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BVI must not become a ‘gun violence’ territory, Governor says

While a recent gun amnesty offered by the Royal Virgins Island Police Force (RVIPF) was patently unsuccessful, Governor John Rankin has still managed to find a silver lining in the number of guns taken off the streets in recent months.

The force had issued a call months ago for persons in possession of illegal guns and offensive weapons as well as those who had knowledge of the whereabouts of guns or ammunition to turn them in to the RVIPF without penalty.

“Well, the particular amnesty campaign to which we refer wasn’t very productive in terms of weapons being handed in,” said Governor Rankin who is responsible for the RVIPF. “But what I can say is that in the past year, the Royal Virgins Island Police Force has made a record number of findings of guns and getting them away from those who would wish to use those guns for illegal purposes.” 

Police late last year discovered a trove of high powered weapons and ammunition as well as drugs and cash at a home in the Belmont Estate area and arrested and charged several persons who occupied the premises for related offences. This is in addition to several other gun finds that have been made during the course of the year so far.

One person implicated in that major gun and drug find has also very recently been charged with the murder of a person who was killed in the Fish Bay area of Tortola early last year.

But even as Governor Rankin praised the RVIPF for its progress in removing some guns off the streets, he noted that the task is not yet completed.

“We do not want, we must not become a territory where guns rule and where gun violence rules and I welcome the successful actions the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force have taken and the arrests that have been made, but there’s more work to be done,” the Governor said. 

In the meantime, the governor offered some assurance that more will continue to be done to have guns removed from these shores.

“I and the Commissioner of Police and I’m sure the government are fully committed to continuing to drive guns out of the BVI and tackle those who would to use them for unlawful purposes,” Governor Rankin said.

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11 Comments

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  1. IS THIS A JOKE says:

    I quote “the government are fully committed to continuing to drive guns out of the BVI and tackle those who would to use them for unlawful purposes”

    Yeah right. The head of the elected government is the one who was allegedly harboring the man who was distributing guns. The big boss man himself is only not running the show still thanks to the USA lawmen. If it wasn’t for them we would all still be here bowing to him calling him the honorable every day. Oh we still do call him the honorable but at least the US is borrowing his physical presence from us for a while. Seriously, we must hang our heads in shame for electing a man to lead us whose greed is only eclipsed by his waistline. He sold out the integrity of our freedom, our culture and our Lil nation for a few pieces of silver. What a ting to tell da King.

    Guns are so rife in the BVI now because we bred a culture of crime for decades.One where perpetrators of major crimes are lauded as national heros. Their people protected by politicians. It’s a disgrace and the UK let it happen.

    There is only one way to change this culture and that is to lock up anyone found in possession of a single firearm. Those found with multiple need to be sent to the UK to serve for life. The prison here needs major overhaul so they these 2 bit gangsters fear going there instead of considering it a badge of honor and a lil vacation.

    We need as a people to want a society where we can all feel safe. These uneducated punks holding society to ransom with their firearms means that they run the country and not the people. No person is willing to tell the truth on the gangsters business for fear of ending up full a bullet dem.

    Nobody trusts the police to protect them.

    Step 1 – New Gun legislation that empowers the police and the courts
    Step 2 – Vigorous enforcement
    Step 3 – Education, train the youth to understand from age 4 that if you play with guns in the Virgin Islands we guarantee that you will end up in a coffin or locked in a cold cage within a year of touching that thing. Once we can come good on that promise then the people will change their ways.

    Right now half our kids looking to get a gun so they can play bad man. Too disGUSTing what we have become. I sucking my teeth all de way to mudda England.

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  2. Rubber Duck says:

    Are you familiar Mr Rankin with the expression “ locking the stable door after the horse has bolted “ ?

    The biggest problem we have are our gun worshipping, neanderthal thinking neighbours.

    Really savage penalties for possession are about the only solution here but even that wont necessarily work.

    Like 18
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  3. Mad Max says:

    Additionally, the latest person arrested (Garraway) with a firearm and charged with intent to endanger life was given bail. What kind of message is this? How do we expect to clean the place up?

