BVI’s reputation is suffering due to escalating crime
The BVI is grappling with a troubling increase in crime, prompting elected leaders to express concern over the potential damage to the territory’s reputation.
Deputy Premier and Labour Minister Lorna Smith recently addressed the escalating situation, highlighting the need for immediate and decisive action to prevent further harm to the community and the BVI’s international standing.
Addressing the House of Assembly recently, Smith expressed condolences to the family of Jareem Todman, yet another young Virgin Islander who was fatally shot in recent weeks.
Smith urged elected officials to find solutions to combat the rising crime and emphasised the collective responsibility required. “He is the child of a BVIslander who is now in pain, and we have to do whatever is needed to — 13 of us (legislators) — to stem this wave of crime in the British Virgin Islands,” she urged.
Growing urgency
Smith’s remarks echo a growing urgency to address what is increasingly seen as a pervasive issue, impacting not just individuals but the broader community. The BVI has experienced a surge in gun-related incidents in recent months, including several unsolved murders, with law enforcement authorities noting an alarming increase in the presence and use of illegal firearms.
Efforts are underway to strengthen local policing, with discussions about enhancing law enforcement capabilities and increasing community cooperation. However, Smith emphasised the importance of public involvement, urging residents to collaborate with the police and support initiatives to curb crime. She stressed that the current situation affects not only public safety but the BVI’s overall well-being and international image.
“In addition to the pain of the community, our reputation is suffering. The instability that crime brings does not help the British Virgin Islands,” Smith said.
The rise in gun violence has been accompanied by a broader escalation in criminal activities, including drug trafficking and human smuggling. Unfortunately, the territory’s strategic location has made it a conduit for these illicit trades, complicating efforts to maintain law and order.
Earlier this year, there was a massive drug bust by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) and the US Customs and Border Control, intercepting 1.8 tonnes of cocaine valued at $180 million, the largest seizure ever in BVI waters, disrupting drug smuggling efforts.
The rise in crime also has significant implications for the BVI’s economy, which heavily relies on tourism. The perception of safety is vital for attracting tourists and investors, and the current crime wave threatens to undermine this image.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
No different anywhere else in the world. They can’t find solutions either. What you can do is solve these violent crimes and send the criminals away to serve their time in the UK. More CCTVs. More patrols at night and at hotspots. At 4am during festival there should have been police roaming Town so when those shots rang out, they would have been in the area and could possibly intercept the getaway Kia Sols. Instead all police were inside their barracks.
It’s important to put the crime in context before anyone says (incorrectly) that there is a comparison to the level of crime that other parts of the world are experiencing. To show context requires demographics (the number of people and takes into account the density etc), whereby the BVI you will find has approx 27,500 persons and factor in the murders, theft (under and over $5K), mitigating factors, you will see the BVI as a major crime offender. Yes crime has to be fought on a grander scale and yes enforcement is key.
The BVI has a large undercover economy that needs to be in place to keep the funds flowing. If the drugs and businesses posing as legitimate are closed down, whats left and who will fill the hole? Landlords will have empty apartments, the banks will have cars and land and houses that they cant resell. I am against violence (dont have the heart for it or its results) but we have to be real and face facts. If the illegal trade fades the territory suffers.
What you are saying is to make room for continued violence. It is clear to see that these people at some point turn on each other and in violent ways.
I am against violence in all forms and all ways. Yes the people in the drug game turn on each other (a necessary part of that low life) but here we are lucky as most of the time those that are supposed to get are the ones that get it. But just imagine what the BVI would be if all business that launder or are backed by drug money suddenly close.
Unacceptable. You got some galls saying that the killings and the impact on society from that underground economy is acceptable because it pays bills. That’s a criminal mind at work.
The BVI was doing just fine with out that “undercover economy” you referenced. Every last one who is involved in that ‘underground economy” who gets caught, needs to be hauled before the courts, convicted if there is the evidence holds up, and put behind bars.
I am beginning to think, some of these criminals need to be outsourced to offshore prisons because some of them are according to the grape vine up at Balsum Ghut living in luxury and ordering hits from their prison’s cells.
Time for the government and law enforcement to step it up multiple knots, and take it to the criminals.
The economy would adjust and do better long term and all these killings will decrease.
The crime is driving away the legitimate parts of the economy. 50% of the economy is tourism. I doubt anywhere near 50% are employed in crime, but whatever it is, it is helping to destroy the tourism (and finance) sectors which support directly and indirectly almost all of us.
