East End businesswoman in anguish after robbery
Owner of East End’s Mangrove Bakery, Zelma Williams has bemoaned the lack of police presence in the community, after thieves vandalised her business on October 10.
The businesswoman said the door to her establishment was damaged and thieves took off with an undisclosed amount of cash. She immediately went to the police station in her community to report the matter.
However, no one was there to take a statement or address her concern.
“I went by the police station and I yelled and yelled. But I heard nothing. I saw some numbers on the wall and I called. I got no response. The second number I called was the East End Police Station because I actually heard the phone ringing while I was there calling, but no one answered me,” the businesswoman explained while speaking on Tola Radio recently.
Thinking of the customers who were depending on her, Williams returned to her business. But the violation from the robbery and abandonment from the authorities still plagued her. She would return to the police station a second time that day but again, no one responded.
“I’m not going back there. I cleaned up my place and I’m satisfied with my lot. But not everyone will take it that way. I am disgusted by this kind of behaviour. It’s not the first or second time. When you go to the police station, there’s no one!'” the frustrated businesswoman said.
She added: “Where is our refuge? The police are supposed to protect us but the station closed down? The police talking about increased patrols? They don’t have anybody’s best interest at heart. We are human beings! We’re looking for help, so help us!”
The burglary in East End comes amid reports that Road Town business Crandall’s was also burglarised earlier this week. Several residents and elected representatives have been calling for increased police presence in their communities.
However, the Commissioner of Police has stated that law enforcers are dispatched elsewhere because they aren’t needed on a 24-hour basis in some communities.
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GOVERNOR! He is responsible for national security and HE needs to address this publicly. Is there some silent strike by the officers that the public is unaware of. The governor is a failure. He needs to fix the things that fall under him and a commission of inquiry into this matter needs to be launched, IMMEDIATELY! Is this the same station where there was a drive by shooting the other day? Are you telling me that no measures have been taken to ensure the protection of the public. There is something seriously wrong that is taking place internally in that force and the leaders need to order a commission of inquiry IMMEDIATELY!
Ms Williams, I very sorry for your loss. The police department closed East End and West End police stations quite some time ago. What was their motive? No police presence more crime thus need to bring in more UK officers . The handwriting is on the wall. People open your eyes.
With all the technology in the world today, how was Hamas able to bomb Israel without them knowing about it. Believe me it was an internal plot to get Netanyahu back in power. I say this to get my people to open their eyes and think critically about all that’s happening around them.
so get accustomed / and be thankful No one was hurt ( the lord will provide
This police commissioner is the most incompetent one we have ever had in the territory. He is also in my opinion the most dishonest one as well. I do not trust him one bit. How is it he is not being made to answer for that email to his subordinates asking them to conceal evidence?
The problem with the BVI is settling for foolishness. I am glad the owner took it to the media. As a community, our response should be to stick together and make more noise about it. Every jack man need to write their concerns of failing national security under the present governor, commissioner and premier (who all form part of the national security committee) and send it to those three with copy to the UN (who the Premier always running to), the King, the BBC every news outlet. Change is needed now. Sorry to say but this problem will never get fixed as long as Sowande is in charge. He cannot have dialogue with the UK officials because he busy running to the UN. Obviously the three are not working together at all. That is why the place humbug.
Potential investors, your businesses are not safe. A tiny 25 square mile island with an entire national security body that is headed by 2 UK officials and a clown allegedly (3 stooges allegedly) is still not enough to keep local businesses safe, imagine yours. Vessel owners from Monaco and around the world, keep your vessels where they are. In BVI, not even the vessels that are in police custody are safe. The BVI has no infrastructure because the Premier who was smiling with you in your faces does not know what the hell he is talking about.
there was far less criminal activity while fraser & malone were the commissioners of police in this territory
You are very delusional LOL you think Malone was a Saint???
Police and Prison are under the Governor but he always gets a pass because WHITE is RIGHT! Let the UK come takeover like many of you want so we can go from Good to Great, oh WAIT?
I weep for my poor country
What happened to the bus load of police officers that were trained?
The police wasn’t there because they active engaging in the community according to the commissioner… that’s why we should expect to find police at the police stations when we need them. Place is a joke. They only concerned with the cocaine smugglers.
This is very sad. EE is the islands 2nd largest community, and not its safest either. no police presence is a joke.
tracking/apprehending weapons, explosives, contraband, smugglers, murderers and scooter hitmen. No time to protect the public from burglars, thieves and other non-violent criminals.
