Crime surge linked to economic inequality in BVI?

Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn has linked the rising crime rates in the BVI to economic challenges, emphasising the importance of tackling unemployment and inequality to address the issue.

During a recent press conference, Penn expressed concern about the increasing number of young men committing crimes. He highlighted a direct connection between economic inequality and the surge in violence, particularly gun crimes.

“There is a direct correlation in terms of economic inequality and crime,” Penn said while pointing to unemployment as a significant factor. Penn revealed that many young people in his district struggle to find jobs, whether in government, the private sector, or programmes such as the government’s RATED initiative.

He underscored that the current economic stagnation exacerbates the issue, as underemployment and poverty create fertile ground for crime. In 2023, the government failed to spend over $50 million of its capital expenditure, funds that Penn argued could have revitalised the economy and created opportunities.

“In 2023, we had over 50-plus million dollars unspent of capital expenditure that should have gone to develop the local economy,” Penn noted.

He insisted that the government must work to improve its resource management capacity and create better strategies for spending on capital projects. “I am seeing in my constituency things that I’ve never seen before,” Penn remarked. “Persons of middle age and certain age groups now are in difficult situations, find themselves in places where they’ve never been ever before. The government is not doing a good enough job of managing the resources that the country has at its disposal.”

According to Penn, the entire economy in the territory will struggle because of the lack of economic flow into the economy. “The government is a big provider of the BVI’s economy, over $400+ million. If that’s not going into the economy, it’s going to have an impact on the social fabric and on crime,” he added.

The issue of crime has taken a toll on local communities, with residents increasingly alarmed by incidents of gun violence. The tragic shooting of a 20-year-old man in Purcell Estate was among the incidents Penn referred to as examples of a worsening problem. Penn also criticised the government for failing to develop a comprehensive crime strategy.

He called for an inclusive approach to address the issue, advocating for a National Security Council that involves opposition members, civic organisations, and social groups. “I’ve asked for us to expand the National Security Council… where all of us can put our heads together to develop a comprehensive approach to address the issue of crime in our territory,” he said.