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'This must stop!'- Top CoP blasts human smuggling activities

- Urges community to work with RVIPF & report any instance of smuggling
Commissioner of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), Mr Michael B. Matthews has blasted persons engaging in human smuggling and has urged members of the Virgin Islands community to report instances of such. Photo: VINO/File
The Commissioner said the RVIPF is working with H.M. Customs and the Immigration Service in a unified task force to patrol the sea and land, watching the VI's borders on a 24/7 basis. Photo: VINO/File
The Commissioner said the RVIPF is working with H.M. Customs and the Immigration Service in a unified task force to patrol the sea and land, watching the VI's borders on a 24/7 basis. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Facing criticisms from community members over human smuggling from the US Virgin Islands (USVI), Commissioner of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), Mr Michael B. Matthews has blasted persons engaging in the activity and has urged members of the Virgin Islands community to report instances of such.

"It has become obvious, that a very small minority of people are still intent on trying to smuggle goods or persons backwards or forwards into the Territory from locations outside, particularly the US Virgin Islands," Mr Matthews said in a social media PSA released Friday, August 21, 2020.

"This must stop, this is placing our communities at risk, it is placing my officers at risk."

He said as a result, the RVIPF is working with Her Majesty's Customs and the Immigration Service in a unified task force to patrol the sea and land, watching the VI's borders on a 24/7 basis.

No breaching of borders for any reason - ToP CoP 

"Our borders remain closed, please do not attempt to try and breach the borders, whether it be for shopping, for meeting someone or just generally going out for a sail, you are putting us at risk. I ask your co-operation in keeping the Territory safe," he said. 

The Top CoP further urged, "If you see something, please say something" by ringing the police control room at 311 on suspicion of human smuggling or persons contravening the closed borders.

"Please do not take risks and allow others to take risks with your lives and the lives of my officers, let's all work together to keep our community safe," Mr Matthews urged.

On August 21, 2020, the Territory confirmed 9 new cases of COVID-19 linked to a 12th case of the virus in an individual with no recent travel history, bringing the total confirmed cases in the VI to 21.

48 Responses to “'This must stop!'- Top CoP blasts human smuggling activities”

  • officer (23/08/2020, 11:52) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
    Mr police man you and your staff got your hands full yes you are trying to do the best with what resources you have it seems if you have not done so already hire some quality locals to work in the areas where marians are this seem to be the place whee most are comming check your wide open areas it is a lot of work but things will work out it also seems like the use of guns and tear gass might have to be used when making checks and collecting such persons the use of cainaine dogs might be used also the trafficking has to stop it is only making it bad for the countr yanother thing that can be done is station undentifed boat on the sea with good watch it will help with the cameras there already some thing has to be done in order for the safety of the place check whwre they are staying and deal with the matter there Police do anything to keep this place safe you should send a notice to the governor of the usvi letting him know to inform people not to enter the bvi measures will be taken the police is great and we have to applaud them
  • Repost (23/08/2020, 11:55) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    Where you are now are you reading the blogs and reconsidering your irresponsible, careless, reckless behaviour?

    Do you know whether you are positive for Covid-19?

    If you were in a community where there was an outbreak of Measles or Chicken Pox would you have risked others catching it? Then, why do it for a more dangerous virus?

    If you infected your parents/siblings/grandparents/children and anyone of them were to die from Covid-19 God forbid, would you still be selfish in your actions?

    The USVI and Bahamas were in single digits and now the USVI has over 300 cases while Bahamas has over 1,400. This transpired in just over a month.

    Contact the medical hotline at 852-7650 to arrange testing. Others who you were in contact with should do the same.

    Do you rather you or your family and friends be 6 feet under or 6 feet or more apart?

    Stop making foolish decisions and correct the error you made by illegally entering putting others at risk.
  • See Something, Say Something (23/08/2020, 12:02) Like (18) Dislike (5) Reply
    I for one, if I see something, I am calling the police and immigration. The smugglers is bold with their actions. The smugglers is putting everyone lives in danger including themselves and their family lives for the greed of that dirty green piece of paper. Sorry to say but, Marine helicopters or Marine Patrol should be given the order to shoot on site at any boat that is on the water after dark.
    • is that so (23/08/2020, 13:12) Like (11) Dislike (7) Reply
      I applaud your efforts as a good citizen. However, slightly disappointed in your last statement.

      Shoot to kill without question? What if it was technical or engine failure resulting in the persons being aboard after dark? Whats if its a medical emergency?

      Should the same be done on land as well....shoot to kill anyone breaking the curfew?
      • See Something, Say Something (23/08/2020, 14:03) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
        Maybe I was wrong to say shoot on site and I will apologize for saying so. I am so angry and paranoid for my children and my elderly parents as well as myself. I just can’t stand the thought of my elderly parents and children who is my world laying up in a Hospital bed alone and isolated by themselves not being able to be by their bed side to comfort them because of others selfish and non caring ways. My family and other families that is doing everything to protect their family should not be made to suffer because of unselfish actions by others.
      • Morse code (23/08/2020, 15:53) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply
        But why knowingly break curfew especially when a tropical storm and small craft advisory is out. Why risk the health of the community at large. Technical or engine failure when your boat was to be on curfew isn’t an excuse So if the vessel(S)got shot on site as see something said we would of known who the perps were and they wouldn’t have a chance to bring any virus here.
        • is that so (23/08/2020, 23:20) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
          @Morse code I believe you have missed the gist of the post. Admirably, see something say something was courageous to recognise [her] error and apologised since the rhetoric was based on emotions and love for her family. The thought of losing them is indeed painful.

