Premier on crime: We’ve gone in the wrong direction
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has expressed concern about the escalating crime in the territory following the murder of a 20-year-old man earlier this week.
In an interview with ZBVI News, he acknowledged the societal challenges leading to crime and called for collective action to address the issue. Reflecting on the broader societal challenges, the Premier remarked, “Somewhere along the line, we as a society, we’ve gone in the wrong direction.”
The recent tragedy followed the passage of the Police Amendment Bill, which gives law enforcement additional powers to investigate and prosecute crimes. “That was just a small amendment. It was a very important amendment,” Premier Wheatley said while referencing the bill. “And it will help the police to investigate and prosecute crimes. But there is still a lot more that needs to be done.”
Dr Wheatley expressed his condolences to the victim’s family while urging criminals to “put down their guns.” He warned that those who refuse to change their ways will face the full force of the law. “For those who refuse to put down the guns, we have to make sure that the police have the power to be able to deal with them so that we don’t see any more loss of life,” he emphasised.
Highlighting the role of the community, Premier Wheatley urged parents and residents to play their part in crime prevention. “If you’ve seen something that worries you, and you think that your child is involved in something they should not be involved in, you will have to report that to the police. That same child may end up in the grave or in jail,” he cautioned.
He also called for mentorship programmes and community involvement to deter youth from turning to crime. “We can form crime watches in our communities. We can try to mentor young people before they get to the point where they start committing crime. We must be our brother and sister’s keeper,” the Premier stated.
Acknowledging the church’s efforts, Dr Wheatley said some have made commendable strides, but more can be done. “The government can do more. The police can do more. The DPP can do more. We all can do more. And we all have to collaborate and have a discussion and a conversation about how we solve this problem of crime,” he added.
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What did you expect after three plus decades of underinvestment in education and youth programs, and unfettered avarice by elected politicians?
Can’t wait to vote this cl**n out, never given solutions to problems and bit off more than he can chew with all these ministries.
His house ain’t even in order and he trying run our country!
SO WHY DID HE GIVE VYBES KARTEL $250,000?
As quite as it is kept, he give more than $250.000 of the taxpayers money to bring a criminal and his Turkish woman who is going to swindle the criminal out of all his money soon.
The taxpayers is picking up an all expenses for a criminal and his Turkish woman. The woman that is going to take everything in the end. Ms. Sidem knows how to play the game well. The mansion, the expensive cars and diamonds that they are showing off on line is just the beginning.
As soon as he marry her, she is going to put ownership on everything he has. She is going to own everything he has when he drop. She is playing a good game on his head. Just hope she is not allowed to light up her weed in public take her puffs and pass it to him while he is up on stage. Weed is illegal in the BVI.
Women play chess, men play checkers.A woman knows exactly how to get into a man’s head. You just got to know how to play the game and master the game.
So, he invited a known criminal to motivate them? Jack I tell yo!
Yet still he invited Kriminal Kartel to motivate them further…..Jack I tell yo!
Who is a known criminal? Virgin Islands have more and worst criminal than this artist. Rapist, thieves burglars and con-men..Remember Gaza no Rape so who you calling criminal? Stay in your lane sir.
It’s your mentality of leadership that has us in the situation instead of reaching out you always has personal issues. Look our is in sooo much need yet you using our money to bring a criminal to intice them.
What about all the murders in last 10 years? Who convicted? only 1.
They are not going to listen. Government needs to stop and search.
Stop being a two tongue hypocrite will you? You took the taxpayers money and give it to a criminal. Since you like giving money to criminals, I need $800,000 to set up and pay for a criminal and gang bangers conference to be held at the festival grounds in the summer. Don’t you think giving a COUNTRY BUSH MAN YOKEL PROMOTER MONEY WHICH WILL TOTAL A MILLION DOLLARS OR MORE IS GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION? NO WONDER YOU ALL ARE CALLED SIMPLETONS AND BUSH MEN THAT WANT TO BE IN THINGS BUT ALWAYS MANAGE TO FUMBLE. STOP BEING A DAMN HYPOCRITE AND GO CHECK YOUR OVER INFLATED EGOTISTICAL WAYS AND STOP APPEASING TO CRIMINALS LIKE THE PROMOTER WHO WOULD LICK A COWS BARE A.. FOR A DOLLAR AND DRAGGING RIGHTS. SET OF DAMN CLOUT CHASERS.
The promoter will lick a cow bare and raw behind for a crumple up dollar that the cow pi**ed and s**t on.
Look how Steve ruin your chances to get premier cause you trying act cool for them, them only care bout their money they making not no tourism, which other premier so slow in the whole world?! To get catch for over 500k from a dude who selling fish and flop 9.99 of the last 10 events he throw?!
Maybe one of the fish Steve be selling catch the Premier a fishy hard slap across his face with its tail. I still don’t understand why the Premier handed over the taxpayers money to a bad promoter when his instinct was punching him in the stomach saying bad idea, don’t do it.
The man is a genius!!!!!
The biggest criminals in our country is YOU politicians
Why you politicians don’t have community meetings with your constituents to hear our cry. Only when s**t hit the fans you politicians come trying to say s**t
Easier to let the young hoodlums kill each other until they are all dead or incapacitated for life. Now is the time to take the lead with the next Generation of Beta kids so they grow up respecting education and learn how to make an honest living during their crime free lives.
And guess what? The swindling clout chasing promoter is going to walk away with the rack. Look how the Premier got roped into something that is going to hurt him/career. Bad move Premier, you should have never given away the taxpayers money to a promoter clout chaser. It should have been the promoters responsibility to pay out of his own pockets or fund raise. The promoter want to sip champagne and eat caviar while he is on a kool Aid budget.
Champagne and Caviar dreams huh? When you want to live that lifestyle you pay out your own pockets not the taxpayers pockets clout chaser.
Look at how a shisty promoter got into the leader of the Territory head and swindle his head to give away more than a million dollars for a criminal. I am putting in my bid for a million to open a program for criminals and illegals. lol.
Have to give him credit, he said “we’ve” instead of you
Steve needs to donate all the free pocket money from the concert to charities on the Island or replace the taxpayers money that he hoodwinked the Premier into given up for a criminal with buckle feet hook stick chicken legs.
The Premier has promised an Anti Crime Strategy for the last two years but nothing has been done. The youth of the Virgin Islands need something to break this cycle.
So no more dime bags?
We could start by taking poster pin ups of criminals from our HOA.
Why y’all only talking about the promoter as if the PM isn’t getting his kickback of the money. That’s the only reason he pushed for it so hard. Thats the case with all the events he approves. Lining his own pockets is the goal.
Yes Sir, We have gone in the wrong direction, direct to jail in the USA
Dad the dime bagger
So called criminal gun men in the virgin islands are not going to put down guns. Let’s keep this real. They are going to do what they do and then they are going to get what they get.
The government cannot legislate LOVE. When last has our pastors / Christias, gotten away from their houses of worship and into the communities to preach Jesus to a fast dying territory. Whoever calls themselves Christian and fails to carry out the great commandment is bound for destruction.
Why do you people on this platform consider Vybz Kartel a criminal?? I mean he has held shows in the Virgin Islands before and it was a blast! Stop bringing up individuals past to try and hurt them! Stop it!
Do you agree whether the artist visists the island or not it would always have crime