Gun crimes could seriously harm BVI reputation – Dr. Smith
Alex Holder - BVI News Staff Reporter - Wednesday, August 31st, 2011 at 2:17 PM
Opposition Leader Dr. Orlando Smith has expressed his “deep concern” about the crime situation in the BVI, particularly gun crimes.
He reminded the House of Assembly on Tuesday of his many voiced concerns about the subject in that forum and many others.
“We all recognize that if this continues in this little territory of ours, it could really do harm to our reputation and all aspects, both from the point of view tourism and financial services and seriously affect our way of living,” Dr. Smith said.
He cited the specifically last Friday’s (August 26) murder that resulted from a robbery on Main Street around 8:00pm.
“That is not good for this community,” he said, adding that it would be wise for legislators and all the people of the BVI to get together and say out loud “We have had enough of this criminal activity. We have had enough of gun crimes and there is something that we need to do about it.”
Dr. Smith said it is time that people realize that it is important for them not to continue to turn a blind eye and begin to cooperate more fully with law enforcement.
He lauded the efforts of the police force for taking several steps in the direction of aiding idea of anonymous tipping other measures designed to stimulate the public’s interest in reporting crime and criminals.
Although the punishment for gun crimes have increased, Dr. Smith is dissatisfied with what he termed as “slap on the wrist” for persons who go before the courts with illegal weapons charges.
He suggested that it was time that the legislature consider increasing the penalties for other illegal weapons.
“I think that we as legislators need to have a look at the situation…” Dr. Smith said.
In the meantime, on Tuesday night, police hosted a community meeting for the Spanish public at the Band Stand in Road Town in response to last Friday’s killing.
There several individuals expressed their dissatisfaction with the manner in which local law enforcement and other superiors treat them.
The police sought to instill in them however the benefits of developing stronger relations with law enforcement and assist as best they can in the ongoing murder investigation.
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2 Gun Shots were fired in East End this morning early. What was that about and will anything be done about it?
I agree with Blah Blah Blah mandatory 10 yrs when a gun is used in the commission of a crime, and mandatory 7 years when a gun is found, mandatory 1 year per each explosives that is found, and i bet you all the criminals will wake up, but them system never puts mouth where its money is!!! bvi will remain the same and get worst, cause the government is doing noting but talking, Dr. Smith is a joke all he doing is talking cause its election time, Talk is so cheap, and while it is cheap it is spoiling the contours of this little nation, i wish the system and the government will get real and deal with situations much needed to be dealt with, because too late shall be the cry when the place gone completely to the dogs of crimes, the still do not want to arm the police but yet still the police must be so vigilant and productive, if i was a cop i would have preferred to work in the station every time i come on duty, its is senseless to put your lives in danger in the name of protecting this country, when the politician and the senior of the police department are asleep in their beds when the little man got to roam, i sure all those white guys from the uk are in their beds too. Increase patrols int road town with the police having no guns is an additional laugh joke for the criminals, u all do not see how close is the police station from where gun crimes, murders are being committed. The system makes the criminals laugh at the police, do not blame them, if it was me i would sure come when the clips are emptied, its only natural human survival instincts.
ACTION SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS…pass the damn mandatory 10 year sentence for anyone caught using a gun during a crime. All everybody doing is talk talk talk talk talk talk
You also need to pass a mandatory 5 years for first offence of possession of a gun, 10 years for repeat offenders.
Dr Smith, you are so absolutely correct. I applaud your efforts to speak on this matter now. We need to know the issues and where the NDP stand on these heavy hitting issues. When pillars (tourism) driving the economy are affected so are our people. Guns only serve to drive people away to “better” islands – of which there are plenty!
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