Premier looks to Jamaica for crime-fighting strategies
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has expressed that he is impressed with Jamaica’s crime-fighting capacity and is interested in collaborating with the country to explore how some of its strategies can be adopted in the British Virgin Islands.
Jamaica — a country historically plagued by high murder rates — has seen a 37 percent decrease in homicides, which the Jamaican government attributes to improved strategies and increased investments in national security.
While attending the recent CARICOM meeting in Jamaica, Premier Wheatley said he was impressed by the level of resources being deployed there to tackle crime and suggested that the BVI could benefit from adopting similar approaches.
“We look to the United Kingdom for assistance in many ways, but I was pleasantly surprised at the resources available right here in Jamaica — the advanced technology and training, it’s amazing,” the Premier said.
He added: “I’m going to be speaking to the National Security Council and the police because I want to explore how this relationship between the BVI and Jamaica can strengthen our capacity in the area of law enforcement. Jamaica is getting great results and though we don’t have the same magnitude of challenges, we certainly want to stomp out crime.”
The BVI has recorded three murders so far this year, all of which remain unsolved, though police have assured the public that investigations are progressing.
In addition to murders, residents remain concerned about a rise in gun-related and other serious crimes, including robberies, burglaries, and drug-related offences.
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Mr Premier please make sure you start with ‘White Collar Crime’ fighting
We don’t need crime fighting initiative we need crime prevention initiatives what’s wrong with these people get out of government the Virgin Islands going down the drain under slow man
Tear gas, armored vehicles, every policeman carrying a gun just what we need ,and just look at their crime/ murder rate what is he talking about! Success!
Yea man , try to get advice from island people, wow wow!!!
I get your silly point but FYI Jamaicans were never considered to be ‘down island’ people to us but we are considered ‘small island’ people to them. And we don’t cry about it because it’s true.
With a murder rate of 1,393 and 1,141 in 2023 and 2024 respectively Jamaica is on another level altogether but like man..slow man think the BVI and Jamaica is the same. He needs to leave * alone.
Sure, won’t stop you and your enablers from robbing the public’s money, and sharing the spoils amongst yourselves!
Going to a criminal place to learn how to deal with criminal minds
@natalio Wheatley; anything to promote the independent way against the UK police who may arrest me for monies I mishandled, the Jamaican police will be under my control
We continue to miss the point regarding the rising crime throughout the territory, as the Premier and his government keep looking in one direction. The British Virgin Islands has several law enforcement agencies, yet the focus remains solely on the police force. When will this stop? The real issue is that if more attention were given to the Immigration and Customs Departments—particularly through better training, resources, and tools for Customs Officers—we could significantly reduce the flow of firearms and other illegal weapons. These matters wouldn’t fall solely on the RVIPF if the government stopped weakening these critical departments. Customs and Immigration should not be treated like regular government offices; they must be acknowledged and supported as key law enforcement counterparts. With proper backing, Customs can crack down more effectively, helping to reduce the overall crime rate. Additionally, why not consider requesting assistance from the UK? Their officers are already trained and ready to help us combat crime, or we could re-engage some of our retired officers who are trained and experienced in these areas. Immigration and Customs need your support too. This is one of the core reasons why crime continues to rise. You don’t even have to ask anyone this simple question—where does the illegal stuff come through, and who is responsible? Get the drift. We want our children to be raised in a safe community.
This guy does not have a clue. A real speaker but weak
Easy… Put the police out on the street.
He better remember, he has no power over the Police, the Governor does..
A**hold go and fix the school u want to start wat u did not read were Jackie said to much dirt cops in trouble Dr w u need a j smith
The UK Governor controls the RVIPF not the Premier. If the Governor requests assistance from the Premier then fine but that request has not happened yet.
AND WHEREAS criminal activity, including murders and other gun crimes, robberies and burglaries continue to rise causing significant social and economic problems and to date the Premier and his Government (with two Government members being members of the National Security Council) has not produced a comprehensive crime reduction strategy to mitigate the situation.
AND WHEREAS there have been numerous calls, to no avail, for a Sex Offenders Register to keep track of individuals who have been convicted of sexual offences and to protect the public, especially vulnerable individuals such as children, by monitoring those who may pose a risk.
AND WHEREAS our citizens and visitors continue to suffer from the deplorable conditions of our public infrastructure (especially our roads, sewage and the lack of access to a reliable supply of potable water etc.) which the Premier and Minister of Finance continues to willfully disregard by not providing the necessary financial resources to address the issues despite repeated calls to do so by the public and Members of the Opposition.
AND WHEREAS the most vulnerable persons in our community such as the differently abled, the mentally ill, seniors and pensioners are not being treated with the level of dignity and fairness that they are entitled to by this Government.
AND WHEREAS our citizens and visitors continue to endure the filthy physical state of the Territory which lacks proper maintenance and upkeep as can be evidence in the overgrown bushes that now compromise the safety of motorist and pedestrians and the ever presence of garbage, derelict vehicles and sunken boats from the hurricanes from the 2017 etc. which continue to spoil the natural beauty of our islands without the proper intervention by the Premier and his Government.
AND WHEREAS the Premier and Minister of Finance has not to date produced a strategic financial plan outlining the Government’s vision and goals for its term in office as mandated by the Public Finance Management (Amendment) Act 2012.
AND WHEREAS the Public Assistance program is not effectively and efficiently meeting the needs of the most vulnerable (elderly, unemployed, indigent) in our community due to a lack of proper restructuring of the Social Development Department to take on this new task (with approximately 1.7 Million USD allocated in 2024 for public assistance but only $600,000 USD was spent) and the lack of updated legislation to enable the staff at the department to be able to assist citizens in a more timely fashion.
AND WHEREAS unemployment in the Territory is extremely high, particularly among young people, and the Government has failed to address this issue in a sustainable way despite numerous requests from the public and Members of the Opposition to do so.
Remove erased export bann the criminals and the potential predictable proven criminals.
Banned Jamaicans from your shores. Simple! Stop marauding with the BS. Bann Jamaicans in addition to Dingis which would include the diseased street walkers. Simple solution. Stop the pretense. Make BVI great AGIN and AGAIN..Throw out the maggots and the garbage!