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It’s easy to enter VI with fake documents- SFC Report

- The Immigration Department’s Machine Readable Equipment cannot detect the authenticity of documents; boats must wait on Jost Van Dyke to be cleared due to time officer arrives on island
Acting Chief Immigration Officer, Mr Ian B. Penn told the Standing Finance Committee (SFC) that 'the current system includes readable equipment, however, it cannot detect the authenticity of the documents.' This can lead to persons coming to the Virgin Islands with fake documents, if the equipment cannot detect the authenticity of travel documents, including passports. Photo: VINO/Internet Source
Leader of the Opposition and Member for the Third District, Hon Julian Fraser RA has suggested that either persons are told not to come early or an immigration officer is available to clear passengers at all times at Jost Van Dyke. Photo: VINO/File
Leader of the Opposition and Member for the Third District, Hon Julian Fraser RA has suggested that either persons are told not to come early or an immigration officer is available to clear passengers at all times at Jost Van Dyke. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- While it is well known that because of the Virgin Islands’ many open sea borders resulting from the many islands, small cays and marinas it remains a challenge to prevent illegal entry into the territory, another serious issue has come to light.

It was while testifying before the House of Assembly’s Standing Finance Committee during the 2016 Budget deliberation that the Acting Chief Immigration Officer Mr Ian B. Penn told law makers about another issue.

Equipment in VI cannot detect fake documents

In response to a question from the Leader of the Opposition, Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) when he asked Mr Penn if there are Machine Readable Equipment in the territory, the Acting Chief Immigration Officer told the Standing Finance Committee (SFC) that “the current system includes readable equipment, however, it cannot detect the authenticity of the documents.”

This can lead to persons coming to the Virgin Islands with fake documents, if the equipment cannot detect the authenticity of travel documents, including passports.

The Opposition Leader, Hon Fraser, also raised at the SFC meeting that he took a morning ferry from West End, Tortola to Jost Van Dyke and that there was a ferry at the dock in Jost Van Dyke with passengers waiting to be cleared by the Immigration Department, however, there was none on the island to clear the boat which came from the US Virgin Islands (USVI).

Boats must wait; No Immigration Officers

Hon Fraser stated that the same Immigration Officer clearing the boat came on the same boat from West End with him. The Leader of the Opposition and Member for the Third District suggested that either persons are told not to come early or someone is available to clear passengers at all times.

The Ag Chief Immigration Officer said he has something in place to address this situation where “Customs Officers would sometimes hold the documents until the Immigration Officer arrives and then the passengers are dealt with later on.”

The Member for the Second District which includes Jost Van Dyke, Hon Melvin M. Turnbull told the Committee “the difficulty is the USVI does not follow the proper schedule and it could pose challenges to the Department.”

15 Responses to “It’s easy to enter VI with fake documents- SFC Report”

  • son of the soil (14/04/2016, 16:26) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wow! no wonder so many of them here?
  • wow (14/04/2016, 16:44) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    It must be easy when the same officers that are supposed to protect us are complicit in the bullshit. Come on now man, you think we are idiots or something?
  • crazy (14/04/2016, 16:46) Like (15) Dislike (8) Reply
    Better they kept Guy Hill. This guy isn't up to the task at all, not even close. oh my.
  • simple (14/04/2016, 17:57) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    so it means ISIS will get in here easy and caused havoc
  • hellboy (14/04/2016, 18:16) Like (41) Dislike (2) Reply
    even if you can't detect fake document don't tell the world !!!!!!
    at least try to fix the problem
  • Boo (14/04/2016, 21:20) Like (8) Dislike (5) Reply
    With Guy at the helm we would not have been hearing this tomfoolery at SFC.
  • mildred (14/04/2016, 21:39) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
    guy hill is the real man for the job and he knows how to say good morning to you he is not like hoggy
  • my 2 cents (14/04/2016, 22:02) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lets save the country for law abiding citizens and stop making excuses
  • vex (14/04/2016, 23:46) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    How Mr. Penn looking like he vex so
  • Notwex (15/04/2016, 08:29) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Mr. Penn ain't vex, man. That is what happens when the blubber hits your face in the sun hot.
  • Observer (17/04/2016, 10:25) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    If Guy Hill is the best man for the job he would have still been there.


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