Roadtown, Tortola - Her Majesty’s (HM) Customs in collaboration with the BVI Tourist Board, Department of Immigration, BVI Ports Authority and ferry operators will implement faster clearance procedures at the Territory’s ports of entry beginning April 21.
Following a series of meetings with the agencies involved, it was agreed that faster clearance procedures must be implemented at the Road Town and West End ports of entry to alleviate passenger congestion and to facilitate better service delivery.
At a press conference held on April 6 Comptroller of Customs Mr. Wade Smith said given the limited space at these ports the agencies involved have agreed to implement the green and red line system which will assist in addressing safety concerns and alleviating passenger congestion at the ports of entry. ”We have embarked on an initiative, the red and green line system, which simply means that passengers with goods to declare will go to the red line and special needs passengers and passengers with nothing to declare will go to the green line,” Mr. Smith said.
In addition to alleviating congestion, Mr. Smith expects the new system to “make the arrival area more comfortable and pleasant.”
Mr. Smith is asking for the public’s support as they embark on this initiative. “We are asking for the public’s support and understanding by cooperating with the authority and by having all receipts, invoices and declaration cards readily available and fully completed for the customs officer,” he said.
In order to facilitate the process all passengers will receive green or red tags at the port of embarkation with which they must label all their personal baggage and cargo. These tags will indicate whether the passenger will go to the green or red line upon arrival to the Territory. Mr. Smith also encouraged all passengers to make a proper and true declaration to customs as any false declaration may result in a fine of up to three times the value of the goods or $5,000, whichever is greater.
Acting Director of the BVI Tourist Board Ms. Hadassah Ward also welcomed the initiative. “We are very excited with this initiative and this is an example of how working together we can find affordable solutions,” she said.
“We know that the Ports Authority will be working in the long run to add space to the facility but meanwhile we can all work together to ensure that our passage through our port facilities is comfortable, safe and a more pleasant experience.”
Chief Immigration Officer Mr. Dennis Jennings said the collaborative initiative by all the agencies seeks to ensure that they are able to clear passengers at the ports of entry more effectively and efficiently. “Our aim is to provide a better service because service along with law enforcement is what we are into and keeping our passengers safe is also our priority,” Mr. Jennings said.
Owner of Smith’s Ferry Mr. Ira Smith said he is in support of this initiative and called on everyone involved to do their part. He also asked the members of the public to cooperate and support this worthwhile initiative.
This initiative will be discussed in more detail during the Department of Information and Public Relations’ Public Eye Programme on Tuesday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m. The programme is aired live on ZBVI Radio 780 AM and the public can call in with any questions or comments. HM Customs will do a trial run of this initiative on Wednesday, April 15. This initiative will also be implemented in other ports of entry in the near future.
As Her Majesty’s Customs endeavours to fulfil its mission of safeguarding the well-being and security of the Territory, it also seeks to enhance service delivery at all ports of entry.
British Virgin Islands News