BVI sees spike in gun-related arrests
The British Virgin Islands is grappling with an upward trend in gun-related crimes, reflected in the number of arrests made by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) in November.
According to the RVIPF’s latest arrest blotter, at least six individuals were charged with firearm-related offences last month.
On November 15, police arrested 32-year-old Richard Baronville from Long Bush and 24-year-old Kahlim Smith from Nottingham Estate, charging them with possession of a prohibited firearm and unlawful possession of explosives.
Two days later, 20-year-old Daniel Maduro from Long Bush was charged with carrying a firearm without a license and unlawful possession of explosives.
On November 29, 45-year-old Luiz Bethelmy from Great Mountain and Dania Castello were both charged with keeping a firearm without a license and unlawful possession of explosives.
Additionally, 18-year-old Keanus Smart from Free Bottom was charged with possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and unlawful possession of explosives. Details of this incident were not disclosed.
Gang violence concerns
Just recently Detective Chief Inspector Davis of the RVIPF expressed concern about escalating gun violence in the territory.
His statement followed the November 8 shooting of K’zhari Stoutt in Long Bush. The RVIPF released a wanted flyer naming Shemoi Carey, 22, of Huntum’s Ghut, and K’Shawn Martin, 18, of Sand Box Road, as suspects connected to the shooting. The pair are reportedly members of a gang known as the Money Boys.
The gang is said to comprise approximately 25 young men aged between 17 and 25, spread across various communities in the Territory. Members are believed to be involved in criminal activities and possess unlicensed firearms.
While the RVIPF has confirmed its investigation into the Money Boys gang and its activities, no further updates on the recent incidents or arrests have been provided to the public.
Authorities continue to urge residents to report any suspicious activities or information related to gun violence.
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The BVI is now officially a cowboy town
“The BVI is now officially a cowboy town.” No it’s not, because in US cowboy towns 150 years ago, guns were possessed by not just bad guys, but also good guys. The BVI is experiencing what we in the US have known for a long time – if you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns.
But we don’t have school mass shootings. I will stick with our way thanks.
Those shootings were not done by lawful gun owners. There is no question that guns need to be kept out of the hands of outlaws, but clearly in the BVI, this is NOT happening. If you think that preventing law abiding citizens from owning guns will reduce unlawful gun crime, you’re not reasoning through the issue with any logic.
If you’re implying that the USA mass ownership of guns is some global standard to live up to, you’re wrong. The USA is now (and for a while now) been grappling with multiple issues around gun based crime and no studies have shown if everyone has guns, it would actually help with a reduction in crime, this is a Republican talking point that has no place in BVI society.
If that was the case, there would be no home burglaries in the USA as criminals would fear that the owner has a gun themself – currently that is not a fear as crime continues.
Additional info with a quick Google search can be found below –
No, mass gun ownership does not reduce crime. In fact, research shows that higher levels of gun ownership are associated with higher rates of violent crime.
Explanation
Guns are more likely to be used in violent crime, suicides, and accidents than for self-defense.
People who live with a gun in their home are more likely to be victims of homicide or suicide.
Places with fewer restrictions on guns have higher rates of mass shootings.
Requiring a license or permit to purchase a handgun can reduce firearm homicides and suicides.
Research
Harvard researchers have found links between a large number of guns and more firearm homicides, suicides, and accidents.
The Center for Gun Violence Solutions at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has found that higher levels of firearm ownership are associated with higher rates of violent crime.
RAND has found that increases in the prevalence of gun ownership are associated with increases in violent crime.
“If you’re implying that the USA mass ownership of guns is some global standard to live up to, you’re wrong.” I never said or even implied that The BVI is full of too many stupid people like you who cannot distinguish between outlaws having guns (which they always will, because they won’t obey any laws), and law abiding people who go through a permitting and licensing protoco.
“If that was the case, there would be no home burglaries in the USA as criminals would fear that the owner has a gun themself – currently that is not a fear as crime continues.” An idiotic assertion and typical o how stupid people respoind in an argument – advance a complete distortion that is a straw man.
