Representatives from the Canadian Bank Note Company’s Project Team will be installing the first phase of the Border Management and Electronic Visa System next week. Photo: Internet Source

The Project Team which includes Director of Business Development Fuencisla Leal-Santiago, Account Manager Patrick Crotteau, Project Manager Anamaria Dogar, and Business Analyst Hyo-Min Lee will install the visa system at the various ports of entry throughout the Virgin Islands from January 13, 2020 for a period of one week.

The team will also meet with a number of key departments and personnel to ensure that the implementation of the full Border Management and eVisa System is completed seamlessly.

The procurement of materials and equipment for the Border Management and eVisa System began shortly after the Government of the Virgin Islands signed the five year contract with the Canadian Bank Note Company to develop a system to monitor the Territory’s borders for the next five years and share real time information between agencies.           

Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) said, “I look forward to having the Project Team from Canadian Bank Note in the Territory to work on this historic initiative that will change the way we think about the borders of the British Virgin Islands and how we protect them. As I previously stated, I think this project is very important for the Immigration Department and for the Territory as a whole. I welcome the Project Team with open arms and look forward to fruitful results.”

Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) reiterated that the initiative is not just moving the VI on the cutting edge, but it is actually putting it on the bleeding edge. He also expressed gratitude to the representatives from Canadian Bank Note for meeting the Government’s standards in developing the system.

It is expected that seamless information sharing and statistics will be done about persons and cargo entering and exiting the Territory as the project progresses.

The Government of the Virgin Islands continues to make processes more effective and streamlined while ensuring that the quality of life of the people of the Virgin Islands remains a top priority while pushing the Territory towards being a more modern economy.