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Gov't seeking 24-hr security services for Immigration detainees @ Castle Maria

- Bid documents available January 9, 2023
The Government of the Virgin Islands is inviting tenders for the Supply of Security Services for Immigration Detainees housed at Hotel Castle Maria, Road Town, Tortola. Photo: VINO
McNAMARA, Tortola, VI- The Government of the Virgin Islands is inviting tenders for the supply of security services for Immigration detainees housed at Hotel Castle Maria in Road Town, Tortola.

The proposed scope of service comprises providing 24-hour security service for immigration detainees housed at Hotel Castle Maria. The primary purpose is to safeguard the perimeters and safety of persons held in detention by the Immigration Department.

There have been several incidents where detainees have escaped while being housed at Hotel Castle Maria.

Requirements for tenderers

According to a press release from Government Information Services (GIS) on December 30, 2022, Procurement Coordinator, Mrs Ishma Rhymer said eligible tenderers are required to have a valid Trade 2023 Licence and submit Certificates of Good Standing in respect of the Social Security and taxes, including Payroll and Income Tax, from VI Social Security Board, National Health Insurance and Inland Revenue.

Bid documents will be available on January 9, 2023, on weekdays between 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Bidding documents will be sent to bidders electronically upon request to procurement@gov.vg with the subject title “Supply of Security Services for Immigration Detainees housed at Hotel Castle Maria”.

Pre-tender meeting

A virtual pre-tender meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 10:00 am. The access code and password will be provided prior to the meeting. All prospective tenderers are invited to attend.

Interested tenderers should submit one (1) original, three (3) copies and one (1) flash drive containing the bidder’s documents. The original bid should be placed in a sealed envelope and marked “ORIGINAL” and the additional copies placed in another sealed envelope and marked “COPIES”. Both envelopes should then be placed in an outer envelope and marked “Supply of Security Services for Immigration Detainees housed at Hotel Castle Maria” and addressed to:

The Chairman
Central Tenders Board
Ministry of Finance
Procurement Unit
Rita Frett Georges Bldg., 2nd Floor
Waterfront Drive, Road Town, Tortola
British Virgin Islands

All tenders must be deposited in the Tender Box at the Ministry of Finance (Procurement Unit), Rita Frett Georges Bldg., Second Floor, Waterfront Drive, Road Town, Tortola, BVI by the bearer not later than 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 7, 2023. Tenders will not be received after the Tender Box is closed.

Tenders will be opened on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at 11:30 am at Procurement Unit, Ministry of Finance, Rita Frett Georges Bldg., Second Floor. Tenderers are invited to witness the opening via Webex. Tenderers will be provided with the access code and password prior to the opening of Tenders.

For more information, contact the Procurement Coordinator at (284) 468-4243/5921 or email procurement@gov.vg.

26 Responses to “Gov't seeking 24-hr security services for Immigration detainees @ Castle Maria”

  • suggestion. (02/01/2023, 12:24) Like (32) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why govt don't do the hiring themselves put a security Czar in position and set it up as an annual Temporary position..Let individual send their resume applications to Govt Security Czar and get the best available persons and pay them good. Instead of getting a private company paying the Private company $20.00 per HR and that private company pay its workers $.8 - 8.50 an hour. And only pay NHI and taxes for half their workers as a front to make their good standings look good...What is happening now you have one set of family making a lot while the workers can't get a good living wage..I am certain with a govt run programme govt get the best and can pay a guard a minum of $14.00 per HR. That will make life better for a lot of people and they will perform..Instead of the mediocre services and personnel that these private companies are providing for $8-850 per HR.No wonder detainees are escaping regularly..
  • USINS (02/01/2023, 12:34) Like (41) Dislike (0) Reply
    The government need to pay their bills on time, and stop owing the companies for months. How u expect u going to get quality service when u not paying. Good luck to u on that.
  • WHAT THE HELL (02/01/2023, 12:34) Like (30) Dislike (1) Reply
    SEND THEM BACK AND STOP PAYING TO HOUSE THEM.
    LET THEM OUT FREE SO WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM.

