Premier: Looters can now be brought to justice with new court
Premier Dr D Orlando Smith
Premier Dr D Orlando Smith said with a new Magistrate’s Court building now open in the British Virgin Islands, more looters will finally have their day in court.
Yesterday, the new court facility was unveiled adjacent to the former hurricane-wrecked courthouse in John’s Hole, Tortola.
Court sessions were previously held in makeshift courtrooms in at least three different locations in Road Town.
While making an address at the unveiling ceremony, Premier Smith said the building will do wonders for the judicial system in the territory.
“After the hurricane, we had some looting and subsequent to that we had some disorderly behaviour in the territory,” Premier Smith said.
“Even though the police is active, justice has to be served in a courthouse to deal with those persons that had been apprehended, so to speak, by the police. And so, since our Magistrate’s Court was not working, it is important that we had a place to do that.”
He said with the new court building, the BVI “can continue with the whole matter of having justice applied quickly”.
“We do not want to be in a place where we are not able to do just that,” added Dr Smith while mentioning the close-approaching peak of the 2018 hurricane season.
The new building is said to be able to withstand 200-plus mile per hour winds, among other things.
In the immediate aftermath of the 2017 hurricanes, many persons broke into business places – most of which had been damaged during the weather events – and stole merchandise.
Several businesses were affected to the point where it took months to reopen while others never recovered.
Back in October, Deputy Premier Dr Kedrick Pickering called for expatriates who were involved in looting to be deported, while Junior Minister for Trade Marlon Penn called for stricter penalties for local offenders.
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The first looter is the entire government for robbing the BVI Taxpayers. Ummm thats you first Sir. no one is above the law!
I here saying the same thing. LOOTERS!…can’t believe he ’til now with that when the people’s purse getting loot S T E A D Y !
@Monopoly money – well said something most people that actually care about this country and not themselves feel – the “No Direction Party” has absolutely no moral compass – if anything things have got worse even with the introduction of a few newer members that have failed to make a difference!
What about the political bandits?
thank the u.k for doing the government job
You all notice only the Courts, Police Stations, and Prisons the UK Government is spending money on. “They don’t build any schools anymore all them build are prisons prisons”.
Wow, you have issues!
Yep. Lucky Dube points it to our attention. But are we paying attention?
That is because the UK is responsible for security. The local government is responsible for schools – they are just not stepping up to the task. Nor for that matter are the local population – as per your comment, waiting for someone to do it for us.
No doubt Mr Air Miles Smith will be off swanning about on first class flights to the UK again soon staying in luxury hotels pretending to be representing the BVI – no wonder Myron wanted his job so badly!
Dr Smith don’t have no shame at all.where is our 7.2 million he loot.he should be the first looter to get sentence in that new court.
V—- was looting are you going to lock him up
Hey doc.are you going to be tried in court for the $22,000,000. You give to B.V.I.AIRWAYS.
Expats to be deported while local looters be dealt with seriously. Is that justice. y’all make the damn dog sick.
Politicians needs to to have their day in court for government funds which are unaccountable for.
Then NDP should be the first ones tried in the court