Premier: Ensuring compliance in marine sector is ‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t’
He said during a press conference on March 18, 2022, in response to questions on the issue, that public officers were grilled by the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) about whether enforcements were being done or not and the integrity of the organisation was being called into question.
“The Customs have not just enforced the laws, Customs has continued to work with all the agencies to make sure that they fall in line with the new regulations or even with existing regulations and give the timeframe to do so,” he remarked.
Addressing the matter of The Moorings being faced with millions in fines for non-compliance he said, “It is a challenge when these things happen but we also have to look at safety, we also have to look at the reputation of the Virgin Islands.”
Protection for all
“We also have to look at the flip side, that it is a protection of all stakeholders, private and public. Because if the law enforcement agencies are not satisfied that it is fully compliant and they don’t do their job and something else happens, the media with due respect will be asking us a different question. Why didn’t you stop this, why didn’t you [if ] you knew this was not so why didn’t you adhere to the law?”
He continued: “So it is one of those questions where I understand you are asking, but it is Friday afternoon and I try to stay with my prayers but this is an almost damned if you do, and damned if you don’t business.”
Gap analysis
Meanwhile, Director of the VI Shipping Registry (VISR) Mr. John Samuel informed that when he joined the Shipping Registry he found a gap analysis and it was as a result of the UK’s Maritime and Coast Guard Agency’s assessment of VISR’s performance indicating the areas where the country was falling short.
He said to ensure that the VI remained compliant and didn’t lose its status, these gaps, including the Coastal State, which is how a state administers and maintains safety in its coastal waters, had to be closed.
“The regulations were in place from 2004; I cannot say why or why not they were enforced but my job at the time was to make sure that we became compliant and we began that process at that time,” he explained.
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29 Responses to “Premier: Ensuring compliance in marine sector is ‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t’”
Do not let them intimidate you. You have a country to run and you will never please every body.
The vip going back in
BUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR YOU CAN FILE TAX AND GET BACK SOME OF YOUR MONEY IF NOT MORE, WHAT ARE WE GETTING BACK? BESIDE THE GOVERNMENT GAINING LOOK HOW FAT THE POLITICAN THEM LOOK, THE ONE FROM THE 7TH DISTRICT NOW CATCHING HESELF TOO.
The Moorings is an international company with Owners of Yachts from different parts of the world.
If the the owners of these Yachts or the Moorings itself really need those parts and equipment, they can get it here withing one week.
Stop making excuses and follow the dam Law. Those excuses are too dam poor.
I do not own a Yacht or boat or involved in a the Marine industry but if I need a part or equipment for a Yacht I can get them here within one week.
Stop being Dam Lawless. I know for sure you all must follow the Law if you all were in the U.S Virgin Islands or the U.S Main Land so do not come to the BVIs and do what you all want.
Shipment may have slowed but not stop. Again I will say. Stop looking excuses and damn lawless. Again you all will respect any other Country or island laws and policy. So obey and respect this.
You all had sufficient time to get your ask together.