After all the violent crimes are solved and the criminal are dead or incarcerated then maybe time for solving the non-violent crimes.
Not even at nights you can see them visible the few Bars and Clubs that open at nights need police presents as well but they dont show up because they are all black own businesses. The Comissioner direct the Police to Patrol white own and frequent visits from white guest businesses. This is sad in our Country whe are the Mojority Black locals here. SMH.
No matter how many Commisioners and what kind,and foreign police this is a mushroom reflecting the character of the resdents and their pickneys of unknown fathers and fatherless households and with mothers of ill repute strolling the nights away in full view practicing their ” illegal ” professions. So what if burglaries occur, why the outcry, just another illegal happening. The VI is a mirror of its chosen population of human dregs,a copy of life in Jamaica,Guiana St Vincent, DR. The worse of what this part of the World has to offer is what the VI has chosen to populate and to “.build”.
Grin and pay the price as you continue this sin BVI. Worse is yet to come. Consider a different course, take stepsto correct this grave sin.
“… law enforcers are dispatched elsewhere because they aren’t needed on a 24-hour basis in some communities.”
Apparently the above idea is false.
Question: Has anyone at the RVIPF learned from this?
we now have more police yet more crime
some say the new police system is the camera system just sit in a air conditioned room and watch the monitors and not go out and patrol the villages
one mostly see police after the crime have been committed
With all the criminals the police caught over the past few months you say this? educate yourself and stop talk off the bottom of your feet. The thieves and they family just vex they getting catch.
All them police want to be bullying for bitch if it was a woman problem they would have been there to lock up the man set of island man
When Frazer and Malone were commissioners here is how it was.
The population was smaller. Everyone basically knew everyone.
It only had a handful of gunmen. Now guns everywhere.
It only had a handful of thieves. You knew most of the thieves by name.
It only had a handful of dope king pins.
It only had a handful of crack heads
It only had a handful of weed smokers. Most smokers used to burn their weed in the bush. Now they do it in broad daylight.
So if Reynell and Vernon were still commissioners in this decade a lot of the same things would happen.
All the police them doing is dating one another I am an officer and I see this happening all now ,them on same shift doing their own thing except the police work
Malone’s record speaks for itself. What we are experiencing now is Gentrification where our society is been disintegrated right before our eyes.
Those who are responsible for law and order have not been held accountable or investigated by anyone. When Malone was there we had a lot to say some went down to the big white house and said all sorts of things. But Malone left since 2002 and this has nothing to do with him.
But they didn’t know that going to the big white house would come with a price and today we are paying. Our leaders who are playing their roles after selling us out to save themselves are laughing at us . But a UK commissioner would never be held accountable we would rather turn our heads the other way and find one of our own to blame.
Writer don’t fool yourself but when Vernon took over the force the UK had just got rid of Capital Punishment and violent crime skyrocketed. Just before he took over they were shooting at the police stations wounded officers and shooting them in the streets.
Robberies were skyrocketed. The BVI crime situation was bad but he got it back. He educated his officers and did a lot of new initiatives.
Don’t be stupid and blind intentionally there are some questions that need to be answered. Such as where did this explosion of drug trafficking, especially by these young guys came from for the past 10 years. Was the force especially the drug squad sleeping?
I ain seeing Jim an aan YES TO UK HERE LATELY, but ah see dem gaun ower deh. Dem two raceos nufwid demself eh.
My dear, please invest in a SAFE and lock up your monies. Police can’t be everywhere at the sane time. Help yourself !!!!
Leave money there in the establishment it’s not making any sense
You all leave Mr Malone name alone and deal with the subject at hand crime is out of control at this present time.
We cannot depend on the police anymore, they don’t make us feel safe anymore. They are unreliable, all the want to do is date each other an let their personal feeling get the best of them. Also they have no respect for the people of the BVI as well because they feel they are police they can talk to is how they want too, that’s nonsense
The police men here you can see most of them want to only carry the gun for show, but take it away from them they are scared.
The police force needs to do better and hire capable and responsible people.
The crime in BVI isn’t a reflection of the government. It is a reflection of the citizens and current society. That’s right, YOU.
What are YOU going to do about it? As usual, nothing. Waiting for someone else to clean up YOUR problem. Sad.
What an incentive piece of poop you sound like. It’s the mindset of hatred,jealousy and emotional thoughts from people like the likes of you is why the BVI is the way it is. I don’t expect nothing more than a demeaning and disrespectful reply from you and your kind. Hopefully, one day your heart will change your way of life.
As long as the red @@# ruling things would never be right