Minister of Communications and Works, with responsibility for Ports, Honourable Kye Rymer, held an emergency meeting today with key stakeholders in response to the recent armed robbery at the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park. The meeting primarily addressed the recent robbery at the Pier Park to ensure the safety of the park and its users, and collaborate on robust strategies to enhance security measures.

The emergency meeting brought together various stakeholders including the Chairpersons of the British Virgin Islands Ports Authority (BVIPA) and the Tortola Pier Park Ltd (TPPL), members of the Board of Directors, the Chairperson of the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board (BVITB), the Acting Permanent Secretary for the Ministry for Communication and Works, senior members of the BVI Ports Authority, Tortola Pier Park Ltd and BVI Tourist Board teams, as well as the Acting Commissioner of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF).

To readily assist and facilitate the Royal Virgin Islands Police authorities in their investigations, Tortola Pier Park Ltd and the BVI Ports Authority have promptly provided full access to the park's CCTV cameras. Today's emergency discussion has proven to be successful as plans were outlined to support the implementation of comprehensive mitigation strategies that will ensure the utmost safety of the park and its valued visitors.

To address the concerns arising from this incident, a thorough security audit of the Tortola Pier Park has been commissioned. This audit will precisely evaluate the existing security protocols and systems in place, identify potential vulnerabilities, and propose necessary enhancements. The resulting comprehensive report will be presented to Honourable Kye Rymer, as well as the Boards of both BVIPA and TPPL on July 10, 2023.

During the audit process, the Ministry has proactively requested additional support from the RVIPF to augment the security presence at the Pier. This proactive measure aims to reinforce public confidence in the areas of security while balancing guest experience, until the audit is concluded.

Honourable Rymer emphasises his unwavering commitment to the safety of the citizens and visitors of the Virgin Islands alike. The Ministry of Communications and Works, BVIPA, TPPL, and BVITB are dedicated to promptly addressing this incident and diligently implementing measures to fortify the security capabilities at the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park. Updates on its progress and further initiatives will be communicated to the public as progressive measures are put in place.

###

NOTES TO EDITORS

Photos 1, 2 and 3: Photos of Honourable Kye Rymer and other key stakeholders from the emergency meeting concerning security at the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park in response to the recent robbery. (Photo credit: Provided)