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Immigration detention centre to be built in VI- Premier Wheatley

- location for facility yet to be confirmed
Christmas Island Detention Centre. the Government of the Virgin Islands is seeking to build a detention centre. Photo: greenleft.org.au.com
According to Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), monies for the Immigration detention facility will be allocated in the 2023 budget. Photo: Facebook
According to Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), monies for the Immigration detention facility will be allocated in the 2023 budget. Photo: Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- With housing persons detained by Immigration Department at hotels proving to be unreliable, as persons have been frequently escaping, the Government of the Virgin Islands is seeking to build a detention centre.

According to Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), monies for the facility will be allocated in the 2023 budget.

Speaking during a press conference on August 26, 2022, Premier Wheatley said moves are being made to tighten security at the makeshift detention facility at Castle Maria; however, “in the medium term we are quickly moving towards building a detention centre.”

Site visit 

Premier Wheatley added that a site visit was recently done and “we will be quickly moving towards doing the survey work which is required to be able to advance that as well as getting designs done on an urgent basis and we are right now allocating the resources needed to be able to build that, in the 2023 budget.”

Asked where the detention centre will be built, Premier Wheatley told our newsroom, “I would prefer for the site to be confirmed.”

See related article: ‘We have sought to increase security @ Castle Maria’- Premier Wheatley

27 Responses to “Immigration detention centre to be built in VI- Premier Wheatley”

  • round of applause (30/08/2022, 08:40) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    Round of applause since they say nobody round of applauding. NOW what is the situation with the dilapidated primary schools. Are those going to be built or rebuilt or get finished building too?
  • Two belts (30/08/2022, 08:49) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    These politicians really delusional
  • old school (30/08/2022, 08:54) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    Put the illegal immigrants in the condemned ASPS school building.
  • jack (30/08/2022, 08:59) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
    Pure lies just like he told us the Eshs will be completed for September
  • Priorities (30/08/2022, 09:09) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    We are still conducting school as if we were in 2019 and the kids are not getting proper education, plus there are no school to house some of these kids and we are worried about an immigration centre. How does that make sense? SMH
  • WHAT!!! (30/08/2022, 09:38) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Let’s wait and see how many millions that will cost us.
  • good idea (30/08/2022, 09:48) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    Good idea Hon. Premier Natalio Sajande Wheatley.
    Expect the Opposition to oppose this brilliant idea, too.
    This is the main reason why they are called, and are he opposition. They see good a good idea as not needed, and their bad ones as good, even though they know better.
    Fear not Premier. Press ahead.
  • Banker (30/08/2022, 09:48) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    What is your budget Sir, Twenty Million, Thirty Million or perhaps Fifty Million, Just curious
  • talking blues (30/08/2022, 09:57) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mayson go build more schools , especially in carrot bay and rebuild prospect reef if you want to mek sense
  • Hmmn (30/08/2022, 10:01) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    They need to stop exchanging sexual favors for time . Exploitation and abuse of women.
    Sick to my stomach!!
  • Infrastructure (30/08/2022, 10:18) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    The same monies you are allocating to this nonsense you should reconsider to fix the ROADS once and for all. Schools are still unfinished and where are the LIGHTS on the bad roads. Dead spots relative to Connectivity is still an issue with Telecoms...why not focus on beautification of the island first (clean up the view then work your way in), sewerage etc these things are PRIORITY SIR! You should not waste money on persons that are to be detained, do as other countries do, send them back on the same flight they came in illegally on or the boat that dropped them off, tell the captain do a roundtrip even if he has to face the consequences..USE YOUR HEAD AND RESOURCES IN A SMART WAY GOSH!!!!!!
    • Rubber Duck (30/08/2022, 15:29) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Who is in charge of road maintenance and why is he still in a job.?
  • Complainers complain about almost everything. (30/08/2022, 10:30) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    If it doesn't rain for a few weeks, they complained. If it rains weeks they complained. It detainees excape, they blame who every the feel like. If a plan is put forward to build a Detainees Center to prevent elegal immigrants from excaping many set their mind in complaining gear.
    • Makes no sense (30/08/2022, 12:17) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Who will man this detention centre? If it will be manned by human then it will make no dam. difference. They will still escape perhaps at a much higher rate.
    • :) (30/08/2022, 12:27) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      they are so annoying jeez
  • Real Macoy (30/08/2022, 10:39) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    Prospect Reef belongs to the Investment Club, not government.
    • @Real Macoy (30/08/2022, 15:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      "Teacher say to me if me tell ah lie me going to hell as soon as me die. Lie! Yuh hear lie?"
  • what a mess (30/08/2022, 12:13) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    WHAT THE .... What kind of centre? is it going to have automatic locks and no security guards? How could this be a priority when there are so many pressing situations in the BVI. I believe the only security there should be is for the BVI coast guards/immigration etc to be on the waters making sure that those illegal aliens do not make a stop in the BVI. Let them go to their intended destination. The US coast guards drive them in the BVI waters so the USVI does not have to pay to have them expatriated and BVI coast guards need to do likewise.
  • RedStorm (30/08/2022, 12:16) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Unless your country have adequate schools, primary, secondary, tietary, skilled, medical, marine and so forth, never ever try to build any immigration detention center. It will ruin your career. Look at the needs of the young people and help them be the best version of themselves.

    Using money to house illegals are a burden to society and the government purse. Do not do it!
  • nonsense (30/08/2022, 12:16) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Schuuupd..t a lk talk talk...always on a soapbox spewing untruths and pretend Governme nt on the move. Location of this phantom proposed detention Center cannot be divulged because it is n o n existent.
    The Prison is overloaded overcrowded and unsafe. It's population consists of 99.9% of nonBVIslanders, immigrants,and or their sons and daughters. Policing and day to day activities conducted by the same set of imports.
    Empty up the prison,make room and house the illegal entrants in Balsum... Transact with the UK to house the egregious non BVIlanders in addition to have the origin countries of some prisoners do their time there...suspend the visas and human imports from the repeated offending countries ....it will never be enough detention Center and prisons we could build to house these typical and predictable offenders...use the much needed funds for the betterment of our people. Rethink the choice of immigrants and countries.
    We and the future deserve better .




  • jokers (30/08/2022, 12:18) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Prospect reef is a detention centre right now. Lots of people live there and pay no rent.
  • pp (30/08/2022, 13:49) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Build it adjacent to the HM Prison and save money on security officers....let it run under prison officers.
    • Well (30/08/2022, 20:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @pp one was built there already and is still there next to the prison.
  • musa (30/08/2022, 13:56) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Under your ministry you build 1 for the stray animals which never really used ..can this work for the new center? Just trying to save tax money .
  • Y'all serious?? (30/08/2022, 14:22) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    THIS is your solution to the escaping detainees? Let's build them a specialised facility which needs to be paid for, staffed, maintained and managed? I'm sorry, but don't we have a prison that can hold for an overnight or few days stay for each detainee?
    And while I'm at it - don't we have schools to build and roads to fix and sewerage problems to deal with? Shouldn't those be a priority? Or are you just spewing piddle to create smoke and mirrors and make it look like you are taking action to fix the detainee problem?
    Steups!!
  • HMMM (30/08/2022, 15:35) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    What happen to the place the guy for the security company build in Johnson Ghut???? That can be used for the time being.
  • Wellsah (30/08/2022, 18:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    They have plans to build detention center and there is no public library in town. Why waste money on a detention center and you need a library. For years there have been no public library in town. Was a library even included in the ESHS plan?


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