The territory is one step closer to getting the new immigration detention centre that leaders have promised repeatedly since the previous one at Balsam Ghut began housing prison inmates more than a decade ago, officials announced.
On June 12, the Recovery and Development Agency awarded a $370,000 contract to the Virgin Islands company Trojan Design and Development Ltd. to design the new facility and manage its construction.
Officials did not say when the construction contract will be tendered or estimate the total cost of the project, but they said it will be funded through the $100 million loan the government secured last year from CIBC Caribbean bank.
Previous centre
The previous immigration detention centre at Balsam Ghut, which was completed in 2008, had the capacity to house 36 men and 24 women, officials said at the time.
But instead of immigration detainees, the centre was soon being used to house inmates to relieve the overcrowded prison next door.
Meanwhile, migrants apprehended in the territory — who in recent years have included a growing number of Haitians fleeing violence in their home country — often have been housed in temporary facilities including the Hotel Castle Maria in McNamara.
“We have faced many challenges over the years, and it has been a long journey — from losing our initial detention facility to finally reaching to this point where we can begin moving forward with the establishment of a new facility,” acting Chief Immigration Officer Nadia Demming-Hodge said during the June 12 signing ceremony, adding, “Regardless of the reason someone is detained, they should expect — and deserve — a better experience than what we currently offer.”
Planned centre
The proposed 12,000-square-foot facility will be a “secure, modern structure designed in compliance with international human rights conventions,” the RDA stated in a press release.
It will include separate quarters for males and females; a triage area for basic medical care; recreational space; and designated areas for processing, visitation and reception, according to the agency.
The centre will temporarily house detainees held for immigration-related reasons, such as people who entered the territory irregularly, overstayed their landing, breached entry conditions, are seeking asylum, or are subject to deportation orders, the RDA stated.
Ms. Demming-Hodge said the planned centre will set an example for the Caribbean.
“Many of our counterparts across the region also struggle with inadequate facilities, and I believe this new centre will position the Virgin Islands as a leader in secure and humane immigration detention,” she said.
The Department of Immigration will be the main beneficiary of the project, which is being led by the RDA in partnership with the Ministry of Financial Services, Economic Development and Digital Transformation.
Signing ceremony
During the signing ceremony on June 12, acting Premier Kye Rymer said using the CIBC loan for the project was necessary given longstanding concerns raised by the Immigration Department.
“We are encouraged to see this project reach this important milestone, and we remain intent on keeping the timeline and advancing it to construction as planned,” he said.
Sophia Berkeley, the ministry’s acting permanent secretary, said she expects value for money.
“We know that at times projects don’t always stay within budgetary constraints, but I am hopeful that through the design we will be able to deliver a facility we are satisfied with — both in terms of quality and cost.”
‘Very urgent’
RDA CEO Anthony McMaster said the Immigration Department has already undertaken preliminary work on the project, which he described as “long-awaited” and “very urgent.”
Trojan Design and Development Managing Director Ronnie Lettsome promised to work hard to deliver good value and stay on schedule.
“Having worked in the aviation industry, I’ve witnessed the challenges faced by immigration first-hand,” Mr. Lettsome said. “As stated before, this project is not just about infrastructure: It is about ethics, human dignity and setting a new standard for how we treat people entering our territory.”
The VI company was chosen following a procurement process that used the “quality-and-cost-based” method, according to the RDA.
For more information on RDA projects, go to the website www.bvirecovery.vg.
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