Anti-crime summit coming next year
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has stated that the government will be hosting an anti-crime summit in the first quarter of 2024, as the community continues to grapple with an uptick in serious crimes.
The Premier said the summit will draw on the expertise of various stakeholder groups including religious organisations, government agencies, schools, the police and other civil society groups.
“I am optimistic, now is not the time to despair. Now is the time to stand up and boldly proclaim the type of BVI we all want to live in,” the Premier said at a recent press conference. “Now is not the time to point fingers, now is the time for each and every entity to take responsibility for protecting this BVI for future generations to come.”
The Premier also said he has received the draft of an anti-crime strategy that will guide his government in attacking the issue of crime and violence.
In the meantime, Police Commissioner Mark Collins said he welcomes the anti-crime summit being planned by the government and looks forward to the collaboration of the various stakeholder groups that will give their input on crime in the community.
He said although the police have a role to play in fighting crime, a whole societal approach is needed to rid the territory of the issue.
“While it’s great to celebrate successes in the number of guns being recovered and tonnes of cocaine being seized, unless we have a whole societal approach to preventing crime, then it doesn’t mean anything at all,” Commissioner Collins stated. “We can keep arresting and seizing but if the tide of illegal drugs and firearms keep coming into the community, we’re fighting an uphill and a losing battle.”
“That’s why I welcome the anti-crime strategy and the opportunity for a seminar in the new year. Of course, the police have a role to play in that, but not the lead role. It is a whole societal approach that is necessary for us to create a BVI that we love and want to live in,” Commissioner Collins added.
The authorities have been putting a share of the crime fighting responsibility on residents whom they urge to share information about crimes in their community. Recently, Commissioner Collins gave residents credit, saying there is more willingness to share information than when he first arrived some years ago.
Residents remain concerned about crime but there is still a prevailing belief that violence producers shouldn’t be difficult to find in such a small community. Thus, many people maintain that the police would be able to rid the community of illegal weapons and violence producers if they look in the right places.
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Should be worse by next year, so I suppose it is entirely appropriate for our ‘leaders’ to wait until then! 😉
Politicians need to legislate and give the police the powers they need to protect the population and identify the criminals..they have delayed it so many years in truth to protect who?
Natalio and his nonsense approach again.
Does this guy really not understand he can’t be both be friends with criminals and at the same time pretend he wants to fight them? (this goes for a lot of people in our society by the way).
these dudes don’t care because many of them benefit from these illegal activities as our former premier can attest to
My family and I will winter holiday on another more peaceful Caribbean island these next few years instead of the gun crime BVI.
@ Salty Fish – the man … so yes waiting until next year works along with his and his crew, …, agenda. They want to ensure the vast majority of ppl of the Virgin Islands stay broke uneducated and stuck so that they can get away with their feckless leadership whilst being paid millions
It’s time to march this useless government out of office or the UK take over we can’t go on like this for a next 3 years.
The anti-crime summit is BS
Police Commissioner Mark Collins,is this guy real