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Gov't looking into building detention centre for illegal immigrants - Hon Wheatley

- after 2 illegal immigrants attempting to escape detention @ Hoetel Castle Maria now hospitalised
Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) said the Government of the Virgin Islands (VI) will be exploring the possibilities of building a detention centre for illegal immigrants who enter the territory, given the issue of migration continues to be a serious problem. Photo: GIS/Facebook
The Minister's comments came during a press conference today, Friday, November 26, 2021, alongside Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) after it was revealed that 2 illegal Haitian immigrants who attempted to Escape detention at the Hotel Castle Marina, are now hospitalized. Photo: VINO/File
The Minister's comments came during a press conference today, Friday, November 26, 2021, alongside Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) after it was revealed that 2 illegal Haitian immigrants who attempted to Escape detention at the Hotel Castle Marina, are now hospitalized. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) said the Government of the Virgin Islands (VI) will be exploring the possibilities of building a detention centre for illegal immigrants who enter the territory, given the issue of migration continues to be a serious problem.

The Minister's comments came during a press conference today, Friday, November 26, 2021, alongside Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) after it was revealed that 2 illegal Haitian immigrants who attempted to escape detention at the Hotel Castle Maria, are now hospitalized. 

Pointing to a recent case of drowning off the coast of Europe, Hon Wheatley said, "just like between Europe and the UK the borders [BVI] are very porous. It is incredibly difficult to patrol our waters here between BVI from any outside country." 

As such, Hon Wheatley said the territory will still try its best to minimize persons from entering illegally. 

Gov't spending $$$ to send immigrants home - Hon Wheatley 

"For this year so far, we've spent around half a million just repatriating these persons," he said while revealing that of the two who attempted to escape, some 15 additional persons were nabbed. 

"One of the things we hope to do out of the budget is to build a detention center because once you have immigrants and there's no place to put them, we are forced to use hotels and private security," he said. 

Hon Wheatley further added that it is incredibly expensive to house illegal immigrants, given the two escapees also sustained injuries and had to be hospitalized with broken limbs. 

He said while a detention centre would be a part of the solution, the challenge of illegal immigrants continues to be an issue plaguing the world.

45 Responses to “Gov't looking into building detention centre for illegal immigrants - Hon Wheatley”

  • Balo? (26/11/2021, 12:56) Like (22) Dislike (2) Reply
    Whats wrong with the prison we already have? Or does nobody's pocket get lined with $$ if we use that?
    • Slim Jim (26/11/2021, 16:37) Like (9) Dislike (4) Reply
      My thoughts exactly... surely a wing there would suffice for now rather than renting more hotel space (except in the cases of pregnant women and children, of course)

      Right now, and unsure that building a detention centre should be given more priority than additional school buildings, rebuilding the admin complex quickly and other major infrastructural works.

      Or lets keep it simple... catch and release, don't detain.
      • @Slim Jim (27/11/2021, 12:47) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
        Pregnant women and the ones with children have no business putting their children at risk entering any Country illegally.
  • lodger (26/11/2021, 13:00) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    How did they get injured?
    Detention centre would be years away and how would it be staffed, considering it wont be full time?
    Save money. Lock them in the police cells, comfortable or not, and put them on the next planes to anywhere.
  • how yo mean hospitalized with broken parts? (26/11/2021, 13:28) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Did they beat those illegal aliens after they recaptured them?
    • reese (27/11/2021, 09:05) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Hope so. A deterrent is needed. A worthless noninvited non necessity in addition t ion,racking up medical expense. Ship him out.
  • lol (26/11/2021, 13:28) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    The one thing ALL Governments are good at is 'looking into' things. These things don't just happen, they take a lot of planning and perhaps amendments to legislation so cut the bullshit.
  • THE VULTURE (26/11/2021, 13:31) Like (6) Dislike (8) Reply
    DON'T FORGET TO ADD A GAS CHAMBER ,
    TOO , AND THEN GIVE YOURSELF A PAT ON YOUR SHOULDER FOR ME PLEASE
    • grace (26/11/2021, 22:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ The Vulture. You sound like a vulture and I bet you are not from here. Gas chambers are something other countries do. A pat on the shoulder for you? Why should illegal people be gassed? Did they commit a murder? You who want such a horrible act, I can bet you are one of those who go to other countries, invade them, take over and then tell them to go back to their country which you are in. Yeah, I can see who you are. Sooooo, you're privileged?
      • @ grace (27/11/2021, 14:26) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        The culture , the character, the quality of life, the quality of education....allmtisc a nd more has been figuratively
        murdered by the influx of immigrants from yonder. The criminality and occurrences by the imported police force for assist in curbing their brothers cultural behaviour is being practiced by them. Example...child sexual molestation as well.
  • FREE ADVICE (26/11/2021, 13:32) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    Used the old prison because that museum ain't making no sense
  • @the Vulture (26/11/2021, 13:55) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    We are a civil society and we have a Constitution.
    • @@ Vulture (26/11/2021, 16:32) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      Tell that to Australia who have “camps”
    • Outsider (28/11/2021, 14:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Not really; there is a Constitutional Order passed by the parliament of another jurisdiction.
      That's hardly a Constitution.
  • Eye and eye (26/11/2021, 14:14) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    Why waste money building a detention centre,when you could utilise the barges that were used for surveillance. Don’t think they would escape from there . How much illegal immigrants coming here to warrant building said detention centre.
    PS. Police and customs when you see illegals on the sea point them to St John.
    • usvi (26/11/2021, 18:40) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      Nope, not over here. Point them in the direction where they originated from. Be it Haiti, Santo Domingo, Down Island or wherever they are from.
  • resident (26/11/2021, 14:32) Like (27) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why not build an institution for the mentally ill. Isn't thatmore important!!
    • @resident (27/11/2021, 08:55) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      THANK YOU. Invest the monies into a Mental Health institution for the mentality challenged. But you know what? When one of their family member get attacked by a mentality challenged person then they will be running like chickens with out heads to do something because it happened to one of their family members. Put a damn floating elephant like the one they are using for border patrol to detain the illegals. At least they won’t be able to escape the floating elephant.
  • 123 (26/11/2021, 14:39) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    The older some people get, the more stupider they become. I guess money growing on trees in BVI. Every day bucket go well but one day its bottom will fall out. The day near too.

    Is this really something we should be investing heavily into? Where are our schools, education system, roads, water, sewerage, telecom systems? What the heck is or should be our priorities? What happen to police holding cells, what happen to prison cells? Why not change the laws for their immediate departure when caught? These alternatives are way more efficient and cost effective than what you recommending here!
  • $500,000.00 (26/11/2021, 14:45) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    for this year alone? Really? How many illegal immigrants for this year that figure represents? Y’all thing people dumb dumb.

    What is the annual cost to house the prisoners in Balsam Ghut - in total and per prisoner? Use common sense and the math Minister!
  • Hmmmmm (26/11/2021, 14:46) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    What happen to the old prison on Main Street?
  • But first (26/11/2021, 14:52) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Can we get a public library?
  • Don’t like the sound of this (26/11/2021, 14:55) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    Detention centers hmmm where have I heard this before ? Boi we in trouble if you know you know.
  • Cough cough (26/11/2021, 14:58) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Concentration camp ? Boi we salt
  • Suga (26/11/2021, 15:42) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why not fix the old prison on Main Street. Nobody goes to the museum anyways.
  • schools (26/11/2021, 16:17) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
    The government better look into building back the Elmore Stoutt High Schoool and fixing the education sysytem before talking about building detention center stuuuupppes
  • Lucy (26/11/2021, 16:25) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    Now Now Mr Wheatley. Which Government spends money to build something specifically for "illegal immigrants". Are you crazy. If there are no illegal immigrants to house, what happens to the centre? Put those illegal immigrants in the prison, so that they will think twice of doing the same thing again.

