Gov’t too broke to print Immigration forms for Visitors & Residents
The result, the departments have had to resort to using outdated forms that have been taken out of use some years now.
It now means, visitors and residents alike, are now made to go through the tedious process of having to fill out separate forms for each individual person arriving, including children—a system that had already been phased out.
Tedious Process
The matter was brought to the fore this past week, Tuesday, November 20, 2018, by Honestly Speaking, host, Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline.
The radio host and man of the cloth raised the matter during his commentary, and have since called on the newly appointed Junior Minister for Tourism, Honourable, Hubert O’Neal (R9), to urgently address the ‘embarrassing’ situation that currently exists at the VI’s ports of entry, at least at the Ferry Dock.
Detailing his investigation, Mr Skelton Cline recounted that on Sunday, November 18, 208, last, he observed upon his return to Tortola, the Immigration Officer forcing persons arriving—visitors and tourists—to go through a tedious process that had been long phased out.
He was at the time making reference to the need for individual forms for families versus a single document.
Investigation
Having witnessed the scenario, Mr Skelton-Cline related, that he questioned the rank on duty at the time and was told that the old forms were being used, since he was acting on instructions.
Mr Skelton-Cline said, this forced him to undertake some research into the matter only to find out that firstly, “we were given the old forms; that this the form this government was advised not to use…it’s too cumbersome, its requiring information that isn’t necessary.”
He was adamant, “we are a tourist destination; make this process seamless for people to move in and for people to move out.”
Too Broke to Pay
According to Skelton-Cline, what in fact happened is that the department ran out of the new forms. “Why did they run out of the new forms, they run out of the new forms because the government doesn’t have any money to pay the vendor in Puerto Rico…In Puerto Rico, the merchant is saying no pay, no forms.”
This situation, he said, led to the administration having to resort to the old forms that were left over when it was phased out.
The radio host posited, the insistence and resort to using the outdated forms is to ensure that the administration is still able to recover its environmental tax, “they want to tax the tourist to death, per each form, for each individual.”
Honestly Speaking, Skelton-Cline, used the occasion to call out newly appointed Minister, Hon O’Neal, saying, “for god’s sake, y’all fix this…people are visiting our country, let’s make it simple and as seamless as possible.”
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17 Responses to “Gov’t too broke to print Immigration forms for Visitors & Residents ”
Now I really see you do not love this country. Anything for power.
Bvi we need to pray for him.
Wow