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.
Your point is so true. Only a real real Tortolian would know that. We never considered Jamaicans as “island people”. They were always referred to as Jamaicans. But they always looked at us as “small island”. And guess what ? I never had a problem to be called small island. By the way personally I don’t like referring to others as island people. But it is what it is. Just get over it.
The funny thing is … When BVI people travel to other Caribbean countries they realize how ‘DOWN ISLAND” the BVI is… BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS is the real DOWNISLAND !!!!!
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.
Jamaica as illion people dump dump what your point check it per capita and you will see most Caribbean countries have more murder than Jamaica all you people like to jump on Jamaica, Jamaica must do you all something
Name one other Caribbean country other than Haiti or Trinidad with a high murder/crime rate like Jamaica. Nobody is jumping on Jamaica the facts are there..You know it and I know it. Stop pretending that you are in paradise and see the world for what it is.
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!
It requires massive investment. How many years have the various COP been asking for investment in the police. I am sorry Sir but you are all hot air. Unless you are willing to put serious money into it then take a seat.
@lol. Completely agreed. When they stop playing politics in there it’ll improve. Favoritism, nepotism rampant. No reward for work sell and bought, take and give! Lots of mismanagement from the top and sidekicks.
St kitts brought in the RSS…Google what that is…Kittians kicked up a fuss when they came,but it put a stop too the little boys playing with guns…well most of them killed each other..but the RSS helped.
That was not the solution to the crime situation. The present government made the situation a Public Health matter and it has seen significant improvements. They have instituted police patrols in known hot spots and they have random stop and searches.
They tried one of Jamaica’s model and it was a waste of resources which was paying the criminals to behave. Although they were being paid and getting more money than some persons making a honest dollar, they still was shooting each other.
“We, the territory, don’t need crime fighting initiative we need crime prevention initiatives,” such as jobs creations, well paying entry jobs and jobs that will attrack the young non academic mind.
Why can millions to billions disappear yearly year after year, yet not one single job is ever created?
Meanwhile, the people are ever frequently, bombarded with slick news realeases fooling the people that. something is actually being done to alleviate the issue of crime.
When in reality, the only proven cure for criminal activity is available jobs with a decent salary attached.
Do the right thing elected officials and stop mamaguying and making mimickery with the people.
Which Crime is more dangerous White Collar or Black Collar? What Crime Strategy Techniques can Jamaica give BVI? To Gun down every Innocent Citizen they meet on the Streets and in Homes? The Majority of Crime Fighters are Criminals themselves. From Head to Toe. Lets List our Crime Fighters: Think about it. Who do you think or know is allowing Guns and Drugs and All the other Criminal Gadgets into the Country? Yes, you guessed right. Criminality in most Countries is like eating Steak and Lobster everyday for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. In most Countries including the BVI, Governments, Law Enforcement Agencies, Ordinary Citizens in Society know who the Culprits are But pretend Not to know. Looks like Head Coach Saga didnt teach you all anything. It’s who you know. We are All Related.. Go Figure.
So Jamaica is the potfull,the lab full the center of crime in the Northern Hemisphere,
So the tiny teeny BVI decided and implemented a FastTrack of Jamaicans now in the thousands as the humanity that should be embedded and bred above all others in this Itty bitty Vi.
So now and as expected the Jamaicans living their best and continued deviled and demonic existence in these Vi and surrounding USVI extendedvto zuSA like pandemic Christmas.
So now the elected head big decion to sweep out the toxicity and the created endemic goings on is to importcJamaican police
Like the BVI has a one track mind with Jamaica….import them,import their policem..
en,import their sweat for our self created tears
Like
Kill the cancer by feeding it,,keep pouring on the toxicity …Jamaican police is ineffective in jamaica with Jamaicans so what you want them here for..to continue to enable their homies and Jamaican brethrens?
Worst of all,is this bold face BVI Premier with insults to the intelligence and sensibilities of the BVI people. He need a good slap, A disgust of a human. Consistently lying and mamaguying and playing us for fools pith fairy tales..
A moratorium and deportation exercise of the offending scums would be a signal of serious effort and reality. We are inundated with the insulting sights of the excessive amount of Jamaicans and the knowledgeable personal experiences of their habits and propensities,we don’t need an enmasse tonload of them in uniform on our land that has become septic
as a result of their overbearing and ineffective
presence. Beyond insulting!
Jamaican police kill criminals… If the BVI adopts that moto they would clean up the place in no time..
Latest is that a deal with some African countries are accepting some US deportees. A remote location “Eswatini”a remote locatik and p L ace is the latest
A Jamaican is one ofthe be guests shipped there. He was rejected and refused by Jamaica…not even Jamaica wants their own.
om
Yep. Five deportees sent to this remote African prison frkm the USA where they will each will be isolated in their cell during their stay.
One is Cuban and one Jamaican…labeled the worse of the worse.
Jamaica don’t solve crime police kill everyone who is a suspect innocent or guilty then plant gun on them…America is who the Premier needs to get crime fighting strategy from. America solve murders in days no matter how complex.
Jamaica is overwhelm with crime, the strategies that they using are clearly not working, crime rate is at an all time high, is this guy smoking something?????.
Start with the proper recruiting then training to ensure they have good communicating skills (verbal and written). They must be able to take notes. Read, understand and appropriately identify the law that deals with the crime. Excellent investigation skills and time management skills are necessitates; investigate things immediately and follow up as necessary.
Ayo ain’t ready for police “dirting” these “bad man” theeu d place when dem start to act up. I’m for it tho lol
Trust me. They can’t do it here. Here is not the wild Wild West where the cops could push your head in toilets to force a confession. Do that to one young boy and I bet you… war would broke out. Trust me.
When last you see criminals here shooting police? Never but if the police do as the Jamaicans then its will be war and more violence. You all want to mash up the place and give it a worse name.
When people get arrested here the most that happens is a chase.
might as well you look to Haiti and Trinidad too
clowns mehson
looking at independent nations with high murder rates breaking records every year and sometimes months. Same independent nations with high in officer corruption but that wha yall aspire to be thats why yall fight down uk every time
THE CRIMES WITHIN OURSELVES FIRST / WHATEVER’S GOING ON HERE ARE CREATED BY OUR OWN PEOPLE ON OUR OWN PEOPLE AND ON OUTSIDERS – POINT BLANK ( AND IT AIN’T NO SECRET, THE POWERS THAT BE KNOW WHO ALL IS BEHIND WHATEVER TYPE OF CRIMES AND IT WAS SO ELOQUENTLY PUT ) THEY ARE WALKING IN THE STREETS AMONGS US ) LIKE HONORABLE HEROES
Great choice just remember when a reminder no body pull a gun on those guys a survived.
I’m here for the comments because I just know you all will tear him up! Jamaica can’t control their own crime just like Trinidad, but this is where we turn to for advice??? Jokes!
47 reduction in homicides.Hmm. still 200 dead in Jamaica last year