BVI News

Dom Republic national arrested and charged for armed robbery

Not the actual chain

BVI News understands that a 39-year-old man from the Dominican Republic has been arrested following an armed robbery outside a bar in Fat Hogs Bay last weekend.

It’s understood that the man was arrested by officers on Saturday night and reportedly remains in custody.

According to information reaching BVI News, the police were alerted after a report was made that a gunman had robbed another man of his gold chain outside a popular bar in Fat Hogs Bay.

Sources say officers responded and met a worker at the business establishment who allegedly witnessed the incident. The witness reportedly told investigators that the gunman approached another individual sitting outside the bar and pointed a gun at him.

It is understood that the victim tried to run but fell, after which the armed man caught up to him, pointed the weapon, and took gold chains from around his neck before fleeing the area.

The victim reportedly pleaded with the gunman not to shoot before escaping unharmed. It remains unclear whether the victim sustained injuries or whether he lost additional belongings in the attack.

It is further understood that the police later arrested the suspect after further investigations, including interviews and analysis of footage from CCTV cameras in the area.

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22 Comments

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  1. My Take says:

    Lots of people here are unemployed or underemployed, yet we bring more every week. We have to do better as we are headed for a full blown labour crisis.

    Immigration needs to pick up and carry all these persons who are obviously not nationals sitting on the side of the road, in bars all day long and check their status. If they have proof of employment, fine. If they don’t one less loitering illegal we will have. Why is this necessary, because of just what is happening with these armed robbery. A hungry man becomes desperate and this should be avoided in a country with lots and lots of jobs. By the way, most of the persons on work permit works multiple jobs. Is that legal? Can someone have a work permit to do (a) and yet freelance doing (b) and (c). BVI is not a real place. That’s why they call us stupid. They are digging out the eyes of our children.

    Like 29
    Dislike 6
    • @My Take says:

      I disagree with you. Here’s why.

      You assumed that the man accused of this crime was here unlawfully or in local tongue, he did not “belong here”.

      You even went further into suggesting “Immigration needs to pick up and carry all these persons who are obviously not nationals sitting on the side of the road, in bars all day long and check their status.”

      First, you don’t know that man’s immigration status and whether or not he is lawfully within the terriorty.

      Second, what you are proposing is discrimination against anyone whom you deem “are obviously not nationals”.

      Just by the look of someone you are proposing that immigration should check their status whenever or wherever. That is wrong. Everyone deserves due process.

      You are clearly antiimmigrant. What you are suggesting is the same discriminatory and cruel tactics like what is currently occurring in the U.S. under the current evil man child in the White House occur here

      Surely, you would not want anyone doing that to you or your family. Would you?

      Stop painting a broad brush. There are plenty of immigrants here who live lawfully. People commit crimes, many of them local. They all should be held to account for their crimes.

      Here you have a 39 yo thief committing a terrible act at gun point. I don’t care where he is from. What he did was wrong and he was rigtly arrested, and he needs to be dealth with.

      Its good his victim was not physically injured albeit no doubt he will suffer from some psychological scarring after having a gun put to him.

      If this guy is convicted of this crime and given a custodial sentence, he will be dealth with according to the law:

      Grounds for deportation:

      Criminal offenses: Any criminal offense punishable by 3 months or more in prison can lead to deportation.

      Immigration violations:

      Violating the Passport and Immigration Act (CAP. 130) can result in a $1,000 USD fine and/or 12 months imprisonment along with deportation.

      So quit the immigrant hate. We have a problem of increasing gun violence in the territory that this country needs to get ahead of. The RVIPF has their hands full dealing with this serious matter.

      Regardless of a peson’s nationality, all criminals need to be dealth with inclusive of those born and raised here. So give the anti-immigrant rhetoric a rest.

      Like 20
      Dislike 9
      • @@My take says:

        So sorry I came across as anti-immigrants. That is definitely not my stance, nor my heart. I believe that migrating for a better ife is sometimes necessary. But I also believe that we are quite overrun in this country and the loitering and lazing about is frankly bothering me. Immigrant visas come with rules and a full time job with a salary that you can not only survive but thrive in the country of migration is important. It seems to me that a lot of persons are not doing well. They come; they are here, idle and having a hard time and are becoming resentful. You are quite resentful jumping to conclusions of what I meant but did not say. The stealing is not only chains. You go to work and leave bread fruit, bananas, sour sop etc on your property and when you get home they have disappeared. I too migrated to the USA to study and came back home.

