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Too many complaints @ Immigration Dep’t - Hon Vincent O. Wheatley

-Says sweeping changes coming to solve issues
Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) has announced some sweeping changes coming to the Virgin Islands (VI) immigration department following several complains over its operation. Photo: VINO/File
Speaking on ‘The Big Story’ with Host Cathy O. Richards, yesterday April 11, 2019, the new minister charged, “Immigration, it’s a big department. I get a lot of complaints about immigration,” he noted as he plans to upturn the department. Photo: Facebook
Speaking on ‘The Big Story’ with Host Cathy O. Richards, yesterday April 11, 2019, the new minister charged, “Immigration, it’s a big department. I get a lot of complaints about immigration,” he noted as he plans to upturn the department. Photo: Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) has announced some sweeping changes coming to the Virgin Islands (VI) Immigration Department following several complains over its operation.

Speaking on ‘The Big Story’ with Host Cathy O. Richards, yesterday April 11, 2019, the new minister charged, “Immigration, it’s a big department. I get a lot of complaints about immigration,” he noted as he plans to upturn the department.

Holistic Look

The Minister said he is yet to meet with the department, however, says, “We are going to sit down, we are really going to look at immigration… there have been lots of complaints for years.”

Mr Wheatley implored that despite the fact that officers in the department have had lots of training in various areas, “Complaints still coming… they had courses, they have been to workshops, so we have to take a step back from this immigration thing and get a real holistic look at immigration.”

He said further, that it will necessitate creating policies, “Some solid policies. We are going to upgrade the [labour code] immigration ordinance, to modernise it... So we are making some sweeping changes in immigration.”

Transparency

The Minister also promised that throughout the process, the public will be kept informed about the developments as they unfold, while noting that his government will live up to their commitment of being transparent.

15 Responses to “Too many complaints @ Immigration Dep’t - Hon Vincent O. Wheatley”

  • Real Action man in Town (12/04/2019, 13:06) Like (43) Dislike (1) Reply
    Wow. Wow.. Great. I can speak personally of the harassment me and a few of my friends had.. With that P upstairs.. She would call us on the phone tell us to come in to see her. We get there waiting for about 2hrs when we see her she would say our photo ain't clear enough and we need to bring in a new one or our name ain't spell right in a reference letter or bank statement and we need new ones.. Things she can tell us on the phone when she talk to us instead of having us leaving our jobs for hours..... Change is really needed. People should always treat others good the way they would be treated because people don't forget the bad done to them...Today u up tomorrow u down ..
  • Sax man serious (12/04/2019, 13:13) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    The honourable sax man. We have to talk.. While u at it don't forget labour. They too need to start working.. Those anti employee laws need looking into.. This three month vacation without pay .but you are still an employee.. There need to be a discussion on that. I think employer should be made to pay 7 days pay for each month home...
  • local man (12/04/2019, 16:24) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
    Just today I had to take my wife into immigration am a born BVI islander my 3month old baby born BVI islander to make a complaint. Yes my wife has been here for quite sometime I have put in the necessary paperwork to have her come to reside with me only yesterday evening surveillance department went to my home told my wife if she don’t get a ticket to leave by morning she will have to pay a $1,000 fine go to jail and the will take my child and put in the social development for someone to care for my child what kind of insult is this what kind of heartless behavior is that. Am not saying they shouldn’t do their jobs if they have to but make sure you do it in a professional manner. Got to immigration to meet with those officers that came to my home after waiting and hour I was on my way to speak to someone higher in one time she shouted u are not to see my boss rather me you have to see I still went ahead make my complaint and the young lady was so upset I did but this is not how you treat down islanders remember they were here when we needed them now they need us we have to be accepting to their needs as well how u can tell my wife when she leave the BVI she can no longer return
  • indigenous (12/04/2019, 16:28) Like (11) Dislike (31) Reply
    Mr. Minister just remember that our Imigrations have a job to do. Only in our island visitors can complain about the immigration service. Anywhere else they respect the immigration and readily follow the rules. Politicians should not interfere with the immigration once they follow the rules of the service. Remember they are the first line of protection for the country.
    • local man (12/04/2019, 22:25) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      So your saying insulting other and abuse of power to others. Yes they have a job to do but with respect
  • cromwell (12/04/2019, 16:34) Like (35) Dislike (0) Reply
    If the minister really wants to resolve this issue, it's very easy, install survelance equipment so there is a full record of what takes place. I guarantee you things will change significantly.
  • my 2 cents (12/04/2019, 17:22) Like (12) Dislike (9) Reply
    Until you live in another man's country and have to process with immigration you have no clue what it entails. No department is free of criticism. But immigration seems to get the worst name and some of it, some, not all is unfair. Once a person can't get their way they like to complain and embellish the situation. I feel bad for immigration workers. They should all quit because it must not be a good feeling to always be put down in the public as if no one in the department ever does any good.

    Moral must be extremely low for the workers in that department. Hopefully one day someone will have something good to say about the department publicly. But every politician and a lot of the public does put that department down to the lowest.

    I say fix the law on immigration, get rid of the bad eggs, add more staff because it is too few persons in there to service the population in the BVI that need their service. Finally, please stop putting down an entire department it does not help the situation. Employees who are under-appreciated, under-perform.
  • zone 9 (12/04/2019, 18:06) Like (5) Dislike (5) Reply
    now this is a working person thank god burtie is gone!
  • GIRL WATCHER (12/04/2019, 18:48) Like (4) Dislike (11) Reply
    This Minister is just about talk and fluff. Notice he takes advantage of every photo opportunity? Watch and see and listen to hear what will be improved. Labour/Immgration, same kettle of fish.
    • VG STRONG (12/04/2019, 21:28) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
      @girl watcher STFU! We don’t care! He will be our minister until we ready to replace him and that’s no Time soon! Get in line for he’s not leaving anyone behind including your sorry a&&!
  • wize up (12/04/2019, 20:46) Like (6) Dislike (5) Reply
    some people have to apply multiple times for an American Visa and no complaints: I recalled standing in line for many hours just to get an America Visa before we had the visa waver program...
  • What the heck? (12/04/2019, 22:28) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Has this Minister even met with the Department Heads or staff? Why is he working backwards? He gets lots of complaints but is he planning to investigate or just throw the staff under the bus? When he decides to meet with personnel, will he meet happy people or disgruntled people? All complaints are not legit. He sounds like one who is anxious to make friends. He should be careful. He is ready to turn the department upside down without even meeting to discuss issues, complaints, concerns. What the heck. There is good and bad everywhere and if there is need to pull weeds, then so be it. However, the parable of the sower should be consulted so that the wheat and tares will be treated equally. Nuff said.
  • Jim (13/04/2019, 09:58) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    let the immigration officers do their work.
    • wize up (13/04/2019, 14:59) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      get upset but a substantial number of documented workers holds down 3 & 4 different jobs: some of them were granted authorization to be gainfully employed with a given plumbing company: electrical companies: automobile companies however some of these same people can be seen running around the territory doing private jobs(tax free income) no one should speak about such unlawful conduct): every one should pay their fair share of taxes...all people are entitled to work by comply with regulations...

      plumbing companies: electrical companies
      for automobile companies/plumbing companies however some of them doing private jobs(pays no taxes on that extra income


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