‘Immigration out of order in this country!’- Bishop John I. Cline
“The attitude of these officers is beyond what one could imagine as the gatekeepers of our country. If we are going to build tourism or if we want people to come into our country these people need to be trained, they need to be sensitised,” stressed the frustrated Bishop.
Speaking with Virgin Islands News Online in an exclusive interview this morning October 11, 2013, Bishop Cline said he has reached his wits end with the way visitors are allegedly being treated by Immigration Officers. He insisted that the behaviour is doing the Territory’s tourism sector no good.
Tourism not just about white people
Mr Cline argued that the actions of immigration officers clearly show they are not favourable of some persons entering the territory and if and when they do they want them to leave at the earliest possible time. He said that in one case a participant said that he was coming for a two-day conference and the immigration officer rudely stamped him in for two days only.
“Our immigration officers do not understand what grows an economy and what it takes to grow an economy. Its tourism and tourism is not just about white people,” remarked the Bishop.
“These incidents, they are not, they are not isolated incidents, they need addressing from the top,” Bishop Cline said strongly.
In dealing with one alleged issue at the Sopher’s Hole/West End port of entry, Mr Cline said he was forced to turn to the Acting Chief Immigration Officer Mr Guy Hill who reportedly stepped in and had that particular matter dealt with.
“I should not have to call Guy Hill, these officers need to be trained properly. What if one time Guy Hill is not there? What if it is not Bishop Cline because Bishop Cline does not stick for nonsense, this matter needs to be dealt with from the highest level.”
He said he has since contacted the Office of the Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith and is still awaiting a response.
“Immigration is out of order in this country. That the long and short of it,” said the Bishop in relating his concerns. He said that things revealed itself to have reached to worse as over the past weekend several persons coming into the country for an annual conference were made to put up with the alleged embarrassing behaviour of immigration officers at three ports of entry in the territory: Sopher’s Hole/West End, Road Town Ferry Dock and Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport at Beef Island.
Of the twenty years the conference has been held, Bishop Cline said this year recorded the most problems. “This year I have had the most problems I have ever had with immigration and it’s just not acceptable anymore.”
He added that he has been bringing persons into the country more than three times per year and said that the attitude especially this time around is beyond what’s describable. “They had a very nasty attitude towards our quests. There was one immigration officer in the morning at West End, I ended up raising my voice at him and then he proceeded to tell me that if I don’t lower my voice that he would hang up.”
In that instance, Bishop Cline alleged that the immigration officer had told the conference participant that was entering via the seaport that he needed a work permit. “People coming in to do a Ministry has never had that so I don’t know where that policy came from,” said Bishop Cline.
At Road Town the issue was allegedly that of rude behaviour when the immigration officers were told of the purpose for the persons entering the country.
“Then we had problems with people coming in from St. Kitts at the airport who were treated like criminals or thieves or crooks or something when they were told that they were coming to New Life Baptist Church for a conference and they were threatened to be sent back to St Kitts on a plane because they couldn’t be more specific with what they came to do. They came to a conference!” the obviously upset Bishop stated.
Premier Smith welcomes feedback from Bishop Cline
Meanwhile Virgin Islands News Online sought to get a response from the Premier's Office regarding the reports made by Bishop Cline and was sent a statement which indicated that the Government has welcomed the feedback from Bishop John I. Cline as an end user of the immigration services.
"It is important for us to point out that the Government of the Virgin Islands has embarked upon a number of initiatives as we continue to move forward strategically with border management and customer service.For example, we have introduced training programmes in border inspection and control, effective administration of the law and customer service development to ensure that proper procedures are followed and that the customer service experience is enhanced," the statement sent by Director of Communications, Mrs Arliene T. Penn read.
It further said the Premier’s Office is leading the charge with improving the services provided and is assisted by the BVI Tourist Board to train all frontline officers including police, customs and immigration. This training is a part of the “We are one BVI Campaign” spearheaded by the Board.
"And, timely feedback by members of the public is indeed valuable, especially with the recent appointment of Mr Guy Hill as acting Chief Immigration Officer. Honourable Premier has re-issued to him, a mandate to ensure border control/protection and improve customer service as vital components for his administration. Mr Hill has already commenced working very closely with Premier's Office to address a number of key priority areas identified by the Ministry."
It also said the public can contact the Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office or the acting Chief Immigration Officer to offer suggestions and feedback on "how we all can work together to build a strong BVI Brand in areas of customer service and border control management."
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71 Responses to “‘Immigration out of order in this country!’- Bishop John I. Cline”
Grow up. Maybe you are Nine or ten but wait until you are old enough to speak about the topic.
Immigration n customs supposes to screen everybody coming into the country. What if everybody coming in told immigration o customs they coming to a conference at ur church they suppose to just stamp the passport n dont check their bags?? The immigration are doing a fine job n making sure criminals are not entering n working here illegal. U want run ur church n still run the government
Those Immigration Officers aren't fit to welcome HOGS to the Agriculture Dept much less people. A set of unhappy people who are only there for the bi-weekly salary!
Perhaps it's me, but with the frequency of guests/speakers/pastors coupled with the length of time the event is held, someone from the host church needs to liaise with these agencies ahead of time (and vice versa) so that this type of press can be avoided.
But watch how you and your staff treating employees at BVIHSA.
I know of a case where a person had a friend visiting from LA,she is an Actress in Hollywood and flew here to enjoy the Sun,Sand and Sea "vacation".When she arrived at the Beef Is. Airport she was treated as if she was a stripper because I guess she was dressed a bit out of the norm of how most local ladies here dresses but her style was just more Americanize, a bit revealing and sexy,anyway she was ask to go in the office by that big unfriendly Whale, they call Immigration Supervisor Ms ....She accused the Movie Star of coming here to strip because of how she look and how she was dressed and was very rude and loud until the actress cried and had to call her marketing agent and lawyer to validate she was indeed a professional woman.While here when she made it passed Immigration she told her friend here who is local that she would never come back to these Islands again to visit and she will tell her friends and associate about this embarracement and scare she went through.
In the life threatening event you need to see a doctor, would it then matter to you whether the do for is male or female, white or black or other, nationality, religious beliefs etc? No! All you care about is you see a doctor and he or she saving your life. We as jBVIslanders need to treat her own as well as foreigners as human beings because that's what we all are.
Explain the procedure to the visitors and while continuously being pleasantly professional.
Cline ought to be ashamed, but of course like many of his kind, he has no shame.
Deeds immigration officers are only trained to treat white people with respect…how sad!!!
All you just shut to hell up . Yes I may agree that some officer. Have attitude these are all over where ever you travel any port of entry. Emigrations are train to spot any sort of suspetion or any rhing seems odd. Stop bashing our counter parts when we go to st thomas and don't have our priorities right the to do the same and we don't even say eh . Right on the next feery we go not a noise if you want to catch a flight or stay to shop. We only say they are good efficient when we can get away free noduty/tax. if you have a friend or family member come toyou from overy seas you need the right imformation ( who u going to- name - address stay-time needed). Not being able to produce such create a treat. /you may even be sent back on the plane next flight out these are the law check the books. GUY HILL CUT YOUR STAFF SOME SLACK SIT DOWN WITH YOUR GOVERMENT FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES CANT DICTATE WHEN THEY KNOW THE PROCEDURES. The baughers bay also host large events abd I as. An immigration. Never aproblem w. Them never every thing done right
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Notice power plus has been going on for about twenty years p**** was still an immigration officer, so they never attack the department. They are trying to make us feel potter was such a great immigration officer. Think about it.
He the last person to talk about thieves and robbers when everything at his church is about money money money!
but i did not read any part where the bishop accused the officers of violating the fundamental rights and freedoms of these visitors under the bvi Constitution;neither did he say that an immigration officer abused his/her powers under the immigration and passport ordinance chapter 130 of bvi laws.
These visitors were permitted to land in this free and democratic territory of Her Majesty's bvi and they were permitted to remain and granted time to remain for the period they wanted to remain!
These visitors were not diplomats from a foreign state,who required police escort,and diplomatic exemption!
I want to be the defense attorney for the immigration in this particular case;because the bishop has not presented any evidence to the public,that the immigration officers abused their office and their authority under bvi immigration laws..
Everywhere you go in the world today,people have attitudes,mannerism etc...but from what I read here,the immigration acted within the context of the bvi law!
May the good lord continue to bless and protect all our bishops and pastors who educate on the word of god and I will continue to pray to god, to give guidance and protection to all the law-enforcement officers of the bvi,who are faced with danger while protecting our borders to make the bvi safe..
I was recently on the island of Tortola to partake in a cultural event and entered with youngsters to boot. I must say your immigration officers were all pleasant and helpful, however, upon attempting to pass through customs, one rather brusque female customers officer, with a wig that would shame the average person, perhaps forever changed our perception of Tortola as a custom-oriented, customer-friendly. This lady, without provocation proceeded to call one of our delegation members stupid, rolled her eyes at her, attempted to shame her in front of other incoming tourists and all for what, because she was trying to explain that she had no luggage and was simply in the line with one of our young charges in order to make sure that he got through. Apparently this explanation was not what madam wig wanted to hear and caused her to loose every ounce of professionalism she ever had. She continued to behave poorly until another officer told her he would continue with the line, since after her display no one else wanted to deal with her. Even then she continued with her absurdness, until she was shamed into the back office by references to her skewered wig. Now I don't know about others, but I have travelled extensively throughout my life, and I have never heard of a customs officer calling someone stupid, sucking teeth, rolling eyes and otherwise acting a fool in front of whole rows of people. Madame wig needs to come better. The previous year I travelled to Tortola to attend the same event and the service was fine, so I am not going to allow one foolish, fashion-follied, female officer to allow me to paint the entire customs officer corps black, however, reading from the comments about, there is indeed a need to step your services up. In the space of 4 days and 3 nights, we spent well over $1400 on your island, we should not have been treated in the manner that we were...I look forward to traveling to Tortola again, I cannot say the same for the rest of the people in my party, especially the person who was trying to carry out her duties towards the younger person in our group. I will, when I have time sit down to write a formal letter to your Customs Department because I find this treatment to be ludicrous. .shame on you, shame, shame, shame on you...