TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, CMC -Officials within the Immigration Department and the BVI Ports Authority are concerned following a string of incidents where cruise ship passengers have failed to return to their ships after arriving in the territory.
The issue centers around passengers from the Norwegian Sky cruise ship, five of whom have gone missing during recent visits. This has prompted discussions between authorities about how to address the situation.
Acting Chief Immigration Officer Nadia Demming-Hodge acknowledged the concerns and explained that the Immigration Department is investigating the issue.
“It is concerning to us because despite our checks of persons on these ships, there are persons using this as a mechanism to facilitate illicit activity, which is something that we are prepared to address,” Demming-Hodge said.
She confirmed that the Department investigates all passengers before they arrive. If anything suspicious is found, they can prevent individuals from disembarking. However, Demming-Hodge admits that some people still ‘slip through.’
Meanwhile, Natasha Chalwell, Marketing Manager at the BVI Ports Authority, described the situation as sensitive. “They are not topics that I’m free to expose publicly.” She emphasized that the Ports Authority would follow guidance from the Immigration Department.
Demming-Hodge stressed the importance of collaboration in this endeavor. She emphasized that officials are actively engaging with industry partners, the Ports Authority, and the cruise lines to curb these incidents, making it a collective effort.
The Acting Immigration Chief, Nadia Demming-Hodge, reassured the public that her Department is taking proactive steps to address the issue. They are planning to increase pre-arrival checks and issue restrictions to prevent individuals from evading authorities and potentially disappearing after arriving in the BVI.
and then 