          However, shoot on site may result in a greater evil than the acts to which its intention is to prevent.

          What if it is an undercover officer on the job investigation whether colleagues are involved in wrongdoings or a medical practioner duly approved or permitted to be there due to a life saving medical emergency?

          Again, efforts must be made to safeguard and protect the populace but under means that are just.
    • Shoot? (23/08/2020, 14:14) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
      If it was your bloodline would you still say to shoot on site?
      • @Shoot? (23/08/2020, 16:38) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
        Bloodline or not, you are doing something illegal and get caught in any manner shape or form, you have and should deal with whatever comes your way. I am not the type of person that is going to cover up and turn a blind eye and pretend even if the person is blood related.
  • Struggling Man (23/08/2020, 12:04) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    What do you expect if the enforcement of the laws are slack. So many laws being broken every day and all the police are doing is adjudicating traffic accidents.
    • Slack (23/08/2020, 14:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      The laws are slack and BIAS in so many ways. However, lets start with Post Office gun threats. What about that case? Slack laws indeed, injustice from the source Human Resources.
    • BVI Police are a waste (23/08/2020, 19:54) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      That's all they're trained to do, and issue traffic tickets.
    • Car tental (24/08/2020, 18:42) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      There are a lot of car rentals to people who've come in through West End (main port of illegal entry, the police know it too). You can see them go to Riteway and provision and then go out to their rental cars. See them going down the hills holding brakes like we does not do.
  • Royal Marines (23/08/2020, 12:20) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wish they would send them in!
    • he (23/08/2020, 18:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      What about them bad girl living them home going in other people. And police coming to your house bullying with the same bad girl but hold dog .And trying to come in your home with their sickness picking all kine sick people in the police jeep them full of sickness and them is who passing around them cop. Police have the most sick people to deal with. Them testing all day.
  • Laws (23/08/2020, 12:25) Like (19) Dislike (5) Reply
    The problem in the Virgin Islands is the expats feel that they are entittled because they claim that they build the place even though they were paid for the work they did. Locals feel they entitled because they born here. Laws are laws regardless of who you are. This is not the wild wild west.
    • is that so (23/08/2020, 13:14) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
      Which category of entitlement you fall under?
    • Really Now (23/08/2020, 14:11) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
      We all know the law is for some and how few boast of it. how about showing equality by just refering to all as people and not tola people or island people.
      • @ Really Now (23/08/2020, 15:39) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
        "Laws" did not use the term "island people". The poster said "expats".

        Overall, it is a valid point.
      • Local (23/08/2020, 15:57) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
        I agree with you. I can’t stand the term ‘island people.’ I wish that people would use the term ‘foreigners’ or ‘other Caribbean nationals’ instead.
        • Fatctoid (23/08/2020, 18:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          Since we are British, technically other members of the Commonwealth such as Cayman, Bermuda, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Lucia are not foreign to us. Only places like the US are foreign. That's why the UK Foreign Office is officially called the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
  • V0TER #6 (23/08/2020, 12:51) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    DO YOU KNOW A THIEF DOES WATCH THE WATCHMAN. THE POLICE CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE AT THE SAME TIME A THIEF WATCH THIER MOVEMENT ALL THE TIME.
  • speak out (23/08/2020, 12:54) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    UNFORTUNARELY YOU DONT HAVE THE RESOURCES AND THE DISIPLINE WITHIN YOUR FORCE TO MONITOR , PATROL AND ENFORCE THE LAW.
    HOW IRONIC , WE ARE CONSIDER OF OF THE BOATING CAPITAL ,YET WE HAVE ONE PATROL BOAT AND NO BORDER RADAR.
  • is that so (23/08/2020, 13:03) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is not the sole responsibility of the police. Whats about the national security council or our bias government policies?

    Are we certain that the illegal entries were responsible for the covid or its just a coverup? Tell the truth about the number of cases that exist.

    Why was permission given to individuals to traverse between BVI and St Thomas on a regular basis without being quarantined?

    Why discriminate against one set but not against others. The underground economy exists mainly due to the perceived injustice associated with the legal system. I dont condone certain behaviours, but its understandable. Too much blame game without accepting responsibility...
    • @ is that so (23/08/2020, 14:57) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      You said what so many have been LONG CRYING OUT ABOUT!!!!

      It's been a situation of who you know, who could help who, who have something over who head, who money hungry, you name it.

