Provisions are being made to have 9 Haitians who recently entered the British Virgin Islands illegally, deported from the territory.
This announcement was made by the Chief Immigration Officer Ian Penn in a government commissioned media release dated Thursday August 26.
According to Penn, on Wednesday August 25, a motor vessel was spotted circling the Beef Island area which then ran aground. A number of persons were then seen walking along the Beef Island road, which led concerned civilians to notify the Immigration Department.
Penn said the department’s officials in conjunction with the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and Her Majesty’s Customs apprehended, detained and identified a total of 9) individuals as Haitian nationals.
“I would like to say thank you to everyone who was involved in the apprehension and detention of these individuals. Our respective departments will continue to work together and remain vigilant while we protect the borders of the Virgin Islands,” the CIO stated.
He further said that the BVI Health Services Authority was also immediately notified for due process and health screening of the detainees were conducted according to the protocols.
The immigration chief said his department will continue to exercise sound judgment in the performance of its duties while ensuring that the department responds to the needs of its customers in an efficient, effective and courteous manner in accordance with the territory’s immigration laws.