit, and invest………..
Really, Mr. Wheatley where are these FLOCKS of persons. And REALLY how is it considered an attractive jurisdiction…. we are plagued by guns, crime, no jobs, toxic air, no schools, sewer in the street, only part-time water supply, no enforcement of laws, invest for 20 years and have to leave, on and on and on. Just stop with the ridiculous statements that we all know if not facts.
Exactly, such BS! The population decreased since Irma and continues..
For an island that boasts of being Christian this has been the most unchristian dehumanising trump-like behaviour. May the pain of that mother be visited on all who make these decisions and those who carry them out and on their offspring. God is not deceived. Repent of your sins you have committed against the strangers and aliens living among you BVI.
YES AND THE TRUTH SHOULD BE TOLD AND THOSE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE SHOULD CHARGED WITH HER DEATH, BUT WE WON’T HOLD OUR BREATH ( PRETENDERS ON THE LOOSE
Thats should be investigated as a criminal offence,, and the heartless, Wicked people respinsible need to go to jail..
This will be like a witch hunt , jus all talks
Do the best you can Mr. Minister,, This act is Criminal, just dont talk, But until Fay and Vincent go things wont get better…
i experience something like this they try to take my children and send me home but Irma didnt allow them social and all the conspiring lawyers he has on his side even family support writing fake report against me ! the judge realized what was going on and then he decide not to continue so court still dismissed because of irma and they forced me to leave.