No two-tiered justice! If police can stop me, they can search visitors
Premier and leader of government’s business, Andrew Fahie, has contended that there will be no two-tiered system of justice under his watch.
The Premier’s remarks came in response to complaints by yacht operators that their vessels were being searched by law enforcement officials, even as there were guests aboard.
The Premier explained that even he has not been exempt from searches conducted by law enforcement authorities.
According to the Premier, he was heading home one evening last year while police were conducting a stop and search, and officers failed to recognise his vehicle, so he too was stopped.
“If they stopped me, what is a yacht in the harbour to stop?” Premier Fahie said.
”We have to be able to come to grips that we have a wide-open water around us with 60 islands and islets and while we want persons to come into the BVI and feel welcome, we also have to police the waters to make sure that they are safe,” he added.
Premier Fahie said while he understood the concerns of yacht operators, there has to be a balance because law enforcement agencies have a very difficult job to do.
“If [law enforcement officials] feel suspicious activity is happening on the sea, and they search a yacht, really and truly you will have to find out what were the conditions under it,” the Premier said.
“Yes they are visitors, but they are not exempted from the law. If [officers] are doing random spot checks, that has to be respected because they do random spot checks for the locals when they are at sea,” he added.
The Premier argued that it is not impossible for visitors to engage in criminal activities and that no one knows where drugs and firearms are likely to be discovered.
“You just cannot create a two-tiered system when it comes to the law. So, I’ve heard [those complaints] from a few persons with that part but what I’m asking them, what do you want us to do?“ Premier Fahie question.
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Is this a race ting? That make sense, send dogs and guns to visitors but when fastboat run down the channels wave kindly to them..
Not race thing – its a drugs smuggling thing! High speed boats in the lockdown – no stopping.
Visitors can be criminals too. The persons complain don’t complain when visitors are searched in their hometowns.
while being a tourist. The implication that the people who are the lifeblood of our economy, with disposable income to fly here and charter boats, are complicit in our narcotics nightmare is ludicrous. Why is the government and its toadies so reluctant to stand up and protect the BVI from the narcotrade?
Because drug trade is the third pillar of the economy.
No but the residents do.
“Its not wha yo do, its how yo do it”
To the United Kingdom are you going to stand by and watch this clueless Andrew Fahie government destroy the British Virgin Islands? What you are doing is very wrong the tourist enters the BVI by air or sea they have to go through customs on arrival now you are harassing that same tourist who has already gone through customs, How long do you think these people will put up with this. Do you search the Cruise Ships or any of their passengers? You are destroying the out biggest part of the tourist.
Who gave them an exemption. Search for one and all. Some always feel them better than others. Yes, in dem Makazeema, yes!
The drug and firearm industry are operated and controlled by whites, Arabs and Chinese. They are the top bosses of the nefarious drug and firearm activities of the organized crime syndicate.
The Black man is but a low level, small fry in that activity yet, he is the only one, the only one, that is found in jails for such offenses. Wonder why?
Agreed 1oo%. Unlike the rest of the world, there must be no two tiered system in the BVI.
Sadly, many, many many are completely brainwashed into believing that certain people are saints and do no wrong, only Black people does. That is the furthest thing from either truth or reality.
Those are facts that are hidden from the world at the expense of the Black man.
Some don’t like to hear or read the truth, but the truth is the truth.
Your point is valid but irrelevant to the situation.
These are tourists who have already been through border control.
Their skin color is also irrelevant, we should be welcoming to visitors, they keep us alive.
To suggest that they have local knowledge and contacts in the criminal world here is ridiculous.
Think in reality
Who know, know, and who see, see. Prolonged observation uncovers much.
Pretty racist statements.
Who is running the drugs and guns in the BVI? Local belongers in cohort with local authorities, including police. We have proof of that.
To act like government goons and harass the very lifeblood of the economy will further drive away tourists. We will never get them back if we keep this up.
That statement says so much about your picture of black
people. Come out of your own trap.
Comprehension, comprehension comprehension.
So some of you are only concern when it is only a certain race that is searched by the law but it is ok for you all when the locals are searched as if only locals can commit crime.
The Premier went too far in answering those petty complaints. searches are either random, or intelligence led. If you do not want to be searched, stay home.
PT09, Are you saying that after being processed by Customs and Immigration that you cannot collect illegal items and store them on board a vessel. What mediocre thinking.
Is not what you do is how you do it!
Another day of idiot blogging
Hell never get it
So did the Premier get searched with Machine guns and Dogs????
Same thing I heard the speaker said a few weeks ago we must have one justice system for all!’ Clap clap clap to the premier for taking a stand
This is the real problem with this particular government, 99% emotions and 1% common sense! Optics are VERY IMPORTANT especially in Tourism. Coming off 18 dead months you would think they understand that it’s not WHAT YOU DO, but rather HOW YOU DO!!! The voters of the BVI should be F**KING ASHAMED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am in total agreement!
ALL must be searched!
to make it look like he doing something / nothing will be found , it’s all a game ,while the real big men looks on and the small fry goes up balo
I don’t care what race the tourists are you should not be boarding a vessel that tourists just showed up to with dogs and machine guns after they just went through customs unless there is some serious cause to do so. Common sense man.
This is what we do in our banana republic
Some of us see only what we want to see…do you know how much visitors come through the gates and get arrested for illegal drugs and weapons.
So because they got checked by other territories on arrival to reaching or destination, the BVI authorities should not do their jobs.
Ayo full ah s**t, BVI PEOPLE TO FLIP FLOPPY.
AYO WOULD TRUST EVERY OUTSIDER AND NOT TRUST YOUR OWN.
SICK OF WE NOW.
Ok that’s enough BVI. The people of the world need to hear this
Kill the tourist industry
Kill financial service
Kill the Marine industry
Budget $ 50.000.00 for Food production
Some hundreds of thousand for air conditioning at the complex.
Who is killing the country ? Where there is no vision the people perish . You had nearly 20 years as a leader of the opposition that is the best you can do
Young government you say !!!!! Send help
UK is coming to take us over
So why are tourists allowed to roam around without masks and not be pulled up by the police? Because we have a two tiered justice system.
I see tourists every day wearing masks but us locals wear masks over their mouth but under their nose.