Gov’t has not given up hope on tackling crime — Premier
The government has not been thrown into despair over the escalating challenge it faces in relation to serious crime in the territory and has promised to do more to help stamp out the scourge.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley gave that indication in the House of Assembly (HOA) this week and said the territory’s most recent double murder occurred just a stone’s throw away from a he was conducting at his district office next door.
“The Government of National Unity and myself as Premier, have not given up hope, and I know the people of the Virgin Islands are also filled with hope,” Premier Wheatley told the House. “We believe that as a community, with each of us doing our part and working towards a common vision, our beloved BVI will conquer this scourge.”
The territory’s leader, who previously decried the murders, also disclosed that both of the murder victims are relatives of his and said he had spoken to one of the men earlier that day about securing a job within the government.
Premier Wheatley said his government will do all that it can with the resources available to empower persons to reject a life of crime and to choose a positive path. He also noted that his government will ensure the police are equipped to deter and prevent crime, and ensure those who insist on doing wrong are brought to justice.
Dr Wheatley made an urgent plea for youth in the territory to reject a life of crime and violence while arguing that such a life could only be filled with regret.
“The behaviour and activities being displayed and pursued by a small minority is damaging and hurting the peace of our community, tarnishing our reputation and jeopardising the vision that our ancestors held for us when they embarked on the journey to achieving self-determination over 70 years ago,” the Premier said.
He urged persons to say something if they see something and to pass on any information about criminal activity to the authorities through the anonymous channels that are available. Passing on information, the Premier said, can save a loved one’s life.
“If you know a family member, a friend, or a boyfriend or girlfriend is engaging in wrongdoing, plead with them to stop. Let them know you disapprove of their wrongdoing,” Premier Wheatley said.
He added: “Let them know you will not accept anything they bring you that was not legitimately obtained or which was not bought with clean money; because when they court danger, they put you in danger. They put your family in danger, they put your children in dange,; and they put all of us in danger. Tell them to stop it.”
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Where is the mandatory prison sentencing bill for possession of firearms and ammunition? This bill has been promised for decades and still hasn’t been produced. This needs to be a requirement of any future elected officials as the first act of the next government, as this current government isn’t capable of protecting us from much of anything. Gun in your possession or with anyone possessing straight to jail for minimum ten years.
No exceptions! Draconian yes, but better than our families dying!!
“The Government of National Unity and myself as Premier, have not given up hope, and I know the people of the Virgin Islands are also filled with hope,” Premier Wheatley told the House. “We believe that as a community, with each of us doing our part and working towards a common vision, our beloved BVI will conquer this scourge.”
‘Not given up hope’? Bro, we are long past that!
‘Filled with hope’ – Hope that you will finally get off your collective a$$es and do something about it other than cheap and useless talk! But no, we the people are not ‘filled with hope’ after suffering disappointment time and time again from all these talking heads!
‘Each of us doing our part’? Still waiting for you and your Unity Government to do your ‘part’ and get past the accusations of endless physical and mental slavery and move our country forwards with more action and less words to the benefit of us all.
‘Common vision’? Hahahahahahahahahaha!!! You’ve yet to come up with any ‘vision’, let alone ‘common vision’.
For the longest of times, we the people have been begging for this ‘scourge’ to be dealt with. But it has been you, and previous Governments that have allowed this continue unchecked. Actions that should have been taken by both the elected Government/s and those entities the UK operate and fund long before now.
What is very clear though, is that we the people and your Unity Government are far, far, far, from a single ‘common vision’ between us! Based on your rhetoric and actions (or lack thereof) to date, I doubt very much we will ever get to that point.
Please send them away..we can do it ourselves!
The 7th district is crime infested
The water woman gonna do a better job than this less/yes man
Unless the BVI is going to change their views on crime, criminals will keep on living here. Everyone single person know the ‘businessmen’ in their village and everyone benefits somehow. Nature’s Little Secret is kept with all citizens of the BVI unless they speak out..
“If you know a family member, a friend, or a boyfriend or girlfriend is engaging in wrongdoing, plead with them to stop. Let them know you disapprove of their wrongdoing,”
Really, didn’t you work under someone just like that for years man!
These VI knowingly and systematically created an environment conducive to wrongdoings on a grandscale and for personal gain.Any elected Gov with resistance and or hesitation was villified. A VI,now successfully has become a party to and a member of the ever prevailing participant of Black self anhialation. The worse that the Western Hemisphere has to display.