      Time longer than twine.
      • BVISLANDER IN USVI (24/08/2020, 19:38) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        @ is that so, What you think ? it will never stop, look who they put back in charge.
  • navy (23/08/2020, 13:10) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    the navy are here let them keep troops in fast rhibs to take down these smugglers
  • LALALA (23/08/2020, 13:10) Like (11) Dislike (8) Reply
    Police don't want to catch anyone. Like recently they sent 2 cops to catch a wanted man, in a big a$$ house in Georges North Side?? 2, Two cops. . . seriously, they didn't want to catch any one. What ever came of that? eh? the guy harboring the wanted guy? off Scott free??

    If they wanted to catch smugglers, they could position police boats, ohh they wrecked the new one. Hmm they could put constables in each and every area with a marina or beach suitable for landing a boat. We use to have constables in every village. Nah, just leave those police sitting at their stations with them feet prop up. We need a new police commissioner, this one is useless as his crew.
  • Lil (23/08/2020, 13:39) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    The quarantine policy is creating job for the smugglers. The government ask $3500 for quarantine and the smugglers might ask for $1000 .persons would pay the smugglers the cash. Now we all expose to this covid19. Covid doesn't ask where you from? Whether you expats or locals. We are all in the fight together. Be our brothers keeper rather than our brothers destroyers .
  • Rock city boy’s (23/08/2020, 13:42) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    White tray to catch a rat and a rat know about the trap
  • The TRUTH (23/08/2020, 14:29) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    The BVI had been needed its own version of the Coast Guard, not that weak police boat crap that failed. Put resources there instead of millions on "consultants"
  • Bvi marine police (23/08/2020, 15:06) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Where are all the engines for the police and customs boats?
  • oh boy (23/08/2020, 15:13) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    But I really don't understand you People in this place. Some of You have Customs as the number one Law Enforcement Agency in the BVIs and they themselves believe so, so why before all you Sneeze, is Police all you calling nore. A dead Dog on the road all you call police, a man get horn he run to the police, Garbage on the road all you call police. Call customs they themself claim to be the number one law enforcement agency and stop calling the Police. Call customs they from here, they born here. If you all only know. Boy.
  • Mick is a joke (23/08/2020, 16:00) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    Commissioner can’t do anything right. Can’t even find governor missing staff right under his nose!

    Even uk didn’t honor him after Irma.

    Now he’s putting us at risk with Covid as he doesn’t know how to do his job. Just constantly meaning.

    Do your job and uphold the law.

    It isn’t that hard. Just means less time for you and gus to post sunsets and sailing in social media! Don’t forget we pay for your lifestyle here so do the work and stop complaining!!
  • Boom (23/08/2020, 16:26) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    1. Move all the inactive and anchored barges north Peter Island into the exclusion zone with one anchored every 2 miles from south to north. Use these ships as floating patrol bases.
    2.The government should purchase 10 miles of floating oil booms and lay it from western point of Norman Island to the western point of JVD.
    3. Then just patrol the floating boom with multiple boats like it's a fishing long line and arrest the people and boats caught in the boom every few hours. Drop off the prisoners on the barges and quarantine them at sea for 14 days before incarcerating them in the Bally prison.
  • gus and mick must go (23/08/2020, 18:06) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
    Time To Get New Commissioner And Governor

    Gus and mick just boast about their fancy bvi lifestyle on their social media they need to stop posting and start working!
  • RVIPF (23/08/2020, 19:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The only persons know how to get illegal tracking it people off the streets they know every tricks in the book.
  • The Reaper (23/08/2020, 20:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This one hard....We all in slavery!!!!..Hmmmm
  • bad (23/08/2020, 20:38) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    You not doing your job properly officer! Stop begging them, time to show balls
  • hello (24/08/2020, 07:17) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    we have more police In our territory now yet all manner of criminal conduct is on the rise all of the imported gun squads making no difference them good at traffic offences and tasing unarmed suspects
  • Me Too (24/08/2020, 15:18) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Tried calling 311 the police officer wanted my full name and contact number before he would listen to my description of the fast white boat I saw entering the Sir Francis Drake channel from the west and heading east. I don't want no trouble so after I repeated what i saw I hung up. why would you need my personal information?? No wonder no one calls in!
  • No pay for hard work (24/08/2020, 18:44) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    All the people recruited to help with traffic realignment last June have only been paid for two weeks. Maybe the main police force ain't getting paid either so ain't wanting to do more than a little arresting of traffic offenses (but not scooters, they too fast).
  • Picko voice (24/08/2020, 19:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    COVID-19: VI the envy of the C'bean right now-
  • Sickening (24/08/2020, 20:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    TO ALL THE SMUGGLERS: STOP RISKING THE LIVES OF THE COMMUNITY, WHICH INCLUDES YOUR OWN AND EVEN YOUR OWN FAMILIES FOR THE SAKE OF A DOLLAR WHICH CANNOT GUARANTEE GOOD HEALTH. THIS IGNORANCE HAS TO STOP. YOU ARE HURTING YOURSELVES AND YOU DONT EVEN HAVE A CLUE YOU ARE. MANKIND....NOW I UNDERSTAND WHY WE NEED TO PRAY FOR HIS KINGDOM TO COME.
  • ReX FeRal (25/08/2020, 00:15) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Immigration, customs & police on the take. Address this governor /premier.
  • SEND IN THE TROOPS (25/08/2020, 17:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Time for the UK to step in governor!


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