Gov’t hails anti-crimes summit a success
The National Security Council (NSC) announced that last week’s inaugural Anti-Crime Summit was a success, garnering strong public support and helping to shape a national plan to reduce crime.
The three-day conference, held from September 24 to 26, focused on the theme “Our Virgin Islands: Safe Communities, Prosperous Territory.”
It featured engaging panels on prosecution, protection, and prevention. More than 1,500 students from public and private schools attended.
“The Anti-Crime Summit, last week, was a fantastic event, which delivered remarkable levels of engagement across government, NGOs and the wider community… We now need to follow up on our commitments and deliver meaningful action that will help build a safer and more secure BVI,” Governor Daniel Pruce said.
“The overwhelming participation of our people, especially hundreds of students who joined us each day, has made it clear that the Virgin Islands are ready to confront crime head-on… This Summit was not just an event; it was the birth of a movement,” Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley said.
Officials said the Summit brought together police and prison leaders, mentors, faith groups, civil society and NGOs. Speakers included Roberto “Rabbie” Smalls of St Thomas, who now works with youth after receiving clemency following a long prison term. The programme also featured the theme song “Rise Up” by Eustace “Boss” Freeman and a performance by cultural figure Raul “Jougu” Sprauve.
The push follows months of public focus on gun crime and youth offending. Ahead of the event, officials said gun violence was a key concern and that they wanted “real and practical change” from the talks.
Police earlier this year said they were taking a fresh approach to gangs and organised property crime, while overall crime was reported up 12 percent, with gun violence seen as a serious threat. The force also noted a 49 percent detection rate for all crimes in 2024, and leaders have said the territory remains among the safer places in the region despite recent cases.
The NSC added that the Summit was “not an end but a beginning,” and confirmed it will use the feedback to advance a comprehensive National Crime Reduction Strategy. The Council comprises the Governor as chair, the Premier, the Minister for Communications and Works, the Attorney General and the Commissioner of Police, with the Cabinet Secretary facilitating its business.
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The talking summit cost tax payers over $300,000. That is exorbitant.
Were there any initiatives tabled for jobs creations?
If not,another summit will be heldand joblessness, vagrancy, escating crimes of all sort and hundreds of broke and broken youths and adults scruting for survival.
Additionally, while the elcted take t their banks accounts, wages that could have payed every youth a salary.
That is not an effective and moral way to run a government.
Meanwhile, inflation and price costs are making life unlivable and very difficult for pensioners as politicians take home their bacon.
It all apeears heartless and uncaring to us.
“WHEN THE CORRUPT LEADS THE ANTI-CORRUPT CAMPAIGN
There is an evil in the land…
A darkness that eats at the roots of our nation,
Stealing the future in broad daylight,
While the people suffer in silence,
Too tired to hope, too afraid to speak.
But the tragedy runs deeper
For one of the architects of this evil
Sits boldly among the committee of solution.
He wears the cloak of leadership,
He speaks the language of the oppressed,
But his hands are stained with the very rot we seek to purge.
So tell me…..
How do we end corruption when the corrupt lead the anti-corruption campaign?
How do we find justice when the judge dines with the guilty?
How do we clean a house when the broom itself is dirty? We demand change, but the changers are the ones chaining us.
This is the paradox of our time:
Where evil wears the face of progress,
Where thieves are called stakeholders,
And the wolves pretend to guard the sheep.
Until we learn to speak truth without fear,
Until we place conscience above connections,
Until we hold even our own to account,
The evil will remain
Dressed in designer suits,
Speaking Queen’s English,
Sitting at high tables,
Quoting laws they have no intention to obey.
The land cries for cleansing…
But how will the land be healed
When the disease itself chairs the committee of healing?”
Hmmm.It was very informative and educational but how did they actually measure the results to know if it was successful or not. Please Hon. Ministers stop braying garbage and show the facts of your result and what system or tools did they use?
Why would anyone think this anti crime summit was a success when shortly there after crime continues in the VI..robbery and domestic voilence to name just a few.
Only success is in your mind…empty vessels make the most noise.
Great idea and initiative. Only challenge is that as usual, you end up preaching to the choir. The people at the summit aren’t the ones that need reaching out to. Those are the good youth. The bad youth and criminals were either in bed or on the corner plotting their next caper. Get off of the pulpit and get in the streets and on the corners. Find real solutions for the youth who have gone astray. Start with one young man at a time.