The 2010 Immigration Department Report that was laid before the House of Assembly on October 9, 2012 by Minister for Immigration and Premier Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith stated that some 17 persons were ordered deported from the Virgin Islands and in 2010 a stop list of 5 persons who are described as "criminal non-belongers" were placed. Photo: VINO/File

According to the report, a deportation is described by law when a person other than a person deemed to belong to the Territory has landed in the Virgin Islands and it shall come to the knowledge of the Governor that such a person has landed or remained on the Territory contrary to any provision of the Immigration and Passport Ordinance.

It’s a preferred directive when ‘criminal non-belongers’ are convicted in the criminal justice system for any criminal offense in the Territory punishable by  three (3) months or more according to the report.

Reasons for Deportation

Of the seventeen (17) persons, who were ordered deported from the VI, some of them remain in the Territory and their cases are pending appeal while others have departed the VI before being served with the Order.

Some of the “criminal non-belongers”  have allegedly committed offense of harbouring criminal fugitives, theft, traffic offenses e.g. giving false names, undesirable, drugs, illegal entry, murder, weapons and rape, to name a few of the offenses.

Virgin Islands Stop List

Meanwhile, the 2010 Immigration report laid before the House of Assembly named five (5) persons who are on a stop list- meaning that they are prohibited from entering the Territory because they were convicted in the judicial system of the Territory or in any foreign jurisdiction.   They are described as “criminal non-belongers”.

The five (5) names on the stop list are;

1. Guzman, Joan Manuel from the Dominican Republic - out of Territory;
2. MCCoy, Waren Kwame Eusi from Guyana – out of the Territory;
3. Severino, Hector Rafael Sierra from the Dominican Republic - out of Territory;
4. Wallace, Gary Anthony of Jamaica - out of the Territory; and
5. Williams, Terrence Austin of St. Kitts-Nevis, who was convicted in a foreign jurisdiction.

The Immigration Department also complained again about inadequate staff with a total of 69 authorized posts, however, currently with a staff of only 50 officers/personnel.

According to the report, the mission of the Government run Immigration Department is to ensure that all non-belonger (persons who do not have a certificate of Residence, Belonger Status or Naturalization), entering the Territory, qualify as desirable visitors and that their residence, employment and business activities are monitored, regulated and controlled, while at the same time providing professional and courteous services.

The Chief Immigration Officer is Dennis Jennings and the Deputy is Guy-Michel Hill.  The post of Chief Immigration Officer is a government job with a salary of $62,900 - $92,150 in grade 17.