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A National Embarrassment
#294374
01/21/2023 07:43 PM
01/21/2023 07:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 141 Brookline, Massachusetts and M...
Fitzhughlaw
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 141
Brookline, Massachusetts and M...
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This editorial was long-overdue, but a great piece about the idiotic and inexcusable delays tourists faced at the Road Town Fast Ferry port of entry where there were only 2 immigration officers on duty for an afternoon arrival of a ferry from STT. https://www.bvibeacon.com/editorial-an-apalling-arrival/. Well-written and on point, these excerpts cogently summarize the gravity of the issue: "Such treatment is a national embarrassment, and it is a major threat to a tourism industry that has been working overtime to recover from the pandemic as it faces increasing competition from abroad. ... Of course, we understand that Immigration and Customs have important jobs to do and that arrival queues can be a hassle the world over. But this is no reason that a small jurisdiction like the Virgin Islands can’t do far better. And do better it must." Where is the Minister of Tourism? Oh yeah, being a real leader by saying "things need to improve" [ya think?]: "On Friday, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley, who is the minister of tourism, told reporters that the government has been working to improve the arrival experience at ports of entry. It is clearly not doing enough." The first excerpt above characterized it perfectly - “a national embarrassment," and it's NOT the fault of the individual immigration officers (I've always found them to be very polite and professional), but rather mismanagement of them as personnel. Every time I read some epistle online replete with handwringing and all manner of Sturm and Drang about the importance of growing the Territory’s economy I just get disgusted, because that simply won't happen as long as it has a bloated government run by feckless bureaucrats who don’t realize that things like this aren’t just biting the hands that feed them, but are in fact, cutting off a finger.
Last edited by Fitzhughlaw; 01/21/2023 07:46 PM.
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Re: A National Embarrassment
[Re: Fitzhughlaw]
#294472
01/24/2023 10:34 AM
01/24/2023 10:34 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 968 Middleburg, VA
cwoody
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 968
Middleburg, VA
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Just changed our BVI travel plans in May.
Canceled our UA IAD-STT flights and booked Jet Blue DCA-SJU-EIS
Difference in prices was only. $128. No brainer!
No ferry's for me!
Chuck W.
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Re: A National Embarrassment
[Re: GeorgeC1]
#294497
01/24/2023 04:52 PM
01/24/2023 04:52 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 968 Middleburg, VA
cwoody
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 968
Middleburg, VA
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Guess that would be trip insurance. And a bag full of patients.
Chuck W.
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Re: A National Embarrassment
[Re: Fitzhughlaw]
#294517
01/24/2023 09:19 PM
01/24/2023 09:19 PM
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,064 GA/NC
GeorgeC1
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,064
GA/NC
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I don’t know who you are using on the SJU-EIS leg. What I recommend is the night before use flight aware to check the status of the leg. Check it again in the morning as you board your US flight. If your proactive you may be able to audible before leaving the US. If issues come up later have the phone numbers of a couple of charter airline options. They can save the day! Looking at tomorrow as a example IC has already cancelled their morning flight. If you catch this in advance you might get rebooked on that leg or could ask to fly direct STT.
Last edited by GeorgeC1; 01/24/2023 09:50 PM.
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Re: A National Embarrassment
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#294531
01/25/2023 09:21 AM
01/25/2023 09:21 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 968 Middleburg, VA
cwoody
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 968
Middleburg, VA
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"patients"??? Not sure having extra folks along would help... If I am patient and have patience at the same time does that count as multi-tasking? I will write a book if I have to book another flight.
Chuck W.
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Re: A National Embarrassment
[Re: GeorgeC1]
#294532
01/25/2023 09:26 AM
01/25/2023 09:26 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 968 Middleburg, VA
cwoody
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 968
Middleburg, VA
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I don’t know who you are using on the SJU-EIS leg. Thanks George. We will be on Silver. Their record is not great but better than IC. If you can call only 2% chance of being canceled but 49% change of being delayed better. Silver flight stats SJU-EIS
Chuck W.
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