I am very upset about this. One of our guests from the mainland (a US citizen) visited us this week and just left on an American Eagle flight today.
When going through Customs to leave St. Croix, the customs officer told her that he could not admit her without a passport because he couldn't prove that she was a US Citizen.
The Virgin Islands Department of Tourism has been very clear about this, as has the US Federal Government. "U.S. Citizens traveling to and returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the U.S. territory and do not need to present a passport." There are signs up all over the place that state you do not need a passport to travel to the US Virgin Islands, and I've heard and seen it advertised widely.
After some back and forth, they finally allowed her through.
This is the second guest of ours that this has happened to, so this is not a one-time occurrence. Why are these Customs officers making tourists to our islands uncomfortable by harassing them? This is just unbelievable.
Tales and thoughts from the founder of NormSoft (maker of Pocket Tunes), working and living in St. Croix, USVI
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2 comments:
It's time for our congressional representative to get involved. -- It's amazing that the Customs officer (who must live here) is that dumb. Or is it a power play? He having authority to intimidate,( in his feeble mind) therefore the ability to harass. Wasn't the other one a woman also?
Hmmm do you think there is a pattern beginning to form ?
2 that you know of and I wonder how many others he/she/they have done the same thing to.
I'm sorry to say that the only way this will ever get corrected is if enough people are told about it. Tourism Commissioner, Governor, Congressional Rep. __ Who knows if it will help. possibly even letters to the Editor.
One fool with a badge and a gun can sure give our heavenly island a bad reputation.
I actually had an odd experience of my own leaving STX. I was confronted and harassed about why I carried so much electronics. I started to cop an attitude with one of the local TSA officers luckily the officer standing at that center podium came over and let me pass finally.
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