BVI’s rising crime a symptom of deeper faults
Former legislator Dr Kedrick Pickering has argued that the rising crime rate in the territory is “a symptom of other underlying problems”.
Dr Pickering told residents in Virgin Gorda at a campaign rally last evening that there are a lot of children and young people whose parents had a difficult time during the pandemic.
He said many parents could not provide their children with internet services and computer access and many also had to work and leave their children alone and unsupervised during that time.
“Those problems are not going to manifest themselves today,” Dr Pickering said. “They are going to manifest themselves in a few years.”
While arguing that the BVI’s education system needs a complete overhaul, he said it is important that an analysis is done of the system and of the children that might need any extra help.
“We have to confront it. If we don’t, it is going to manifest itself in various ways in five years down the road,” Dr Pickering said.
The former legislator said residents need to elect officials with an understanding of the issues that are affecting the territory.
“There is a storm approaching us, and we need experienced captains to sail the ship,” he argued. “We need experienced captains who know when to look for safe harbour and not to face their waves head on.”
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Safe harbour? Brother, there ain’t no safe harbour out there at all. We need good people that can handle what’s coming, full stop! There are no shelters along the way and this storm is going to last years, not a matter of days!
You and many of your cohorts are the architects of this pending storm, of which we the people are feeling the winds and stinging rain already today.
You talk of problems that face us, but you, and all the other cats out there looking for votes have yet to present a single solution to these problems to any of us. We all know the damn problems very well, what we don’t know is who we can actually elect that will hold true to their election day promises and do what needs to be done!
Bunch of talk. We have to confront it. Ok but how. What is your solution? What is your plan?
Acquisitive crime like burglary is going up because there is a lot of heat on the drug smugglers right now.
The BVI has failed its young people very badly over the last 40 years due to all the waste and corruption. It’s why the majority of the people with skills and qualifications come from overseas. Oh well, we could have been a beacon of success, but we blew it.
Make mandatory sentencing for violent crime, possession of guns and ammunition, a priority of your platform. State that you will ensure it is the first bill that is enacted if you are elected.
Stop procrastinating as you have done for the last twenty years that it has been discussed.
Problems he helped to create or overlooked….How long was he in govt and when was his last term.
These People!
If we were a part of the USVI, this kind of crime would be lessened or at the very least actually solved by the police force rather than Mika Barry.
What a dumbass. The rise in crime is because the politicians created a narco state that they themselves ruled. The offspring of the wealthy families engaged in criminal activities with impunity and it still continues. There is no prosecution of the criminals because relatives are the prosecutors. UK please bring in proper prosecutors for the upcoming numerous trials and jurors from the UK as well. There needs to be penalties for committing crimes. Not a pat on the back!!
You don’t enforce the little violations, it fosters a disrespect for the law and authority. Start with vehicle violations, especially scooters. Slam them hard.