Arrest them! USVI border breaches should not be tolerated
Persons who falsify COVID-19 test results from the BVI in order to circumvent the required health protocols should be arrested and charged.
Health Minister Carvin Malone shared this position during the governing Virgin Islands Party’s Let’s Talk radio show Tuesday evening.
The US Virgin Islands recently implemented stricter entry protocols for travellers from the BVI after the BVI began to experience a dramatic surge in COVID-19 cases.
In just over two weeks, the BVI has recorded more than 1,500 positive COVID-19 cases and has seen some 23 deaths related to the virus.
The Health Minister said he received reports that persons have been falsifying and forging their COVID-19 test results to enter the neighbouring USVI. He said USVI officials also questioned him about whether these persons should be prosecuted.
“They are so kind. They say, ‘well look, we don’t want to embarrass them so we don’t want to arrest them’,” Malone related. “I say arrest them, charge them, give me their names, ranks and serial numbers so that we can get this stopped.”
The Health Minister said the BVI will not hamper its relations with the neighbouring territory which he said is working around the clock to ensure the BVI comes up to speed.
He said the behaviour of persons intent on forging their documents will not be tolerated at any time for any reason.
Recently, USVI Governor Andrew Bryan Jr warned that persons found ‘gaming the system’ by trying to circumvent or breach the newly implemented health requirements between the two territories will be prosecuted to the fullest.
“We are not playing,” Governor Bryan Jr stated at the time.
He said the USVI had already made one arrest and cautioned that there would be more to come.
The US Virgin Islands recently implemented stricter entry protocols for travellers from the BVI after the BVI began to experience a dramatic surge in COVID-19 cases.
In just over two weeks, the BVI has recorded more than 1,500 positive COVID-19 cases and has seen some 23 deaths related to the virus.
The Health Minister said he received reports that persons have been falsifying and forging their COVID-19 test results to enter the neighbouring USVI. He said USVI officials also questioned him about whether these persons should be prosecuted.
“They are so kind. They say, ‘well look, we don’t want to embarrass them so we don’t want to arrest them’,” Malone related. “I say arrest them, charge them, give me their names, ranks and serial numbers so that we can get this stopped.”
The Health Minister said the BVI will not hamper its relations with the neighbouring territory which he said is working around the clock to ensure the BVI comes up to speed.
He said the behaviour of persons intent on forging their documents will not be tolerated at any time for any reason.
Recently, USVI Governor Andrew Bryan Jr warned that persons found ‘gaming the system’ by trying to circumvent or breach the newly implemented health requirements between the two territories will be prosecuted to the fullest.
“We are not playing,” Governor Bryan Jr stated at the time.
He said the USVI had already made one arrest and cautioned that there would be more to come.
