Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

Gov’t exploring Bermuda’s model for a local coast guard - Premier

Gov’t exploring Bermuda’s model for a local coast guard - Premier

The government is considering to adopt ‘Bermuda’s model’ of maritime security which would see the BVI having its very own coast guard.
Premier Andrew Fahie gave that indication at a recent press conference.

“That is a future project that we are looking at. I’ve written to the governor so that he can start to help us get the ball rolling along those lines and will continue to push in that area,” the Premier stated.

At the time, he noted that the issue of territorial security and illegal immigration was a keen topic of discussion between the British Overseas Territories at a recent Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) hosted in Glasgow in the United Kingdom.

According to Premier Fahie, illegal immigration is of particular concern to the Turks and Caicos Islands which is small in stature compared to neighbouring Haiti, from where an abundance of illegal immigrants have entered the overseas territory.

“It’s something that the whole Caribbean is experiencing more and more, so it’s going to take a unified front to deal with it. Hence why also that I call for the introduction of a coast guard team — that I’ll be following up with — that has met. I would say [we’ve received] tacit approval from the governor and together he and I will be working towards how we can bring this into fruition so that we can even have an extra layer of our people in the Virgin Islands serving in their own coast guard,” the Premier said.

In his remarks during the press conference, Premier Fahie also spoke of some of the challenges and successes experienced by the security forces in keeping the territory safe.

“This year, there have been a number of successes in foiling major drug runs as well as addressing compromised officers who have hurt the police’s integrity and hampered the force’s ability to fully function,” Premier Fahie said.

Premier Fahie also said his government will continue to support the territory’s Joint Task Force which includes Her Majesty‘s Customs, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and the Immigration Department.

During the JMC, the Premier said he reiterated his government’s commitment to the National Security Council and pride in setting up the Joint Task Force that was formed in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to protect the territory’s sea borders.

“I believe that an integrated approach to national security is the best way to address the Virgin Islands security challenges,” Premier Fahie noted.

“We know that security itself under the constitution is one of the governor’s responsibilities but you still have the National Security Council there to help advise, so we still have our role to play. But at the end of the day, security is everyone’s business,” the Premier stated.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
×