BEWARE THE BVI

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For those of you traveling to the BVI. BE CAREFUL!!!!!!!!! The BVI has some very strange ideas of justice. My wife and I were on our pleasure boat on 24 September 2007, 5 miles from the nearest land. We were fishing with a couple of spinning rods with artificial bait. No fish on board. What we did not know is that the BVI had extened its territorial fishing limit to 12 miles a month prior. We did not know because the law was not published. We were arrested for pleasure fishing without a license. We were held in jail over night. The next day at the "trial" the judge told us that a message had to be sent to tourists who broke laws, even ones that they were not aware of, in the BVI. My wife was fined US$1000 for an "immigration" violation. I was also charged US$1000 for the immigration violation. The vioation? Having a fishing line in the water. WE WERE OVER 5 MILES FROM SHORE. I was also charged US$45,000, yes forty five THOUSAND. Since we did not have the much money with us, or anywhere else, we borrowed some money to pay my wifes fine. Because I could not pay I was sentenced to 1 year in the MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON on Tortola. After 43 days the governor of the BVI granted me clemency. And I had to pay "only" US$1000 for the immigration violation. What a wonderful way to treat tourists! Don't believe it? Do an internet search. Richard Baker Virgin Islands. The story was covered by the BBC and AP. What other minor types of laws do the BVI courts think need correction by sending a message to tourists. BE CAREFUL.

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