UPDATE: Customs Officer falls ill hours after reporting for duty on Anegada
Informed and reliable sources told Virgin Islands News Online that Mr Smith turned up for duty yesterday February 12, 2014, fully dressed in uniform. However according to the source the day did not end well for the officer. “There are many sides to this whole story,” said our source.
After being on the job for some hours yesterday Mr Smith allegedly had to seek medical attention at the local Anegada Clinic to the extent that he had to be put on a nebulizer. Several efforts were made to speak with Mr Smith directly but these were futile.
The state of the airport building was highlighted as the core of the problems being faced by not only Mr Smith but others. “[Regarding the condition] at the airport, this has been going on for years, there are bats, birds…there is no air-conditioning in the building where the two officers work, there is no suitable furniture, there is no fan there is nothing. You going in there it is dusty,” according to the source.
It has been opined that there seems to be a problem of mold that is affecting the age old building. Compounding this is the allegation that the officers are the ones required to do housekeeping if they are to work in a clean environment. “Nobody cleans the offices. if they do a little bit of dusting now and then it’s for their benefit,” said the source.
The source said that several photos of the state of the office and airport were sent to the relevant authorities as well with no noticeable actions taken. They alleged that the BVIAA had sectioned off the area where their officer operates and made it worker friendly installing air conditioning among other things, while immigration and Customs Officers were left in the unfriendly environment.
Contacted about the state of the Auguste George International Airport at Anegada Commissioner of Customs Mr Wade Smith told Virgin Islands News Online that such questions should be directed to the BVI Airport Authority (BVIAA). Several calls to BVIAA Managing Director Mr Denniston Fraser went unanswered. No other senior officer could be reached either.
At the time of learning that the Customs Officer had fallen ill attempts by this news site to confirm whether this was brought to the attention of Mr Wade Smith proved futile. Consequent of this new development persons are now questioning what forward actions would be taken to fix the possible security risks at the airport.
See previous story posted February 12, 2014:
Auguste George Airport – An International Airport or free port?
- Residents of Anegada have no doubt that illegal items enter the VI via Auguste George International Airport
WEST END, Anegada, VI – As the apparent increase of illegal drugs, arms, ammunition among other things becomes more glaring in the Virgin Islands, residents of Anegada are convinced that most are being smuggled into the territory via the Auguste George International Airport.
Their opinions were justified as was proven by this news site. The assigned Customs Officer to the international airport has been allegedly absenting himself from duties. “This is something that has been going on for a number of years and the authorities are well aware of it but nothing is being done to have it corrected,” said a concerned resident.
One resident who is said to be a community leader said that in his opinion the airport has lost its status as an international airport and has been and continues to be a “Free Port”. “It’s a security risk because the entire islands know about the situation. People from even Virgin Gorda, Tortola, and St Thomas, all over know and I know that the situation has been and continues to be taken advantage of,” alleged another resident.
When the problem was brought to the attention to this news site while covering the Farmers’ Week celebrations on Monday February 10, 2014, our reporter made the conscience decision to make a quick visit to the airport.
As the lucky stars would have it, an international flight had just arrived and it was observed that none of the passengers were checked. They walked freely through the airport and into the Island. The pilot was observed giving a document to an officer who was later identified as an officer of the BVI Airport Authority.
Three firemen were on duty and there was also no Immigration Officer at the airport. This news site was guided by a source to the Immigration Officer who was away from the airport. When found the Immigration Officer said that he was off duty on the day in question.
While guiding this news site to the offices of the Chief Immigration Officer (ag) Mr Guy Hill and Commissioner of Customs Mr Wade Smith for any further information, a source said it has been a very extended period that the Customs Officer has been a no-show for his duties.
A source close to the BVI Airport Authority (BVIAA) said that with such breaches in the operations at the airport, technically it has lost its status as an international airport. “That is definitely a breach in the regulations and technically and in reality the Auguste George 'International' Airport has lost its international status,” said the BVIAA source.
The source also explained that one of the most unique systems exists at the airport in question, to the fact that there is only one Customs Officer and one Immigration Officer on the Island of Anegada. “So what happens is when one is off duty the other has to perform the duties of both though technically that is very wrong but it’s the system that is over there.”
It was further explained that the Immigration Officer has been feeling the major strain because he is never assisted as it has been several years that the Customs Officer has not been showing up for duty. “And mind you, he has been collecting a full salary every month,” alleged our informed source.
Contacted yesterday the Commissioner of Customs VI, Mr Wade Smith said that the matter was brought to his attention prior and some two weeks ago he had cause to pen a letter to the officer in question. He said that he was not aware that the officer was still defaulting. “I am not going to tolerate that, I wrote him about two weeks ago addressing this issue and I am not prepared to let this continue,” said Mr Smith.
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