Extra security measures will be in effect this weekend at Cyril E. King Airport, and St. Thomas harbors.
St. Thomas will require a 48-hour notice of arrival from incoming vessels as opposed to the normal 24-hour notice, according to U.S. Coast Guard Officer Barbara McDonald. This applies to arrivals for Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.
McDonald said this is to ensure that all onboard equipment is Y2K compliant. This applies to all electronic as well as computer equipment.
More stringent Y2K precautionary measures are being taken in another U. S. territory. American Samoa is under a 45-hour closure order by the USCG from 11 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 30, through 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 1. The airport in Pago Pago also will be closed Dec. 31.
American Samoa will be the actual first U.S. territory to be touched by the new millennium, hours ahead of the Virgin Islands.
At CEK Airport, Joe Cranston, airport manager, said, "You will see increased police visibility. There will be an extra presence of uniformed officers all over the airport, especially at the baggage area."
Cranston stressed that no airports in the Virgin Islands or the mainland have received any terrorist threats. However, he said, the increased airport police presence should act as a deterrent to any problems in that area.
He said the increased number of officers is primarily to cover any unanticipated problems with Y2K.