    Please use that money for the benefit of the Virgin Islands and not to build a hotel for illegal immigrants, I beg you to rethink this shite?
  • lol (26/11/2021, 16:29) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Use hopkins house up in bbay
  • RedStorm (26/11/2021, 17:13) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply

    Is it wise to spin a thought of such expense? Illegal persons only use BVI as a pass way. When an illegal person comes to BVI their country should pay for their return immediately. There should be international agreement through memorandum of understanding. So that the burden do not fall on the government, as food, shelter and medicine has to be provided by the government. A few hotel nights and they return to country of origin.
  • josiah'sbay (26/11/2021, 18:18) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Let the residents anonymously report them, then expeditiously deport them. Word will get out that if you come you can't hide, that should be a deterrent.
  • THE VULTURE (26/11/2021, 18:40) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    The vulture is only creative in exploiting uloutsiders / but with all the creative ideas that has been blogged hopefully he can try one and get real
  • Norris Turnbull (26/11/2021, 22:26) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Former officer Walters would have had them out the country after72hrs
  • incredible (27/11/2021, 07:40) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wow…more important to build cages for people who don’t belong here than schools, housing, roads etc.
  • Sam (27/11/2021, 08:38) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    some persons with legitimate companies in the territory comes under serious pressure from NHI & Social Security however they are people in the island unlawfully working doing plumbing and mechanic was granted a work permit to work for a specific person but running all over BVI working and this is common knowledge but not one thing is being done about this matter (run talk that
  • TamTam (27/11/2021, 08:52) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    The whole place , the VI is an immigration detention Center for the dregs of the Caribbean. A tiny place and Gov talking about building accommodations ...rather than closing the gap where they slither in and about....the UK built prison is beyond capacity with their presence..the legal ones children and extended families....our quality of life including education lower and lowering....Wheatley u good in your head??? When they get loose we are not afforded a photo , They crawling all over the place livi8ng among us comfortable. Hard back murderers and thief but you keeping their IDentity and their photo a secret from us.
    In effect you aiding and abetting this catastrophy...You must be gaining something from this Why...the VI needs to exorcise this sepsis,not entertain and accommodate.
  • Another waste of money (27/11/2021, 09:07) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    This Government don’t know how to use their noggin. Why pour millions of dollars into a detention center for illegals. Pour the money into a MENTAL INSTITUTION THAT IS VERY MUCH NEEDED.
  • okay (27/11/2021, 14:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What happened to the detention wing you built at the prison some years back
  • OH WOW (27/11/2021, 16:34) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Detention Center and the hospital is overloaded with mentally challenged and substance Abuse patients. How about a rehabilitation center instead? Priorities mi son
  • commess (28/11/2021, 03:07) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    isn't there something more important than this to do with the taxpayers money , only a whole heap of stupidness this man says and does , foolishness, come on man look at the state of the country and use the money wisely
  • dick van dyke (28/11/2021, 09:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is needed the prison is not big enough to house all the locals and expat commiting crimes much less taking on illegal migrants and don't talk about all those the are overstaying for years. Hon. Wheatley you have my support on this one. If the government does not build one members of the public will continue to house them ,and then transport them to st. Thomas for a fee. Look what just happened in baughers bay the young man has his own detention center, so why can't the government built one.
  • @ GRACE (28/11/2021, 12:35) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    YOU GOT IT WRONG , THAT BALDIE FROM VG IS THE VULTURE , HE SEEMS CREATIVE IN EXPLOITING ESPATS ( CHECK OUT THE MONEY GRAM SENERIO / EMPLOYERS NOT PAYING SOCIAL SECURITY FOR EMPLOYEES , BUT WANT TO BUILD BUILD DETENTION CAMPS
  • musa (28/11/2021, 20:27) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I have a question ,who decided who need to be in the center please I have a bad experience to share a teacher and his families was place in some center close to the prison years ago and from that experience I know some sort of suffering will be experience ,never hurt any religious leaders .


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