BVI Customs Initiative

How many of you have taken the Ferry from Red Hook to West End, excited to start on your Tortola yacht charter adventure, only to wait in line in the heat to get through Customs. Especially if you travel on Saturday, that line can seem endless has BVIers return from a St. Thomas shopping trip! Well, things are soon going to get better!! As of Wednesday, April 15th, the Customs Department is testing an initiative - the green line/red line system- that will ease travel for passengers when they arrive at the Territory's port of entry. The concern was that the limited space at the territory's sea ports, especially at West End and Road Town, posed significant border security and enforcement challenges for workers. It also raised several concerns about the safety for the Port's users, as well as concerns of a congested and uncomfortable environment and insufficient space to properly examine goods. The Tourist Board, the Immigration Department, Ferry Operators and the Ports Authority have collaborated to create this initiative which will officially take effect on Tuesday, April 21, 2009. The green line/red line system will work as follows: passengers with goods to declare will go to the red line and special needs passengers and those with nothing to declare will go to the green line. This should alleviate congestion at the ports of entry which should make the arrival area more comfortable and pleasant. With the renovations at the West End Ferry Terminal and this new Customs initiative, you should be limin in no time, mon! - Donna

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