Delegate Donna M. Christensen attended the first meeting with the new chairman of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas taskforce, Brigadier General Juan Medina Lamela, and joined other federal and Virgin Islands law enforcement officials this week in Puerto Nuevo, Puerto Rico.
In a statement, Christensen said the purpose for attending this May 7 meeting was two-fold: Considering the ongoing violent crimes plaguing the Virgin Islands, Christensen sought an update on federal law enforcement assistance the territory is receiving and the status of the Caribbean border strategy that she and Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, worked together to establish.
Christensen said when asked about additional assets and fast boats designated for Virgin Islands waters being located in Miami, the U.S. Coast Guard reported that the Puerto Rico Sector is undergoing renovations which will allow the facility to house the new cutters. During the meeting, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agreed with Christensen’s concern that there is not enough staffing in the U.S. Virgin Islands and the agency announced the recent hiring of three new personnel.
“I thanked (CBP) for their assistance with the surveillance of mail for guns and drugs during a time when we had no Postal Inspector, but pointed out that I was also concerned about seaports and shipping containers, as well as what might come through our airports,” said Christensen. “It is my hope that additional funding would be forthcoming given the needs of both territories, and I will continue to work for that. I will be looking in that strategy, however, for how we can use the staff and assets/resources we have more efficiently and effectively as well.”
Federal and local law enforcement agencies, except for the U.S. Coast Guard, expressed concern over budget cuts. Lamela said the way budget allocations are done needs to be changed because it hampers HIDTA’s ability to provide continuous support. He said they expect more air assets to be available to assist in surveillance and interdiction.
Christensen said it was reported that all Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands law enforcement submitted final comments and the strategy should be completed on schedule for May 17.
