Cabinet at a meeting on February 9, decided to waive the tender process to procure several contractors to undertake the provision of security services, meals, and temporary lodging, for persons held in detention by the Immigration Department.

According to the published report on the meeting, Cabinet decided that the funding be provided via Supplementary Appropriations, in the amount of $1,368,700.00, which is to be regularised in the next Schedule of Additional Provision.

The report stated that Cabinet noted that requesting a waiver of the tender process in these instances is unavoidable as they occur spontaneously and are therefore unforeseeable and unplanned.

List of Companies

1. Alfred Christopher dba “Hotel Castle Maria”

2. Top Priority Security Services Limited

3. D’Urville O. Carty dba “Top Brass Security Services”

4. Triple A Security Inc.

5. Elton Leonard dba "Bobby's Market Place"

6.Thecla Hopkins dba “Freedom Book Café”

The Territory continues to see an influx of illegal immigrants. While they do land in the BVI, historically, most of the illegal immigrants are on their way to the United States; however, once they are captured by local authorities, the responsibility is on the BVI to provide services and eventually arrange for their repatriation to their home country.

A detention centre had been built to house immigration detainees in the compound of Her Majesty's Prison, Balsum's Ghut, but the facility is now being used by the prison. Late last year, Minister for Immigration, Hon. Vincent Wheatley alluded to the need to build a detention centre for illegal immigrants, pointing to cost to taxpayers.

In recent months, the Immigration Department has had to seek the public's help as detainees have found ways to escape from local hotels where they are usually held. Currently, authorities are seeking the public's help in recapturing several detainees who escaped in recent days.