NSC promises ‘increased presence’ after Pier Park robbery
Officials from the National Security Council (NSC) have sought to reassure residents that their safety is utmost priority. That message follows a hair-raising daylight robbery committed at the Cyril B Romney Tortola Pier Park’s House of Luxury by two masked, gun toting bandits at the weekend.
A release from the NSC shortly after the robbery stated: “The NSC wishes to assure everyone that the security of the people of the Virgin Islands is of paramount concern and that no stone will be left unturned in bringing the perpetrators of this crime to justice.”
The NSC, after being briefed on details of the robbery by Commissioner of Police, Mark Collins, also promised to have an increased presence at the Pier Park and at other events taking place in the territory to help ensure the public’s safety.
Members of the NSC said they were thankful no one was physically injured during the incident.
Emergency meeting held for security review
A high-level emergency security meeting with various stakeholders — including Communication and Works Minister, Kye Rymer; representatives of the Tortola Pier Park Ltd (TPPL); the BVI Tourist Board; the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA); and the police — has since taken place to and collaborate on robust strategies and review security measures at the Pier Park.
“To address the concerns arising from this incident, a thorough security audit of the Tortola Pier Park has been commissioned. This audit will precisely evaluate the existing security protocols and systems in place, identify potential vulnerabilities, and propose necessary enhancements,” a release issued by the Works Ministry stated.
Both the BVIPA and officials of the TPPL have since provided full access to the park’s CCTV cameras in order to facilitate investigations into the robbery.
Officials lauded the emergency discussion as being successful and said, “plans were outlined to support the implementation of comprehensive mitigation strategies that will ensure the utmost safety of the park and its valued visitors.”
In the meantime, a special appeal has been issued by the NSC for persons with information on those responsible for the violent robbery to contact the police with tips at Crime Stoppers and/or the confidential and untraceable hotline 800-8477[TIPS], 800-847-8477 and 368-9339.
The NSC comprises the Governor and the Premier who serve as joint chairpersons, one other minister, the Attorney General (ex-officio) and the Commissioner of Police (ex-officio).
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REACTIVE AND NOT PROACTIVE
ship at the dock with armed marines in the Pier Park will reduce crime in this area.
“Where there is no vision the people perish” If you understand that statement you’ll understand why gun crime and crime in general so much on the rise in BVI. Increased presence is welcomed but for how long you gonna keep that up you cant be everywhere at once. The guns don’t manufacture here so allocate real time and resources to finding out how the majority of them getting in here and taking the players off the board. That 2 million we waste renting barge could have bought at least 2 more boats for customs to patrol with. The same police who you want to make us feel safe complaining at their public meetings that they lacking resources and personnel to police properly. Some of our police stations are closed on the weekends as if crime takes a day off. Yea you can increase presence at pier park and other events but that’s a band-aid the infection still there festering. If they cant rob pier park they gonna come in your house and rob is all; You gonna increase presence at my house too?
Step 1. List entertainment and hang out areas.
Peir park, Cane garden, Town, East, Sophers hole
Pick 15 locations, use your heads. Take two officers & place them in those areas permanently. That is 30 out of 300+
Actual security means police are present to dissolve disputes & crime.
“UK is responsible for security” I am tired of hearing that yet seeing no action of protecting the local community.
Start emergency roadblock exercises, think fire drill.
Roads should be closed/monitored within under 15 minutes of a robbery or murder.
This place is too small to be insecure. Make it a suicide mission to murder or rob. We have VERY few roads get serious!
British policing, once the best in the world is now one of the worst due to its woke nonsense.
We had two events that brought players from outside, the free concert and the Poker Run and the Police did nothing different? Were there extra coverage in the Road Town area? I doubt it. I didn’t see them. I didn’t attend any of these events, but were there police officers ensuring that peace was kept?
In this country we have to stop being reactive. We have new recruits every year. I see them by the bus loads driving around when training, but no bus to drop them off through Road Town and heavily populated areas like East End and Cane Garden Bay to name a few. There was one police officer who was willing to regulate traffic, show up throughout the day and stay visual, Glen Callwood, and he was taken off the street altogether.
On a weekend with a free concert and Poker Run activities, how many stop and searches were set up simultaneously throughout the island? Sitting here in my living room I think I could be a better cop than some of our police officers. Stop and search at all areas where they have to move simultaneously, going to East End on the flat, over the Hill, Great Mountain Hill, Joes Hill, West End through Sea Cows Bay, over the Hill Sea Cows Bay. Cane Garden Bay all at the same time and peppered in between. We got to get some of these guns off the street. There are enough officers to do it and this was warranted this weekend and never done hence the robbery right under our noses in broad daylight. Sad. Sad indeed.