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A Virgin Islands Migration Conundrum

Dickson C. Igwe. Photo: VINO/File
By Dickson C. Igwe

I return to the need for the adoption of a national ID card as stated in the previous article as a means of tighter migration control and keeping a tab on all citizens and non-citizens.

Why the fear of a resource that will help manage both migration and the Virgin Islands population safely and securely?

An ID card will offer structure in the migration and citizenship process. It manages the migrant that breaks the law or overstay, as it will define the boundaries of the migrant’s stay in the Virgin Islands. It will remind the migrant that there are rules in place. That those rules are best followed. When rules are broken, there are penalties. The ID card is both a monitoring device and a law enforcement tool.

A national ID will help identify who is who in the event of a disaster, such as a car crash or a health emergency. It will offer data on blood type, allergies, residence status, criminal records, social security and national health insurance, employment, next of kin, and more, on the resident.

The migrant with evil intent will be unable to hide if he or she is in the Virgin Islands illegally. It will be illegal for a migrant not to have their ID in their possession. Better still, a card with a chip to monitor the migrant’s movements in the territory.

Migration may be a great thing to support businesses and services that natives cannot or will not do. However, when migration gets out of hand with no population controls and social and cultural assessment of migration policy, misery lies ahead.

5 Responses to “A Virgin Islands Migration Conundrum”

  • guy hill (28/03/2026, 08:21) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Virgin Islands government does not, does not want tighter immigration control.
    • guy hill (28/03/2026, 10:10) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      Then it is creating a whip that will flog us all down the road
      • guy hill (28/03/2026, 18:10) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        @the clown who is posting my name and writing piss please cease and desist.
  • … (28/03/2026, 09:27) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    No time to depress voter turn out
  • Raw and Unfiltered (28/03/2026, 12:23) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    A chip- equipped natiohal ID seems to closely resemble what is projected in George Orwell’s 1984 classic. What needed is an effective, strong, serious, etc., labor and immigration programme with teeth and consequences for not adhering to the laws. The BVI must widen its aperture and hold both employer and employee for deliberatively violating the laws. The rule of law must reign supreme. Another blogger whose name I cannot recall now uses Aesop’s biol frog fable to outline the consequences of ignoring actions. Indeed, avoiding one action after another chickens finally come home to roost. Moreover, it is an open secret that the immigration and labor situation has gotten out of hand and government inaction or poor action is a contributing factor. Hear this ya. Experience cannot be bought at the store ; it must earned. On the job training ( OJT) no doubt is valuable , but some jobs require coming to it with experience. Occupying jobs which require prior experience but does not have is costly. Come on folks let’s get our shit together. A poorly managed programme hurts both immigrants and locals.


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