HM Customs allegedly detains vessel sailed from St Martin
The vessel allegedly detained by HM Customs today, November 17, 2016. Photo: Team of Reporters
Commissioner of Customs Wade Smith had said some months ago that an operation was ongoing to clamp down on charter companies breaching HM Customs and Immigration laws. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Information reaching our newsroom is that a vessel that sailed from St Martin has been detained by Her Majesty’s Customs for allegedly not having a cruise permit for Virgin Islands' waters.
According to reports, the vessel was detained this morning, November 17, 2016 at the Cruise Ship Dock on Wickham's Cay 1.
The boat with the words ‘sailingship-eldorado.com’ had several persons on board.
Commissioner of Customs Mr Wade Smith could not be reached for comment up to time of publication.
Several charter companies have been slapped with fines for breaching HM Customs and Immigration laws ever since HM Customs embarked on a campaign to clamp down on defaulters some months ago.
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27 Responses to “HM Customs allegedly detains vessel sailed from St Martin”
The officers in HM Customs uniforms are earning the title of "bullies", and they deserve it!
We all respect Customs for doing a great job, but recently they are going too far. Arresting vessels loaded with tourists is not necessary .
I understand what you are saying and I agree; countries that thrive on tourism should be careful with the way they treat tourist else there can be dire consequences. However, I disagree with calling what Customs is doing, harassment. In fact, I disagree with all who take this approach. Silly me didn't even know the laws of my own country because I thought for years people who sailed here were authorised to be here and checked in once they got into our waters. I thought it was only natural since that seems to be the law for basically every other place on Earth with water boarders. Clearly what we have been perceiving as magnanimous hospitality have been perceived as opportunity for others to play us as fools. A charter ship clearly indicates that other countries are habitually packaging and selling our tourism. How else could they have had the galls to bring tourists here without our permission for a day trip? Much less not know of our updated laws?
I highly doubt if it were reversed we'd be allowed to wander into St.Martin/St.Maarten undeclared for a day trip, never in actually procure a charter for profit. Yet still people penalize the BVI for standing up for themselves? Name me one foreign country on this planet where any of you can waltz in and out of as you like. Yet still the BVI is being irrational?St.Martin/St.Maarten have been incorporated into their European countries so they are no longer colonies but districts of France and Holland respectively where as the Virgin Islands is still an Overseas Territory which makes us a self-governing colony. I assure you, neither France nor Holland would allow anyone to unlawfully enter their waters and stay, not even the British and if we made a habit to do what they did not only would we have to hear about it but so would the UK. We are left here to deal with a lot of tourism woes on our own and I am shocked to see how many people think we should be the footstools of the Caribbean. I want you all to do me a favour and Google "The Spanish Virgin Islands" as well as sailing charters from our closest island neighbours and see how our name and reputation gets appropriated constantly for the gain of everyone but us. How people stay in the USVI but sail and dive in the VI and never spend a dime here. I glad that these people enjoy their time when they come. We are fortunate to have this kind of beauty in our everyday life and I'm glad to share it but how is what they are doing fair to us? Why should everyone but us profit off of us? I say let these people learn our laws and fall in line just as we are expected to do when we visit their countries. Right is right and wrong is wrong and it is wrong to enter another country and not declare yourselves. Evidence for this being that had they been a charter flight, they'd have landed at Terrence B. with documents in hand and no fuss therefore why should the rules be any different for waterways?
Lastly, I would like to point out that in this world where any and everyone is prone to terrorist attacks, we have a right to know who is in our waters, what their intentions are for being here and how long they are expecting to be here.
Government needs to implement a dedicated boating, customs website.