        My biggest problem though is every Summer, hundreds of young people graduate from secondary schools and there is no work for them. Even those attending HLSCC part time. They are idle while we hand out work permits for entry level jobs to persons with only secondary education if that. So you misread my post, Dear. I absolutely abhor what is now happening in the U.S.A. However, the BVI is a small place, and it is time that we take a good look at our immigration policies and initiate term limits for non-professional positions so that Virgin Islanders and newly graduated students will have a first and fair chance at jobs in their country.

        Like 14
        Dislike 1
        • @My take says:

          Appreciate your response. Unfortunately what you wrote came off as anti-immigratant. Thanks for the clarification.

          Look, I get it. I understand your frustration. While I do, I may not agree with the root cause.

          I dont know what generation you fall in, but I go way back to the 60s. Looking in my rear veiw mirror, the BVI has never over those decases provided opportunties and upward mobility for all its residents.

          That is why people like you and I migrated to the US at some point in our lives. We are not the first as this was occurring decades back when our parents/grandparents would go to places like St.Thomas and even the Dominican Republic to seek work and opportunities.

          In my view, the root cause of these issues is an economy that cannot provide for all it’s residents. It never has and never will with the current economy.

          All of these kids graduating from high school, and the local college many of them have not place to go in this society and cannot be fully absorbed into it.

          You have many BVI Islanders who have left for greener pastures who ae not returning. Those who have return still have an uphill battle making a decent living or getting hell when they try to to things here.

          Our economy has become heavily dependent on expats because of cheap labor and in some circumstances the belief that BVI Islanders are not qualified for jobs a notion I reject.

          There is no job in the BVI that a local person cannot do if given the opportunity. Immigration is just a symptom of a larger problem.

          In my view, our government past and present have never been able to expand the economy to accomadate all these new high school, and college graduates. It was the same of my generation as it is today.

          I have come to the conclusion they simply don’t know what that means.

          If we can get a government that finally creates jobs or make it easier for the private sector to create them thru governmental regualtions and incentives, then we can decrease our dependance on foreign labor and allow BVI Islanders the opportunties they rightfuly deserve in our own homeland.

          We need visionaries who have a bright economic outlook. Many of the people who are being elected to office have never ran a corner store or understand economics. So one cannot expect much from them in that regard.

          Expect much of the same until that visionary with an economic plan comes along. Regardless of party what we have now are just people going thru the motion of trying to run a government, something they are struggling to do.

          So, Yes, I understand your frustration. Blaiming expats for all that ails us is easy. Our root cause is our government and our economy.

          Like 14
          Dislike 0
    • The Commissioner says:

      You have hit the nail on the head my good man. Where are the immigration and labour inspectors or are they compromised too?

      • Hairy Potter says:

        @: The Commish: they are compromised. Facts. Who don’t want payment in kind (wife, dinero, other favors), simply have lost their integrity. From the top down. Sad reality is that those front-line staff see what the higher ups (as far as ministers) are doing and have lost confidence and trust in the system.

        Globally migration/immigration is a problem as the great economists and politicians touted globalization which comes with pros and cons. Now we have nationalism (USA, England etc) in the form of protests in 1st world countries bringing immigration to the fore.

        Like him if not; The Donald is cleaning house and with it the good sometimes get throw out with the bad. In a decade we shall see what the BVI non-existent/enforced immigration policies are.

        Now pardna might have rights here and whether he does or not; how he could afford a strap?!?!

  2. Virgin Islander says:

    Gun related crimes should carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years. Yet, this territory continues to disappoint. Granting bail to individuals caught with illegal firearms. Like just a few days ago. It’s unacceptable. We, the people, must demand accountability from lawmakers and law enforcement. Their failure to impose maximum penalties and enact tougher sentencing laws is contributing to the rise in gun violence. Enough is enough.

    Like 21
    Dislike 1
    • @Virgin Islander says:

      we been saying this and you’d think sentencing would be harsh after the gun amnesty but all we been saying is people involved in gun crimes get bail multiple times and petty sentencing….smh

      • @Virgin Islander says:

        Before touting stiffer laws, we need a COMPETENT DPP! The Police can do all the wonders as it relates to investigations/arrests but when you have an incompetent DPP that is losing 8 of every 10 cases then what’s the use? She is only still in that job because she is a local and I’m saying this as a local.

