Mather calls for NSC to produce crime strategy
Territorial At-Large Representative Stacey Mather has issued a strong call for the National Security Council (NSC) to urgently develop and implement a crime strategy as violent crime continues to grip the territory.
During a recent press conference, Mather highlighted the growing concern over the rise in violent offences, particularly among young men. He pointed to the murder of 20-year-old Quinton Noel in Purcell Estate as part of a worrying trend in the BVI.
“In the past 18 months, the BVI has experienced a significant increase in violent crime, in the number of murders and serious assaults,” Mather stated.
He said the surge in gang activity is particularly troubling, explaining that young men from vulnerable backgrounds are being recruited into gangs that “exploit their need for belonging and purpose.” He noted that this mirrors global and regional patterns but stressed it must not be ignored in the local context.
Mather referred to a June 2024 review of law enforcement, which outlined 138 recommendations aimed at improving security across the territory. However, he questioned the lack of updates on their implementation.
“This is a lack of transparency and raises questions about our commitment to tackling crime and supporting our youth,” he asserted.
He also criticised the delay in releasing part two of the law enforcement review and the absence of a national crime strategy, which Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley had promised almost a year ago.
“The Premier’s promise of a national crime strategy nearly a year ago remains unfulfilled, leaving many citizens questioning our leadership priorities,” Mather argued. “While funds seem readily available for concerts and sponsorships, there appears to be a glaring lack of investment in addressing the root causes of crime and/or supporting our youth.”
Mather called for the NSC to take the lead in producing “proactive programmes and strategies in preventing crime before it occurs.” He said these should include support for vocational training and technical education for school leavers and initiatives to support struggling parents.
“Many of our young offenders are high school dropouts and we must create pathways for them to develop careers in technical fields,” he explained.
Mather appealed to the community, especially men, to step up and support young people. “I also call on the fathers, uncles, and men of our territory to join me and make ways for our young people to speak up about their challenges,” he said.
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Stop them foreigners from breeding up the place
This guy has turned out to be a serious waste of time, I’m sorry.
This at large rep is doing the best he can in this splintered opposition HOA. The VIP premier makes lots of promises he fails to deliver. At least 1 elected rep is repeatedly reminding the forgetful premier to fulfill these promises to the people of the BVI.
only strategy that will yeild a 100% success rate is equality in distribution of the wealth.
Fair wages, fair. wagesand fair wages.
Becoming wealthy of of the sweat of others as they hurt each day is neither good for nation building, humanity, nor is it christian.
Keep the heat on them Hon. Mather. What about the sex offenders register? It have a frog in hog city that likes little boys…
The problem with the BVI is the people. We love and embrace ignorance and outrage. We won’t improve ourselves that way. And the only way to fight crime is to change the mindset of the criminals. We are in a capitalist system with socialist minded people. So it’s not about the $$ some have or the disparity by those who don’t alone by itself. It has to do with how we think about ourselves and the world around us. Verything isn’t racist, but somethings are. Everything isn’t government waste either, some travel is necessary but the inflated cost of construction is corruption. And that should be called out but we rather complain about nonsense most of the time.
Wha yah sayin’, sold and bought already? Going on longtime.
@ Best: Thanks for your Positive Comment about the Honorable Mather. Honorable Mather is a forward thinking Individual who cares about the people with great emphasis on the Youths. He is on the side of the Opposition and calls it as he sees it. My suggestion to Hon. Mather is to start writing the Bills and bring them to the HOA. There the Public will see who really cares about the people. Along with the Sex Offenders Registry.
@ Yawn: You must be a Virgin Islander like myself. Because Most of us are blinded to the fact of what Politics is all about and can only gel when its about the taxpayer’s Dollars in Pockets from Politicians. We grew up meeting it like that and can never get use to it not being like that while the territory going to Hell in a Hand Basket with the innocents along with the Guilty.
This society, within fifty years, will implode upon itself. The inequality; the greed, economic desparity and dishonesty will create a revolution that will echo eons into the future.
I and none in existence today will not around to be a witness to the evolution of peoples’ revolution, but it will come.
If the elites do not change their practices of accumulation of and wealth distribution from the labor of the under paid, exploited and disrespected, it will come.
If fairness do not soon come into being to replace mega selfishness and profits, then may God help us all, as there will not be even ashes left to rebuild with, because the winds too, will take them away.
Indeed, the peoples revolution will come, not just in the VI, but around the globe where ever the laboring wealth producing class has been long exploited.