It’s the season… plus even when they are caught our dysfunctional justice system sets them free to go back out on the street. When it ain’t evidence gone missing it’s that them ain’t got no warrant or went the wrong place for the warrant you gonna just be on bail for 3-5 years then case throw out cause ain’t got no evidence or it’s inadmissible. so if it don’t have no consequences then what you expect.
We need those unsolved murder cases SOLVED!!!
Solving those crimes will require someone in the community to speak up. That’s not likely to ever happen here.
In fact the uptick in gun crime happened a number of years ago – what had changed more recently is the number of arrests being made. Well done RVIPF, but it is a shame that the DPP can’t win a case in Court.
police stop search for them two lil knowing they already gone out nice work
It seems as if the DPP is unable to get any convictions for gun-related charges or any charges for that matter! Without a deterrent, people will continue to do illegal things with impunity. ‘Nero fiddles while Rome burns’
I see Ny with a brand new gun with a fully automatic but he has the police pay off so it go
Only for the DPP to lose the case
WHEN WE KEEP SWEEPING CRIMES UNDER THE RUG , DID WE EXPECT IT TO GO AWAY , WE SIMPLY GAVE THESE WANNABE GANSTERS ENOUGH TIME TO POLISH UP THEIR ILLEGAL SKILLZ , AND THEY ARE CLAIMING THEIR BRAGGING RIGHTS ON THE STREETS , I HOPE THEY TAKE OUT THOSE WHO ALLOWED THEM TO GET AWAY WITH COLDBLOODED MURDER
No point catching them if we all want is to let them go, We still have people rooting for drug lord #1 Fahie. Those people rooting for drug smugglers and criminals not just got pictures in their wallets but hangin on the walls of the House of Assembly.
guns town marijuana growin on di compound
WE cant even keep scooters out of the hands of bad people. What chance do we stand with guns that you can hide in your pocket?
It is time to get to the root of these unlicensed guns. Time to get the higher hanging fruit and not just the lower hanging ones. This applies to other criminal activities too.
The more guns they inport, the more young Black men die.
The more Black men die, the less of them to openshoes and cothes stores.
He who think that pug nose man is not behind those imported guns, think again, and appears sanctioned by the head colonialist..
What boats come from rock and nobody needs to present themselves or luggage to customs? Hmm, lemme tink bout dat.
For sometime and
Kngoingthere is only lipservjce to crime and criminals,importation I n of functioning and active criminals, potential criminals and individual with the propensity for crime.
Prison is over loaded and as a result criminal activities are ignored and suffice to say,there are more criminals ,gun toting adults and children
doing their thing.
It has been said that incarceration costs in the range of $60,000 yrly per individual. If it is accurate that the Uak foots this bill along with salaries for the local and foreign police how would the BVI be able to afford these costs, amountjng to millions,if we were to become Independent including the building and setting up a new prison,
Be careful what you wish for…
Immigration as it has been administered in these BVI,is and continues to be a function of destruction at all levels and was obvious from the onset.
Self administered Perpetual victims and blaming the YT,yes that is our mark of success.
Is this a spike (meaning trend will go down at some point) or is this an upward trend (meaning a steady increase with no evidence it will go down)?
@ Question: sadly, I think that until there is a government that is serious about giving young people a real education in the public schools, and then fostering a system of real opportunities for them, crime will trend upward. The public schools are abysmal, and evidenced by some of the comments that I read here that demonstrate an appalling deficit in utilisation of the English language; when it’s so pervasive in an online forum, it’s NOT capable of being dismissed as merely anecdotal (and keep in mind that the people who comment at least care enough to read an article and comment, so consider what that portends for the remainder of the citizenry).
As for meaningful opportunities, that’s always going to be a challenge, especially in a tourist-driven economy because they are all notorious for their dependence upon low wage jobs – it’s just a fact. Young people here who cannot get jobs in finance don’t have much of a manufacturing sector that might provide them with a job, and the mindset for many seems to be pursuing a government position. The BVI government cannot be a place to house people with fringe or unnecessary positions, and the strategy seems to be always adding a new commission, bureau, committee, etc., but this is not sustainable and the Territory’s current fiscal plight is evidence that it’s the end of the road for that so-called solution.