        • Virgin Islander says:

          In a small territory like this, the jury system just doesn’t work. Everyone has family or friends involved somehow, so getting an unbiased jury is nearly impossible. The truth is, the jury system is outdated worldwide. You often have people deciding serious cases without any real background or understanding of crime or law.

          Like 4
          Dislike 1
  3. Truth says:

    We need back Guy Hill and Mr. Walters in Immigration so that we can clean this place up. Yes, we may have local criminals but let’s deal with those! We shouldn’t have the burden of dealing with persons who are just here doing nonsense and contributing nothing to society. There are far too many people just here lazing around doing nothing and nobody seems to care, but if you are trying to bring a qualified legitimate employee on island to work you have to jump through hoops!

    Like 15
  4. ICE says:

    How long we asking for an ICE operation here to clean up the place. A lot of the teenagers who committing gun crime in the territory don’t hav any legal status to be here . They came here under age with their mother’s who is on work permit , stop out of school and now roaming the streets terrorizing the place. We need people to walk with their identity cards at all times we s including locals.

    Like 2
    Dislike 5
  5. Maria Louisa Varlack says:

    British Virgin Islanders are stupid and are creating lots of problems for themselves and for others and is a stupid territory and a stupid country. In past history how many people born in the Virgin Islands had to travel to The Dominican Republic and other Caribbean islands for employment and a better way of living? (Cocolos) from the Leeward Islands. I found out that my father Logardo Varlack Sr father, Cecil Antonio Varlack, was born on the island of Anegada with all of his other Varlack family members and relatives, and they all traveled to The Dominican Republic over 100 years ago and ended up in New York City and in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. I also found out that I had an uncle living in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, by the name of Cecil Antonio ‘Tony’ Varlack that was a State of Pennsylvania State Trooper. I also found out that many Potter family members and relatives also left Anegada in the Virgin Islands over 100 years ago and traveled to The Dominican Republic for employment and a better way of living.
    Since January 2002 I have been suffering for 23 long years even though I reach out to many of my family members and relatives here in New York City and in Philadelphia Pennsylvania and in the BVI and the USVI all are selfish and self centered and refuse to offer any kind of help.

    Like 2
    Dislike 4
    • Brad Boynes says:

      @ Maria Lousia Varlack. I resent your dam statement about BVIslanders bring stupid. Did you take your medication today? If not please do

      Like 3
      Dislike 1
      • Satanists says:

        And while your ancestors were gractefully earning a living
        In the DR did your ancestors make the DR a hell with killing prostitution thieving etc

        The reality is that some humans are more cannibals and lesser animals.and human character…

        Reasons why they cannot reside and survive in their country where Nature has everything at their disposal
        They are of a lesser character and that is reality. Living with them is a risk to your life and your spirituality,

  6. @ MY TAKE says:

    SO WIGO YOU GOT ANOTHER NEW NAME FOR 2025 WHST THE IMMIGRATION BIS GOING TO DO ABOUT THOSE ENTITLED YOUTHS FROM HERE WHO ROBBING & KILLING AND CARRING ( AK-47 ) BOI YOU ONLY WAITING TO HEAR SOMEBODY FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY COMMIT A CRIME TO START SINGING YOUR RACIST NARRATIVES , ( YOU ACTING LIKE TRUMP ( YOU ARE EVIL ), / STAY ON YOUR YELLO SITE AND PLAY WITH YOUR WIG / THERE IS LAW FOR THOSE WHO CHOOSES TO BREAK IT , / HELP THE ( DPP ) SERVE JUSTICE / WHEN THE ENTITLED COMMIT CRIMES THEY ARE HIVEN BEIL SND ALLOWED TO COME BACK ON THE STREETS TO CONTINUE AS USUAL , TRY FOCUSING ON THAT , AND STOP CREATING DRAMA

  7. RVIPF says:

    Great Police Work!

  8. Blame immigration says:

    There are rules and laws
    Are they enforced No
    Why
    The Senior public servants/
    The poeple in powition need to get up from their fat lazy backsides and do their jobs and enforce the laws

  9. Yessi says:

    Time to start sending home all these guys that’s not contributing to tax.

  10. the block says:

    All them Spanish women prostitute send them back home

  11. Empower says:

    Immigration officers have to be empowered to used their powers and do their jobs. They have to be given the resources and protection.
    Quite frankly that can only happen when we have a qualified and experienced C.I.O…

    At the moment there are kinks in our armor and people aren’t blind to that.

    How do we still have Preston’s coming into the territory and no fingerprints are taken? Our leaders in that area need a vision board…

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