Governor reveals the motives behind most gun crimes
Governor John Rankin has stated that the illicit drug trade is the reason for most gun-related murders in the community, adding that this issue isn’t talked about as much as it should.
There has been increased concern about the consecutive number of shootings that have been happening across the territory. The police usually report the shootings and call for residents to give information. However, they don’t usually report the motives for these crimes.
Speaking at a recent press conference, Governor Rankin said drugs continue to flow through the BVI and gangs that are part of this trade are the perpetrators of most gun crimes.
“A substantial number of the murders and shootings which do take place — not all of them but a substantial number are related to the problem of illicit transport of drugs through the territory,” Governor Rankin said. “I don’t think this is talked about enough. The cocaine flow through this territory and the gangs which run the cocaine flow are directly linked to a number of the murders and shootings which are taking place so we need to tackle that issue.”
Cocaine trade mockingly called BVI’s third economic pillar
Although it is not often mentioned, many residents are aware of the link between cocaine trafficking and gun crimes in the territory. They even snidely refer to the cocaine trade as the “third pillar” of the BVI economy — behind the financial services sector and tourism, which are the twin pillars.
With porous borders and a close proximity to Central America — which is known as a centre for illicit drugs — the BVI and other Caribbean countries have traditionally found it hard to keep their nationals from entering the drug trade.
In recent years, the BVI has made international headlines because of cocaine busts involving vast amounts of drugs that were set to pass through the territory. In 2020, local police made the largest seizure of cocaine in BVI history — some 2,353 kilograms of cocaine, which equates to about USD$250 million.
Just last year, former Premier Andrew Fahie was arrested in the United States after undercover US agents alleged that he agreed to accept some $700,000 to allow traffickers to use BVI ports to traffick large amounts of cocaine, destined for the United States.
Fahie, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, is set to be tried in a Florida court soon.
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Whist it is not the worst thing in the world that the dregs of our society are killing each other, why don’t we legalise drugs and then the problem goes away? The cost of dealing with the few idiots that become addicted will be much less than the cost of trying enforce the current law, and if we let them have lots of the drugs they will die quickly anyway – problem sorted!
Mr. smart man Governor, please know what you are trying to paint on the BVI alone is happening everywhere including the UK, USA, right next door in the USVI, EVERYWHERE. I am not condoning any forms of crime, but I despise how you are always trying to label these issues as BVI issues only. There are far more positive law-abiding citizens than negative ones so at times it would be good if you speak of the many good things happening in the BVI, but I guess it will not fit your narrative and motive you have in mind for the BVI which is not in the BVI’s best interest. We are not stupid. We recognize what you are really doing. We will fight crime at all costs but not for the same reasons you have in mind.
The USVI marched against these same matters on Sunday. The USA is experiencing the same in malls, and all over. Things are so bad in the UK with these same issues that the police refuse to go into certain areas unless necessary claiming they are not being given the resources to handle these crimes which means no funding. The real issue is not drugs but the economy. You can throw all the money behind the police worldwide and it will not address the issue. This Governor needs to realize this fact & stop making it seems as if only BVI people or life in the BVI is bad. It takes a united effort with social organizations, sports, churches, parents, schools, and all leaders to also assist while fixing the economy. No one, not even this Governor, can fix this problem alone nor using the methods he has in mind. It will only be a bandage.
I get your message but once again you paint the BVI as the only society experiencing Drugs and Gun crimes. Rankin you have a failure. That is that you don’t know how to deliver public messages. You always aim to offend rather than getting the message across without doing so. I don’t know if it’s spiteful or if it is that you just don’t know how to deliver speech without offended the territory. ?
What a Revelation!
Illicit drug trade & illegal guns go hand in hand. Participants in that illicit trade kill to protect their interests whatever they may be.
The greatest treat to the security of these Virgin Islands is the narco-trade. It’s a huge problem in the Caribbean in general.
The target of this trade is mostly consumers in North America (The U.S. & Canada). Boarder security in both countries have over decades beefed up security and interception efforts to stem the tide of imported illicit drugs.
Laws in both countries have been strengthened over this time as well. Some of the most severe punishments’ in these countries comes from drug crimes.
It’s has become increasingly difficult to get drugs across the U.S. Mexican boarder with their stepped up efforts.
So what does the Mexican and Columbian cartels do? They have sought out an alternative go around by using the Caribbean transshipment routes to get their drugs into the U.S & Canada.
Why would they do so you may ask? Because many Caribbean countries have small law enforcement budgets, porous boarders, weak drug trafficking laws, and poor and desperate people who are more likely to risk it all to get rich quick.
They dangle large sums in the faces of those desperate enough to transship their drugs and many has fallen for it.
Even politicians have been in on the take and gotten caught up in this. Exhibit A: Head Coach (not the fist in the Caribbean).
This problem cannot be solved by a single Caribbean Island. All Caribbean islands has this problem in common and they need to work together on a common front to diminish this security threat.
They need to pool their collective resources to address this problem and work with the targeted countries law enforcement agencies and boarder securities that have larger budgets and resources to fight this problem.