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  4. Smuggling says:

    business thrives on weapons, ammo, cash, drugs and humans so STOP the smugglers. All of the above items come from the islands east and west of the BVI so secure the marine borders ASAP.

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  5. sub says:

    I do hope people realize that while white men make it legal for them to bear and carry arms. Its a crime for a black man to carry arms. Main time they gun us down in cold blood with out eve a mask and get away scot free. Yes it is not right to kill your own brother but having legal arms and away of protecting one self and family should be allowed, Criminals will always have guns and I human have and right to life. I should also be able to protect myself for police can not be everywhere and ass of now can not be trusted. Still many dirty cops still in the force

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  6. @sub says:

    This article is about the BVI. Sounds like you are just a criminal.

  7. @sub says:

    You can protect yourself in a number of ways. Get a dog and stay out of situations that make you feel you need a gun. Any item for legitimate protection will be most useful in close range situations. Guns are overkill for self defense in this territory.

    If you cant reach them, and they can not reach you, what makes you feel you cant handle the situation in another way?

    England has never been an advocate for public gun ownership that is why it was enshrined in the American constitution when they separated.

    On the other hand there should be education on self defense and what weapons if any are legal to carry.

    We need practical balance. Provide education & alternatives so people who are so inclined will not earn for a gun to feel capable of ‘protecting themselves’.

    Your attitude is ignorant. Big man hiding behind a gun. you are probably a hot head too as you sound very entitled. Entitled to another’s life???? Not everyone should own a gun that is why were in this mess to begin with.

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  8. Road Town Rebel says:

    A gun in hand is better than a cop on the phone everytime!

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  9. did U see says:

    any of these so called politicians PROTESTING OVER ANYTHING ????? ? ( GUNS , MURDERS DRUGS SOME SAT IN THE HOA AND AGREED TO EVERYTHING THEIR MASTER DEMANDED / ORDERED ?/they all refused the UK LOAN/ they refused the offer of the royal navy ,look at the amount of money that was given to the bandages for holding and storing of drugs ? and they all were QUIET like a church mouse ? ? ( but when the video of the horrific and brutal murder of the guy in fish bay was seen by everybody LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF HYPOCRITES OPENED UP ON THE GOVERNOR / THE CHIEF OF POLICE, SOME EVEN WANTED TO TAKE UP ARMS TO GO AND FIGHT THE UK ?? ? NOW THEY USING RACISM COLONIALISM AND WHATEVER THEIR DIRTY MINDS CON CREATE TO COVER THEIR CLANDISTINE ACTIVITIES ( THE UP HOLDERS IS WORSE 6HAN THE THIEF ) SO ITS NOT FAT BOI ALONE

  10. did U see says:

    any of these so called politicians PROTESTING OVER ANYTHING ????? ? ( GUNS , MURDERS DRUGS SOME SAT IN THE HOA AND AGREED TO EVERYTHING THEIR MASTER DEMANDED / ORDERED ?/they all refused the UK LOAN/ they refused the offer of the royal navy ,look at the amount of money that was given to the barges for holding and storing of drugs ? and they all were QUIET like a church mouse ? ? ( but when the video of the horrific and brutal murder of the guy in fish bay was seen by everybody LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF HYPOCRITES OPENED UP ON THE GOVERNOR / THE CHIEF OF POLICE, SOME EVEN WANTED TO TAKE UP ARMS TO GO AND FIGHT THE UK ?? ? NOW THEY USING RACISM COLONIALISM AND WHATEVER THEIR DIRTY MINDS CAN CREATE TO COVER THEIR CLANDISTINE ACTIVITIES ( THE UP HOLDERS IS WORSE THAN THE THIEF ) SO ITS NOT FAT BOI ALONE

  11. Anonymous says:

    The glorification of the criminal lifestyle is prevalent amongst the youths. Just take one look at the amount of men and women wearing ski mask with cuts out at J’ouvert. Sad.

    Like 2
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