VI customer service one of the poorest in Caribbean– Bishop Cline
“I think in our society, we have two prevailing attitudes that are going to cripple us if we don’t see it, one is arrogance. We tend to be a very arrogant people because we think that we are a prosperous nation and because we have a little money we have the tendency to look down on people, especially people from the Caribbean,” Bishop Cline said while speaking on the Morning Ride Show on ZRod FM with host Paul 'Gadiethz' Peart today, October 15, 2013.
Bishop Cline also related that there was a false sense of pride among Virgin Islanders as if “we are the centre of the universe and the Caribbean, and we are not”.
“Customer service is one of the poorest in the BVI that I’ve ever seen in the Caribbean and I’m a BVIslander,” the Bishop said.
According to Bishop Cline, there are a lot of places that have sun and sand similar to the Virgin Islands (VI), but the thing that keeps visitors coming back is the greeting and service they receive and this needed to be upgraded.
“If our leaders do not understand what they are working to do and impress upon our gatekeepers the importance of doing that, then we’re going to have big problems,” he said.
He suggested that persons will no longer come to the VI voluntarily, but will instead come out of a need.
Asked why he was only stepping forward now when an immigration issue had affected him directly, Cline stated that he didn’t feel that “each one of us jumps up at the first instance and reports a problem”.
“I think the reason why it was now for me was because it was concentrated – one weekend, three ports and complaints from all of those ports and that is what got me going but I have heard about officers being rude to visitors and guests many times,” Bishop Cline said.
He added that the Premier’s Office has been receiving complaints for years and expressed he had a meeting with the Premier’s Office and walked away pleased to see some of the things that they are doing to fix some of the problems that are being faced at immigration.
Bishop Cline further related that he had spoken to politicians privately on several occasions and noted that his concerns expressed through the media were done as a last resort.
“I didn’t go to the media first, the first thing I did on Monday morning was I called the Premier’s Office.”
No reason or rhyme to immigration
Bishop Cline reflected on incidents where persons entered the territory and were given one or two days to leave because they were there for a one-day event. He related that the persons decided to go to St Maarten to spend the additional time and money that they could have otherwise spent in the Virgin Islands.
“It seems like there is no reason or rhyme or understanding on the part of some immigration officers as to why people come here and what their contribution is to coming here,” the Bishop said.
“What does it mean when they come here? They circulate money in the economy so we cannot afford to be rude to our guests. Do your job; make sure that they are following the right procedures; make sure the forms are filled out right; make sure the suspect ones are interviewed and ask whatever questions… you don’t’ have to be rude when you do it. That’s my point,” he advised.
"It's time for BVIslanders to take their head out of the sand, wake up and understand what is required to build a nation and we have a nation to build and we cannot build it... I'm not going to build a nation by tearing down my people, but if I see a problem I need to speak to that problem because you cannot fix a problem by ignoring it and that is what a lot of people want to do," he said.
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35 Responses to “VI customer service one of the poorest in Caribbean– Bishop Cline”
My Indian friend tried to enter the BVI a month ago and was told by the immigration officer that he could not enter on an Indian Passport without a Visa ! BUT the immigration officer told him he would let him in BECAUSE he had a "Green Card" !!!!! Incredible to hear this second LIE. BUT that was Not enough for this officer, he went on to say in response to my friend saying "but two Indian guests who I invited here are coming latter this week for private meetings here in the BVI" and the officer said "IF they get off that ferry, they will be DEPORTED and go Back on that same ferry"!!! My guess is he is a Very New officer IF he thinks Immigration can get ANY visitor back on the same ferry before it departs again. I could not explain to my friend, who asked me IF the BVI could "DEPORT" people who have not entered the BVI YET?? He foolishly thought Deportation was only done to persons who have entered a country, he asked Why the officer would not "Deny ENTRY" rather than wait to deport the visitor for the sake of the visitors records showing that offense! My friend who is not a first time traveler was trying to set up the BVI as a place for High Level Indian politicians to come for very private meetings without being known "who they were" attending and I told my Friend The BVI is the Perfect place because the country doesn't pay attention to ANY visitor !! Unfortunately the money they would have spent in the BVI got changed to Dubai (half way between my Indian friends home in his green card country and India) and the BVI does NOT have to worry about Indians of ANY level wanting to come in for ANY reason anymore. It was the #2 and the #3 political party heads who were given the message from the BVI Immigration officer!!!! And my friend was able to show them the BVI "Caste System" at work and the results of it on the economy since this will be a BIG issue in the coming Indian Elections LIKE it always is in the BVI.
