USVI’s donation to RVIPF linked to recent Inter-Virgin Islands Committee discussions

Following the recent donation of protective kits and body armour from the US Virgin Islands Police Department to the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, Premier Andrew Fahie has linked the deed to the recently-held Inter-Virgin Islands Committee (IVIC) meeting between both territories.

The February 2020 IVIC meeting was the first to be had since the September 2017 hurricanes and saw both territories discussing matters such as inter-territorial cooperation for USVI-BVI border security.

Fahie, in a media release from the Office of the Premier, said: “As the greater Virgin Islands, we pledged in that meeting to take advantage of possibilities and opportunities for inter-territorial cooperation and collaboration.”

“The Council has 12 standing committees and we have renewed our commitment to ensure that representatives from both jurisdictions lead the monthly virtual meetings, despite COVID-19,” he added.

Timely assistance

Premier Fahie further thanked the USVI’s Governor Albert Bryan, Jr for the USVI’s commitment and cooperation in law enforcement and border security, and described the assistance as timely.

“It comes at a time when the police, Customs and Immigration teams have fostered a joint partnership to allow for full engagement and an increase in the territory’s capacity and capability in strengthening and improving security upon our territorial waters and on land throughout the islands,” the Premier stated.

In April, the RVIPF announced that 34 Customs and Immigration Officers were sworn in as auxiliary officers, creating a joint task force between the three law enforcement entities.

Commissioner of Police Michael Matthews had stated that the joint task force was developed to maintain the security and integrity of the BVI’s borders and to provide effective enforcement of curfew requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic.