The issue of border security was brought to the forefront on Speak Out BVI. Map: britishvirginislands.com

Douglas Wheatley. Photo: VINO

According to the caller, the number of layoffs in the US Virgin Islands should spark some concern since some persons may think that the Territory is doing well and may want to come to be involved in criminal activities.

“I am concerned as to whether we are looking at serious security measures to curb illegal behaviour because with them coming, because of the seriousness of what’s going on, and now it get so serious, I think they coming in numbers now. I am wondering if we are looking at it with the seriousness that we need to look at it...”

Host of the show Douglas Wheatley said, “Throughout the Caribbean, as you listen to the news and read the papers, it reads out that the crime situation is not really limited to any one island. There are persons that seem to travel between islands to commit crimes”.

He also noted that People’s Patriotic Party (PPA) member Shaina Smith, when speaking about the UK/VI relationship, had spoken about Border Security being a great concern for her and said he hoped the issue would not fall on deaf ears.

The United States Virgin Islands (USVI) Governor John deJongh Jr announced in December that by the end of January 2012, approximately 1,000 government employees would be dismissed. On the heels of that, the HOVENSA oil refinery in St Croix, US Virgin Islands said it would be closing operations by mid-February and that more than a thousand persons would be laid off.

Meanwhile, 3rd District Representative and former Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Julian Fraser RA has so far been the only elected official to comment on the developments in the US Virgin Islands saying that “there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that we should be very concerned. This was a concern ever since the USVI Governor announced the dismissal of a thousand workers. This will impact greatly, whether directly or indirectly on the Virgin Islands.”

According to Hon. Fraser, there are many Virgin Islanders who are employed in the two US islands or may have relatives working there and their layoff could mean a strain on the pockets of Virgin Islanders at home, who may be depended upon to assist during the period of employment.

Hon. Fraser also envisages that Virgin Islanders, who are laid off, may also want to return home and this may add to the unemployment rate.

Another issue that Hon. Fraser pointed out was that the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) gets its fuel from HOVENSA in St. Croix through Delta Petroleum and now having to get fuel from somewhere else eventually may mean having to pay more for shipment and thus affecting the fuel surcharges, which is already of concern for consumers.

BVIEC has since said that there would be no immediate impact on fuel price or electric bill from HOVENSA’s closing.