BVI : Chief Immigration Officer Dennis Jennings said the immigration policy is candid on the issue of prostitution and gives the Immigration Department the remit to deal with individuals suspected to be involved in prostitution.
Speaking at the Crime Conference on June 8, Jennings stated that the legislation is clear as it relates to “any prostitute or any person who may be living or receiving or may have lived on or received proceeds of prostitution”.
He added: “This is a very touchy subject and it is one that should be very difficult to define, but we have had cases where we have been able to do so. I won’t go into any great details, but it is a very sensitive subject. One that one has to be very careful in dealing with, but it is on the books and we have to carry it out. We do have a few cases where we have successfully addressed situations of this nature.”
While the concern of prostitution appears to be more low-key, residents and community leaders have expressed concerns in the past about the known strip clubs that are openly operating. As recent as April 15, during a panel discussion held at the New Life Baptiste Church titled “BVI’s Dirty Little Secrets” it was announced that the establishments that are currently operating as strip clubs are not licensed to do so.
A resident pointedly asked: “The BVI is a small community so the police department is aware, I am assuming, of all the bars and all establishments, that although they are registered as bars sir, they are still using it for modern means. What can be done so that if you are registered as a bar it stays as only a bar? What has been done and what can be done because you cannot sit there and act as if you don’t know.”
Detective Kendal Bobb of the Family and Juvenile Unit of the RVIPF, who was one of the panelist, in response to the question, said: “I agree with you, but it may not be a question for me to answer at this stage. I am not in charge of the RVIPF. I am here for a specific topic.”
But Bobb disclosed that the police is partnering with the Immigration Department to detect such activities. The officer stated that there was a case involving a woman who it was believed to have entered the BVI illegally and was assumed to be an exotic dancer.
The detective said: “I could remember I had one case where a girl from Atlanta came here as an exotic dancer and was raped, but she refused to cooperate with the police because she was here on a mission to make some money and go back. She didn’t want to stay here, be in the system and gave no information to the police. But what I have found out is that she came in here illegally and because of that, I called immigration and we worked on getting her out. But she refused to cooperate. These are some of the things that we are challenged by. There are human trafficking, persons coming in illegally-some countries like East Asia, Santo Domingo, USA, and Jamaica. They are coming here to make their money. We have to be careful…If you know of any case you must report it to immigration.”
It was further revealed that some of the dancers for these bars come from Asia, Santo Domingo and the USA.
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