BVI Immigration alerts runaway cruise ship passengers

Officials within Immigration and the BVI Ports Authority are raising concerns following a series of incidents involving cruise ship passengers failing to return to their ships after docking in the British Virgin Islands.

The situation mainly involved passengers from the Norwegian Sky cruise ship, with five people missing during recent visits.

Authorities respond to challenges

Nadia Demming-Hodge, the acting Chief Immigration Officer, acknowledged these concerns and highlighted the ongoing investigations into these disappearances.

The emphasis is on ensuring that such disappearances do not fuel illegal activities.

Despite rigorous pre-arrival checks on passengers, some individuals manage to evade detection, raising alarms about possible deficiencies in the monitoring system.

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Strategic response to sensitive issues

Natasha Chalwell, marketing manager at the BVI Ports Authority, commented on the sensitivity of the issue and underlined the limitations of public discussions about the ongoing problems.

The strategy to address these issues involves close cooperation between the Port Authority and the Immigration Office, closely following the latter’s guidelines.

Improve security measures

In response to the increasing incidents, Demming-Hodge has outlined plans to intensify pre-arrival screenings and implement stricter restrictions to thwart attempts by individuals to disappear after arrival.

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The aim is to strengthen existing protocols and ensure seamless operation that prevents unauthorized stay in the BVI.

This coordinated effort is part of a broader initiative to work with industry partners, including the Port Authority and cruise lines, to enhance security measures and ensure the safety and legality of all passenger movements within the territory.

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