Anti-Crime Summit kicks off with call for unity and action
The Virgin Islands has launched a three-day Anti-Crime Summit aimed at tackling rising crime by bringing together government, law enforcement, schools, faith groups and community leaders.
The summit, held under the theme “OUR Virgin Islands: Safe Communities, Prosperous Territory”, opened on Tuesday with a public information session. It forms part of efforts by the National Security Council to develop a National Crime Prevention and Reduction Strategy.
Governor Daniel Pruce told participants the summit must go beyond talk. “We have a great opportunity over the coming days to have a very broad conversation about crime, the causes of crime, how we can respond to crime,” Pruce stated.
He stressed that collaboration was key.
“The responses to crime; dealing with this challenge that confronts us all go beyond security. Security has got to be part of the answer but it’s a part of the answer. All these other interventions which communities can work together on, which ministries can engage in, which NGOs can help support, they are also part of the answer,” he explained.
Pruce urged attendees to treat engagement, listening and action as guiding points over the three days.
“There’s got to be action that comes after that. There’s got to be follow-up. We need all of us, myself included, to make very firm and clear and concrete commitments in terms of what we are going to do,” he said.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley told the gathering the issue required everyone’s involvement. “This crime summit is an important moment for us. I don’t expect that over the next three days we’re going to solve the challenge of crime. But what I do expect is for us as a community to come together and to put our hands up to say, I’m going to be a part of the solution,” Dr Wheatley stated.
He pointed to the need to strengthen families, schools and communities. “We need to ensure that we strengthen that institution to ensure that the family and the school work together for a stronger young person. And we also need to strengthen our community. Because despite what the family does, despite what the school does, if we have those negative influences in our community, those young persons who are particularly vulnerable can fall by the wayside,” he explained.
The programme will feature students from across the territory, cultural performances, panel discussions, and a “Youth Voice to Power” session where young people will question leaders directly. Officials said the summit will close with formal commitments from government, law enforcement and partners to carry the work forward.
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Did premiere Wheatley invite I mean pay Vybz Kartel quarter million USD again to come open the crime summit with his celebratory criminal songs?
positive step forward
next step is presence and speeches at the schools
peer pressure them into not siding with crime and criminal activities
make them feel that sex,drugs,rum,partying and fast life is not cool and not something to be proud of
when half there friend group or peers dont enterain nonsense they will feel left out and do the right thing
stop having people dress up as gunman coming to jouvert band then costumes we dont appreciate robbers and gunman around here if them trying fit the theme of the bvi dress as pirate or as natalio
stop the artist from coming here to sing songs about sex drugs gangs and violence
stop allowing local artist with big chains and a criminal history perform on stage in front the youths it sends the wrong message. let them local artist background and check the song lyrics as well see what them promoting on there songs,social platforms and music videos if any
Parents need to raise their children to be law abiding citizens. Fathers need to step up and be a father rather than a sperm donor.
Teach them right from wrong. Teach them to respect themselves and others including our elderly. When they do wrong tell them so; do not make excuses for them when they are clearly wrong.
You may live to regret doing so, as they may bring pain and heartache to your doorstep one day.
The worst kind of love for child is to deny and defend their wrong doings. When you do, you are setting them up for failure and putting them one step further towards contact with law enforcement.
If all that fails, and they end up on the wrong side of the law, then the law has not choice than to deal with them, something you would not like.
No putty footing around. Who don’t hear will feel. Idealy, I personally would like to see every young person live their best lives with no contact with law enforement, but those who are out here creating havoc in society needs to be dealt with.
If it take for them to be sent to Balsom Ghut, oh well, that was their choice. Everything we do in this life has consequences good or bad. When you do your wrong, be pepared to face the music. I have zero sympathy or tolerance for criminals. Zero…ziltch.
Now let’s see, if such summits, would, perhaps, ENCOURAGE, persons to disclose illegal firearms, illegal drugs, and illicit sexual practices- their sources, and participants- hiding out, within the homes, and certain segments of our society!!!
This country need some serious prayers. The summit should have started with such if they did not.
The panel needs honest people. That man from prison should not be on the panel
Perhaps if victims of crime were not treated like the perpetrators, that would go along away.