Premier urges wrongdoers to abandon crime amid violence surge
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has called on residents involved in criminal activities to change their ways, as the Virgin Islands grapples with a rise in gun violence.
Speaking in the House of Assembly on Tuesday, January 7, Premier Wheatley highlighted troubling incidents, including the involvement of young individuals in violent crimes.
“The other day, we had a shooting close to school premises while classes were ongoing,” the Premier said. “I hear reports of students from that school who are in serious trouble with the police.”
He expressed deep concern about reports of teenagers carrying weapons. “I get reports of 14 and 15-year-olds who are now armed. They’re barely going through puberty, and they have weapons of destruction,” Premier Wheatley lamented, noting that the Virgin Islands was once considered one of the most peaceful places on the planet.
Evolving crime
Although he acknowledged that crime rates in the BVI remain relatively low, Premier Wheatley said the nature of crime has evolved in recent years.
In a heartfelt appeal, he urged those engaged in violence to reconsider their actions. “I appeal to those persons involved in crime to turn away from that wicked, selfish behavior,” he said. “Put down the guns. If you are involved in illicit activities, turn your life around.”
The Premier expressed sorrow over the lives lost to violence, referencing local cemeteries as stark reminders of its toll. “There are too many young persons in Greenland, Johnson Ghut cemetery, or right there in Long Bush,” he added.
In November, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force issued a public warning about the activities of a gang known as the “Money Boyz,” which is said to operate on the island.
Authorities continue to call for community cooperation in addressing these challenges.
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IF YOU ARE OUR LEADER , THEN , LAW & ORDER STARTS WITH YOU , WHO ❓️ SAID , THAT KNOWN ” COLDBLOODED EXECUTION STYLE KILLERS ARE WALKING IN THE STREETS AMONGST US ” ■ UNTILL WE START CALLING OUT THE REAL PEOPLE , WHETHER FAMILY , FRIEND OR FOES , WE WILL ONLY BE FOOLING OURSELVES , AND YOU DONT HAVE TO BE A ROCET SCIENTIST TO KNOW THAT ,KNOWLEDGE IS POWER IF ITS USED WISELY WITH INTEGRITY / USING THE COLONIALIST SLAVE MASTERS IS A LAME EXCUSE / MR STOUTT KNEW OF THOSE WHITE BOYZ , BUT HE NEVER USED IT , BECAUSE THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH D
BRAI S HERE TO MOVE THE COUNTRY FORWARD IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION , ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS ADAPT OR EMULATE LAVITY
STYLE ‘ UNITE AND WORK TOGETHER FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE AND THE COUNTRY USUNG INTEGRITY ▪︎ BUT GREED & POWER IS YOU ALL FIRST PRIORITY , AND POINTING FINGERS AS A DISTRACTION , AND W
SWEEPING CORRUPTION UNDER THE RUG ( IS NOT GOING TO FIX OUR PROBLEMS , IT WILL ONLY MULTIPLY THEM / THAT JUDGE WIGGIE AND ANOTHER COUPLE OF IDIOTS , WITH THE SAME EVIL MENTALITY ARE
INSTIGATORS WHO IS USING RACISM AS A FRONT TO PUSH THEIR HIDDEN AGENDA
Bring in the UK to eliminate this gang while it still young and fresh. The longer you take the stronger they will get as they will recruit more.
The military should be called in to clean up the crime on the Island. The military have the fire power and advanced technology. If the military have to take out the criminals then so be it. Now you see the reason why the visitors prefer to vacation on VG and the other Islands in the BVI? They are not going to allow the criminal elements to destroy their tourist product like Tortola is doing. Tortola is a cess pool of crime. The tourist is going to stop coming to Tortola out of fear for their safety.
The Premier will never ask for the military to come in and clean up the criminal element that is basically running the Territory like Andrew did by refusing a high tech military ship to protect our borders. Why? because Andrew was doing business with the criminals on the Island and did not want the nastiness to be exported. In the end Andrew still end up getting caught. The Premier can shut down the S if he wants to but …
Mr. Premier. I like you as a person, but those words would most likely fall on deaf ears.
You are not speaking of children in kindergarten who may be amenable to such admonitions. We are talking about hardened gun toting criminals who are either involved in gang activity, the illicit drug trade, or both.
What the country needs from you as a leader is your stepping towards the podium and announcing a firm concrete plan of action to combat this growing problem.
Yes, a strong and forceful plan of action to reassure the public that your administration will go about holding those who run afoul of the laws accountable. Stop putty footing around.
You are not the first Premier or Chief Minister to address this issue by you all have one thing in common: Mere words without a concrete plan of action.
It’s time to get tough on crime. These gun toting criminals need to be caught and put in jail period.
Efforts by the RVIPF to get guns off the streets need to continue. Give law enforcement the tools they need to do the job, and if they cannot, then use your authority to get the U.K. involved.
We are beyond empty words. Time for action.
U Dr w you know that west is paying to shoot man it’s cool with you, you bringing vibes katel who hide a man and got away with it so now u bringing him for west, the money sweet u
If everyone knows the Premier knows. W is doing a whole lot from camp cup cake with strawberry icing up on the hill. They may as well paint camp cup cake bright pink on the inside and out side in honor of W.
I think they will all change their ways now you asked them so nicely. Is this country run buy dumbo the elephant?
How a bout the DPP actually start winning some cases and improve that terrible conviction rate. If the criminals walking free all the time how anything going to get any better.
the same premier that sponsored an artist who call himself Kartel to come and sing to the youths?? lmfaooo
the same premier that have songs playing festival and music fest about violence,sex and drugs? yall need to pay attention to the lyrics and artist.
go to the dark areas of events pure youths smoking and drinking some even looked underage and then there’s underage girls walking those same areas dressed skimpy what could go wrong?
this got to be a joke wtf
Badness is wha we endorse yuh deaf!
Oh I’m sure all the criminals will take this to heart. Nat just who do you think you are ?
Oh, please Mr. Ganstah, you’re scaring us with our guns and things. . Can’t you stop making money selling drugs and learn a trade that pays $ 150/day? Or, maybe apply for a govt job that pays $ 2,000/mont? The place needs more honest people.. But don’ worry yourself about all them people talking about cronyism and corruption. That’s just family stuff.
We should be all set now. The premier asked nicely for the bad boys to play nice. Problem solved, just like he got the roads and water problems solved. VIP jammin!
and dont forget the economy is robust thats why we have such an increase in gun crime lol; set of poppy show wha just out of touch running this place
Well then, that should fix the problem. Well done Premier, you tell them.
Yuh check! everything safe now that the premier ask them kindly to change their ways.
Why you don’t leave kartel alone and tell the parents to train their children, it will get worse in this place because the wrong people are being blamed for things. Parents cannot control their children because they spoil them and give them scooter to ride so they think they are men,they have no manners no hometraining so let kartel come and teach them.
ayo listen and keep this nonsense on gat-tola
The UK’s SAS soldiers could sort out the BVI’s crime problem within a year. So when will they be here Mr. Premier???