Meanwhile on the local front, there has to be a recognition that this drug trafficking matter is a problem, one that needs to be treated as a priority before it gets worse.
Law enforcement, Customs, the DPP office all needs all the resources they can get, and the legislative branch of the government needs to put teeth in the laws relative to drug crimes.
The courts needs to follow those laws as written as well. We need to continue to educate our kids to succeed in life, and our country’s economy must be sufficient to provide employment opportunities for most.
The point is: There has to be a comprehensive approach to this problem both regionally, internationally, and locally.
Strength in unity is essential to combatting this problem or else one can only expect more drugs and killings.
I grew up in the BVI during an era when drug use or trafficking was unheard of. It’s a much different world now.
The man talking the truth and people vex LMAO!!!! Locals feel like they should be called saints cause they do no wrong SMH
@Governor,Who cares where else the Cocaine trade is going on let the other places deal with it, the Governor right.
So true my friend..when we were growing up only a few dozen active crack heads were there at any point in time..now its unbearable and the youngsters that are now leading the charge are not making it any better for the hard working, honest, business minded young persons that are willing to do the right thing.
presence in BVI waters would quickly reduce the smuggling of drugs, guns, ammo, cash and people. Stop the smuggling and the gun crimes will decrease.
Just stop letting the islanders in the territory !
You must be very old indeed to have grown up in an era when drug trafficking was unheard of in the BVIs. And, lucky you to have been able to grow up then. As you point out, the real problem is that a night’s trafficking work earns you substantially more than you earn from the wrong end of the shovel at $150/day. All cash with little risk. You could say the same in the USVI but a couple of important differences: DEA activity funded by the federal govt, , mandatory sentencing usually involving decades in prison, and confiscation of goods/equipment used not to mention cash associated with the proceeds. It does not help when the BVI govt has refused extradition requests from DEA despite ample evidence to support these requests.
Lord, you mashed me up. :-). I hate to admit that Yes, I’m getting up there, but not that old. Life has just sped by.
I don’t look or feel it. If I could and it would make a difference, I would jump on the clock and straddle the arms to stop it from moving.
Someone recently said to me that I am an older person with a young mind, and I can live with that.
Yes, there was a period when drugs and drug trafficking was not common place in the BVI. It was a great time to grow up in these islands regardless of illicit drugs. The best childhood I experience in these islands.
We are at this point for multiple reasons, one of them being the increased cost of living in these islands was has gone up tremendously. Everything is too expensive, and for those without good educational backgrounds or skill sets, they are being left behind and vulnerable to partaking in the drug trade.
Our educational system and economy in terms of jobs has not kept pace with the increasing population as well.
When I grew up, the total population in the BVI was around 6K. When I went off to college, there were 30K plus students on campus, more people than I had ever seen in my life.
Nothing stays the same, and here we are with a growing problem with no easy fix. It is my position that what I outlined in my earlier post is the way forward.
Governor, Sir, everyone knows this, social media has been saying it for the longest while, but as soon as you say it, the denial syndrome sets in along with the comparison game and the finger-pointing blame. Everywhere else has a drug trafficking problem, so you must not say nothing about it in the Territory. You see what you and all of us who wants this problem solved has to deal with. Until we get up off the talking and start doing some walking, marching against drugs and guns we are not even denting the subjecting as yet. Who want to “dislike” can go right ahead.
Governor, Sir, everyone knows this, social media has been saying it for the longest while, but as soon as you say it, the denial syndrome sets in along with the comparison game and the finger-pointing blame. Everywhere else has a drug trafficking problem, so you must not say nothing about it in the Territory. You see what you and all of us who wants this problem solved has to deal with. Until we get up off the talking and start doing some walking, marching against drugs and guns we are not even denting the subject as yet. Who want to “dislike” can go right ahead.
If we legalize drugs, then no international bank will be able to deal with us, so all international financial services will disappear faster than snow in June.
Postering. Who going to fill Head Coaches shoes.
What are your motives to eff around Virgin Islanders?
Well sir. If there isreally theimportation of cocaine a part of of illicit business in the territory, according to reliable sources, why does that not translate to the real product being found in the streets? According to. sources, what is found there there is pure garbage masquarading as cocaine. That could be another reason for some killings. Deception for profit ccan go wwrong sometimes.
Partna you can’t be serious. Do you know what will happen is drugs became legal here??? Do you want young children smoking crack and snorting coke?? Stupssss
BOI YOU JUST LIKE CREATE DRAMA , WITH YOUR RACISM LYRICS * AND WE KNOW ITS YOU AGAIN * THE WIGGED ONE ) IF YOU HAD TAKE TIME YO READ WHAT YHE GOVERNOR SAID , YOU MIGHT OF UNDERSTAND THE MESSAGE , NOW TRY READING FROM THE POROUS BORDERS
Those who benifit twist everything and saying they do not eant UK police here. It is for our dafety
Why every time someone spit some facts on the problems we face here in the BVI, y’all always quick to deflect it by saying “ohh, the BVI is not the only place to have these problems, here, there and everywhere have the same problems” making it seems as if because it’s happening else where that it’s all okay that it happens here too. We need to take some accountability sometimes.