Crime = chaos + dead bodies. If crime could make an economy wealthy, then places like Haiti should be like Switzerland.
cops here are useless, they can’t solve a crime if the criminal gave them the evidence, they would find a way to mess it up
country was build on drug….ISland boy Cartel and beyond stop down playing wa made these big houses in the hilll..
The funciona violence is senseless but it’s cause because by the life style there guys choose so les face the facts.If you play with Firefox you will get burn. My condolences goes out to his family .
it alrdy suffers with our thieving politicians that won’t invest and improve the country from looking like Afghanistan
I just want back my vote for her. That’s all.
When you have legislators pursuing Drug running and money laundereing and keep photos of convicted criminals on the walls of the HOA, then it is you our elected representatives that are leading the way. Stop celebrating crime, corruption, dishonesty and lack of transparency and society will follow. Your constant attempts to slow down the corrections correctly pointed out by the COI continue to keep the VI on a path that justifies illegal activity. A good start would be for the legislators to follow the law and register their interests. Why will the people think they should follow the law if our leaders don’t. We can’t all be Ronnie Skelton and expect to be able to do anything we want just because we think we another Ronnie. You are all setting the worst examples and it wont get better until our leaders show the way. Remove that photo, and search Ronnie next time he goes across our borders.
the guy was an alleged drug courier, he had a charter business built on drug money, just look at all the new water taxis running with young boys owning $500,000+ boats with no backing…
Why be upset , he lived his life the way he wanted and drew the short straw when he lost all thise drugs
That’s my point on my earlier post! You would be surprised just how many businesses are founded on drug money and or launder. Where would the country be if they all disappeared.
don’t you think that the royal navy and the royal air force and the royal marines should take over the british virgin islands by this time period?
Why do politicians and others extend condolences but do not pass comment on the activities that these people are involved in?
Another murder of a heavily jewelled young man with a number of assets but no noticeable sign of a large income.
We all see the photos and see them on their bikes, in boats. That’s the time for politicians to get vocal, to question. Not when they turn up dead.
Well talk to Chris to control his got damn spawn. That man makes decisions off emotions and its often bad mind.
Lorna Smith you and your government is part of the problem.
Yeah blame her , she is the one who sold us to the cartels / who were going down on their knees and was the mastermind of the CLANDISTINE illegal operations with guns drugs contract execution style murders and corruption which the COI revealed but no politician has the ballz to talk or refused to call him out / but now you hypocrite want use the lady as a scapegoat , that’s real funny how not even those men of GOD has the integrity to condem what is wrong / instead yhe hide behind the Bible , but joining with the other set of hypocrites to condem the people who brought it to light
The only person who would say the big houses on the hill are from drugs are people who arent from here.
Most of the local families have land from even the last generation land was knocking about for 10k a house spot.
If you say people got land from sucking up to old people who has many acres on their death bed and at times tricking or playing daddy & mommy’s favorite to rob their sibling of land ill believe it.
The only people who say big houses in the BVI were build from drugs are foreign. Look in the hills every house is big, how do you explain that?
You would love to say its from drugs but that is not logical. A few no doubt but far from the majority in reality.
Both government & private sector workers have been slaving away for those houses.
The problem with immigration isnt the crime but the mental landscape of the local is diluted to excess & its hard to change peoples thoughts.
Start with banning the scooters. Anyway, just wait until a white man gets killed. Then you gonna see the 3conomy suffer. And it’s gone happen sooner or later.
@ BVI you are so stupid you didn’t get the meaning of the sentence.
Is due to U all stealing tax payers money. How much does your trips cost on our money. You all get expensive drinks, food parties which you all charge us for but you eat for free. You are the reason the youth will never get far in life here. How much money did you donate to the funeral of the people dying here. We are supposed to be one so how come politicians live a high maintenance life when you all have salaries just like us. How many checks did you write for family and friends and you include extra thousands for yourself
BVI REPUTATION BEEN SUFFERING FOR A WHILE LORNA SMITH.
The drug dealers in the BVI are not hard to identify. They all wear four or five big gold chains and a ring on almost every finger.
Until the police force can bring in more additional experienced detectives, who have no relationship to anyone in the BVI, nothing will change Hell.. no doubt many knew what Fahie was doing long before he was caught by unbiased undercover agents. And even then people complained Fahie treatment was unfair. Fahie was CONVICTED and yet his picture hangs in the HOA. Really?!
No one is the BVI is going to assist/cooperate with police for fear of retribution of some kind. That is why experienced detectives and undercover agents need to be brought in from outside the BVI. Just a reminder …. That was how Fahie and Maynard were caught!
We all see, with our own eyes, the flaunting of wealth throughout the BVI. Some may be honestly earned and others not. Sadly, people in the BVI know who both are.