Jonny boy you are just as bad as the Chief of health you promise so many thing and to straighten up things at where you are as the head of the board and you still haven't done one thing so sweetie you are a sad person Mr. Preacher's of Tortola. Have mercy on us our God
On another note, I want to know what Immigration is doing in terms of monitoring those visitors that come to our shores and dont leave when their time has expired? I want to know how many kids came to visit the BVI for the summer and are still in the country? I want to know about those persons on work permits who have committed crimes and what we are doing about them being deported? What is the deal exactly??
Bishop Clyne, you are a man of the cloth, you are close to the NDP Government, sit with them and see what suggestions you can make for changes. We need to train our peolple
As a BVIslander I totally agree with the Bishop's comment. As a whole we are very arrogant and ignorant people who and think the world us something. We need to wake up and realize that the world is global and we depend on each other for survival. If we do not change our attitudes and be respectful of all people and provide services with dignity we are certain to suffer the consequences. Wake up, be respectful, and show that we have some dignity.
I know there are some who will respond with disrespect to this blog but is just confirm your arrogance, ignorance, and refusal to grow.
Is a sickness and I hope find a cure soon because otherwise we'll suffer for real.
WHo is WE??? Why every caribbean island is represented here in the VI? Must be the center of something. Sell out.
Let me first congratulate your editor and reliable staff for publishing this story,and to allow freedom to reign in this free and democratic country bvi,where persons can blogg and express themselves without insults and disrespect to others.
I was particularly impressed with the comments from the blogger [jeremy]
Though not mentioned directly,from all indications this topic by bishop John Cline,appeared to have been a continuation of his experience with Immigration,when some of his guest visited the bvi for a conference:
Immigration officers are law-enforcement personnels,and they are expected to enforce the laws under the Immigration and passport Ordinance Chapter 130:
,under the color of good intention.
Some Criminals would wait until there is an event such as Festival-Music Fest and may be a conference;to pretend and to enter the BVI with malice:
Immigration officers are now being trained to look out for possible terrorists and other Criminals who may be entering the BVI.
While they should appear friendly,they must question persons who are visiting the BVI.
The laws,policies and rules,do not require an Immigration officer to question a person who belongs to the BVI and may be travelling on a BVI passport or belonger card,but if the Immigration choses to question a visitor at length;the officer will be acting lawfully,in accordance with the law.
Customer Service?
In my view,customer service is something personal.It does not matter what training a person received in this area of work;at the end of the day,if the person has a bad attitude,he/she will display that bad attitude on the job.
Forget the past:
May be in the past,our Immigration displayed some kind of bad customer service to some visitors by profiling caribbean nationals; but over the years,I have seen the improvement each time I travel in and out of the BVI.
You don't hear of Immigration refusing persons to land,on the the basis of a discriminatory profiling of such person.
So generally,I agree with the bishop on the topic of good customer service; but if it's because of the incidents involving his guests,that's why he has become so vocal suddenly,I think he is not being fair with the hard working men and women of Her Majesty's Immigration,who are there to protect the ports of entries in the BVI. Give the officers a break! Let them enforce the law!That's what happens every where in the world.
Tourists want to see that countries are serious about their protection:Immigration must question visitors and customs must search for contraband.That is the world we are living in today!
With goodness in my heart for the people of the BVI I can only continue to pray and say, long live the BVI and its wonderful people.