The BVI GateWay Travel Entry Portal has been described as one of the most complex and frustrating portals for inbound travelers, when compared to portals from neighbouring countries.
This was the sentiment shared by Member for the Fourth District Mark Vanterpool during the 11th Sitting of the House of Assembly recently.
Vanterpool urged the government to fix all the issues being experienced by visitors and residents who oftentimes have to contact individuals personally to get approval sometimes hours before their trip.
The senior Opposition legislator said that he too has been in that same position, oftentimes having to contact persons to gain entry into the territory.
He shared an experience from a recent visitor who also had difficulties, as he urged the government to get the issue resolved expeditiously.
“To go through the BVI portal, she had to call several times for somebody here to get it done and she got through, but then her husband didn’t get through. She had to spend an extra day before she could come from St. John. We got to put our money where our mouth is,” he stated.
“That portal thing, we got to listen to what the people saying. I read a blog every day that everyone of us is in, where they talk about this BVI Portal and it’s not some rocket science to get this thing fixed. I’m not a tech man so I don’t understand it. Everybody saying St. Martin own easy, St. Thomas easy, Puerto Rico easy, BVI, if you don’t find somebody who knows who to know who to get in, then you can’t get in,” Vanterpool further explained.
Authorities working to have issues resolved
Meanwhile, 284 News also spoke to the Health Minister Carvin Malone, who despite not being responsible for the BVI GateWay Portal, said his ministry has been working in collaboration with the respective authorities to assist with having the issues resolved.
He said, “We’re trying our best to see what can be done to facilitate and make it easier based on the comments coming from the users of the portal. It has not gone unnoticed that there are increasing cries for an easier and more user-friendly portal entry and we will do whatever we can to assist in that.”
“So, while we’re not responsible, there is a commitment to a good experience whether by a resident or by visitors or tourists or anyone, there is a commitment of the entire government and the commitment of Health, and the commitment of the Airports Authority and Customs and Immigration and even you as a citizen to make sure that visitors experience is top notch. They must not only remember how difficult it was to get here. That should be too easy that it does not become a topic so we will try to make it a nonissue, a non-topic,” Minister Malone explained.