By Isle of Wight Observer
Pick a side – any side. Did you support the Island’s two RNLI all-weather lifeboats crossing the Channel last Sunday, or did you oppose it? I know you’ve already made up your mind – everyone has. Either you’re relaxed about the whole business of migrant crossings, or you’re increasingly furious about them.
I’m in a tricky place because I’m a sailor, and my family has been involved with lifeboats for generations. I even pulled on a drysuit and did a rescue myself once. Lifeboat crews have my total respect; the RNLI’s £217,000-a-year Chief Exec less so.
Lifeboats exist to rescue those in peril on the sea under any circumstances, but many believe they shouldn’t be used to facilitate the collection of illegals. Once those dinghies are at sea, why doesn’t the French coastguard pick them up? The ones on Sunday apparently didn’t want help from the French, but once in British waters their dinghy suddenly had a problem. Strange that! The French are evidently not serious about preventing crossings anyway, despite us paying them millions. Nor are they willing to take those who try back to France.
If you’re caught with an asylum seeker in the back of your lorry in Dover – and truck drivers often are – the government fines you £10,000 per person; no argument. Even if you were unaware they had smuggled themselves into your trailer.
I am guessing that’s why the lifeboats were not allowed to land migrants in Portsmouth or Southampton on Sunday. It’s illegal, so how does the Government justify despatching lifeboats on a 12-hour mission to collect them mid Channel? Be in no doubt, it wasn’t the coastguard who sent our boats out there; the order came from the Home Office, which also arranged a fleet of coaches, food, and reception and medical facilities. The protests in Dover last Saturday were a sure sign that people are sick to death of this issue. I don’t condone their tactics; blocking ports or motorways is never the answer. But how many Prime Ministers told us they would stop the boats? It’s been 20 years, and none did. Labour claimed they would “smash the gangs”. The gangs haven’t been smashed; they just bought bigger boats. “The number of crossings is down,” they cry, but these new super dinghies have the capacity of mid sized airliners; you can spot them from space.
The RNLI landed 140 people on Sunday, but a total of 625 arrived, and 143 more on Monday. A good source tells me that on Sunday morning, St Mary’s staff were warned that they might declare a major incident. They were confused because they were unaware of any local disaster. Later, all became clear. I wonder when the authorities first knew about the giant dinghy heading our way? It was clearly early enough to send lifeboats on the long journey. Apparently, the Island’s lifeboats collected the migrants directly from the giant dinghy; the Bembridge boat went alongside first, Yarmouth second.
The IW Council says it was involved all day, and that there were no plans to land the boat people here because we “lack the facilities”. So, if the facilities are provided, will the migrants come here? Our lifeboats are based at either end of the Island, helping protect ships and boats in the Solent. What if a ferry got into difficulty during their long absence? Did anyone think this through? If the government really wants to send lifeboats to collect migrants, to protect donations they should reimburse the RNLI in full.
Ultimately, the only way to solve this crisis and prevent civil disobedience is to detain every single person who arrives here until we determine exactly who they are and if they’re genuine. Regardless of the cost, for public safety, we must lock them all up while we process their claims.