  • Profeddionals available.. (02/01/2023, 12:44) Like (28) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am a professional security lady that needs a job. as an x soldier, I take my work, my responsibility very seriously, I cannot work for $7-50 hr. I once mansge a local security company for someone for s short time, but i had to quit when i realized my NHI and SS wasn't been paid. They were paying me well, When i got sick and my NHI card was denied for non payment..It caused a fall out. They were taking it out..The minimum wage need raising bsdly across the board $8,50 per hr. but at a hire rate for some profession like security guards at $11,00 per hr because of its hire rixk and huge respobsibilty.. A security Guard shouldn't be going home with less than $450.00 a week for a 40hr week. Where is our govt. Where is fhe conscience...
  • Tell it to the Marines (02/01/2023, 12:45) Like (24) Dislike (0) Reply
    Good luck with that unless you hire a security company that carry guns and not MALL SECURITY GUARDS. Why not turn the old prison into a detention center for the illegals, the locals could care less about a prison museum. That detaining illegals in a hotel is just not cutting it or a good look.
  • Xxx (02/01/2023, 12:53) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    After they getting away so often?
  • annudda2cents (02/01/2023, 13:24) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    I would not want to stay at a hotel where known immigration detainees are being kept. If you ask me, this matter is being approached the wrong way. What needs to happen is the building of a detention center to house not just these immigration detainees, but also any other immigrants found overstaying their entry permits or committing any immigration-related offense until they are processed by the courts. We need to start addressing issues holistically if we are to move forward in the BVI.
  • Fire pon rome (02/01/2023, 13:24) Like (30) Dislike (3) Reply
    All those police who has nothing to do except watch for seatbelts let them stand watch.
  • Wicked (02/01/2023, 13:25) Like (22) Dislike (5) Reply
    Leave the people alone.....sending them back to Haiti, Cuba is pure wicked.........locking up Children for so long is inhumane.......you're treating them like criminals ...........they should be in school, like normal kids .......hoping they are getting Sun light .......where's the Christian counsel and the Red Cross........Red Cross like they're on Vacation .....Share some love to these kids.
  • plain and simple (02/01/2023, 13:25) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    Simply process them when caught, give them something to eat and ship them out within 24 hours.
    • @Plain and Simple (02/01/2023, 15:38) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      This is no joke and I am being transparent when I say this, as a taxpayer for the past 15 years, I am sick and tired of my hard earned tax dollars being wasted on housing and feeding illegals that is coming into the Territory to further destroy and bring down the Territory. I don’t have a problem with my tax dollars being spent on fixing and improvement of schools, fixing and improvement of our roads and sewer system. It is not fair to the hard working taxpayers. To add insult to injury, we the taxpayers don’t even get a refund or some type of tax credit at the end of the Year.
  • VG (02/01/2023, 13:27) Like (1) Dislike (13) Reply
    The only company can get the work done professionally is Javelin security.
    • @ VG. Slave Camp. (02/01/2023, 14:13) Like (24) Dislike (2) Reply
      How much your company paying? I heard $7.00 hr. I also heard your guards cant drink water, can't sit for 5 mins, can't take or make a phone call.. But I also heard that inspite of all that you have good guards. Just ease the pressure a bit and pay at lease $10.00 phr. Businesses like your services. Just treat your workers better..
    • Being real (02/01/2023, 15:21) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
      Dear Javelin, for me to risk my life guarding a bunch of illegal immigrants in a hotel from skipping out, you got to pay me at least $25.00 per hour.
      • @Being real (03/01/2023, 07:22) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        $25.00 - $35.00 per hour is a fair price to pay a security guard. They are working without any kind of protection for themselves. Just say, a group of the illegals that is detained in the hotel gang up and attack the guard out of desperation to escape. I’m not risking my life to guard a bunch of illegals for $7.00 per hour. A loaf of bread cost more than $7.00.
      • Norris Turnbull (09/01/2023, 16:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        @Being real...This is real.. your simple life will still be at risk for $100.00 per hour jack Donkey
    • HAHAHA (03/01/2023, 04:15) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      BUT LESMO SMITH , IS THE ONLY ONE WITH THE UNDER THE TABLE CONNECTIONS
  • @ PLAIN AND SIMPLE (02/01/2023, 16:16) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I READ YOU LOUD AND CLEAR , BECAUSE WE NEED TO STOP WASTING TAXPAYERS MONEY , ( PLANE OR SHIP PASSAGE OUT AND SEND THE BILL TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTRY OF THEIR ORIGIN , AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THEIR COUNTRY CAN GET BACK THE MONEY FROM THEM , YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO OVERSTAND THAT , JUST A little COMMON SENSE NO OFFENCE
  • Asylum (02/01/2023, 17:29) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    New thing is filling for stay. Then head to USA through the window. When will this territory learn?
  • I agree (02/01/2023, 21:00) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    When the illegals is caught, process them, feed them and have somewhere they can have a shower and take care of their personal hygiene and send them back within 72 hours.
  • WHAT!!! (02/01/2023, 21:33) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    About time a new security company was used with the amount of detained who were allowed to escape in the past.
  • ??? (03/01/2023, 21:24) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    What happened to RVIPF?
  • Norris Turnbull (04/01/2023, 06:59) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    Places for immigration detention purposes are all police stations and the prison in the Territory. It is the dam law, enforce it. I say no more.
  • Stueps (05/01/2023, 09:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Some of these security guards they have there are perverts. They sit there and trouble young girls as they pass. They sit around cutting their toe nails, etc.and these aee things i have seen with my own eyes. Bring police officers to do it because most of them have nothing to do Anyway.


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