Reject crime, says outraged Premier who was at scene of double-murder
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has expressed outrage over the recent gun murders that took place in his constituency and has admonished youths to choose a path away from crime.
The Premier also shared an emotional tale of personally witnessing the aftermath of the recent shooting that claimed two lives and left two others – including a minor – nursing injuries at a local hospital.
According to Premier Wheatley, his office is just next door to the bar where the shooting took place and he was holding a meeting when the shots first rang out. “When we walked outside of the office, we saw the big crowd and you saw dozens of people in full view of lifeless bodies on the ground,” Dr Wheatley told the House of Assembly (HOA).
The Premier said he later realised that one of the victims was a relative he had just spoken to earlier in the day that had requested assistance with job placement. The other victim that was shot and killed was also a cousin of his, the Premier stated.
“These things are hard to swallow in the Virgin Islands – a close-knit community, we’re all related, we all know each other,” the Dr Wheatley said.
“The Government of National Unity and I are firmly committed to our responsibilities in supporting law enforcement in the fight against crime. We are outraged to see the path that some persons have chosen to follow, and we will not stand for it,” the Premier said recently.
While seizing the opportunity to issue a reminder that his government will soon be bringing the Police Act before the HOA, the Premier said his government is committed to continuing to make resources available to the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), so they can perform their law enforcement and public safety functions.
He said those functions should be done whether it is by preventing and deterring criminal activity, or ensuring perpetrators are identified, held and brought before the court for justice.
“As a government, we are also committed to continuing to develop and implement policies, programmes and initiatives to give our people, of all ages and backgrounds, the options to lead productive and upstanding lives as honest, law-abiding citizens. Ultimately, however, it comes down to the individual’s choice of doing right over doing wrong; and the vast majority of our people choose to do right and to live in peace,” Dr Wheatley stated.
While urging youth to reject a life of crime and violence, the Premier said such a life has no future. “Such a life will only be filled with regret. Such a life will only bring pain and grief to you and the people who care about you when you end up in jail or, worse, dead. There are better, more productive and positive things to do with your time, your energy and your intellect,” the Premier said.
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and start doing something about the 50 year cycle of drug trafficking, cocaine trade, gun crime and the association of criminal organizations into BVI Government..
STOP USING THIS SCENARIO FOR POLITICAL MILEAGE
Can we please stop pretending we are so frustrated with the killings.
If you hang with gangsters you are part of the problem. We all know the people who have too much money for the job they say they do. It’s your choice to hang with them, but then you are basically supporting their crimes and eventually their killings.
Just stay away from gangsters and don’t hang with criminals. As long as our community keeps pretending these criminals are lovely people and show up with all of us for their funerals wearing their t-shirts it is part of the problem.
That is when the outrage kick in, apart from that some people simply don’t care about the killing. The 1st thing some people does say is “i don’t deal with drugs, so nobody will shoot me” but,the truth is a stray bullet can hit any innocent bystander. We have seen more brutal deaths in the BVI before this, so let’s not act like it’s something new. Many can continue to be vex over a video of the killing in Fish Bay because it showed the world what the BVI really is like…..
Make it easier for law enforcement to search cars and homes. The guns have to go.
My respect to both of you , for
telling it like it is , and as I said before ,( under the rug is full , so it’s oozing out now and still not a word from those so clearly holy people , and these puppets saint Andrew created / and suddenly BIG youth realize BRUTAL GANGLAND EXECUTION STYLE
MURDERS have been going here , even after the one in fish bay that was caught on video that they had Pasig outcry against the commissioner and not the PERPETRATORS , so who is fooling who ❓ ?
That should include all homes in the BVI, whyte, Arab and others and cars, not just the Black population.
For those who supply weapons of lifes’ destruction for profit are more daangerous to the Black than the so called gang banger.
You really think they will put their money where their mouth is and take down the third pillar?
Sunak is in now. Watch many scatter very soon. Don’t feel any way. It’s happening over the world. Soon the world will be rid of evil. The world includes USA, UK , and so of course the little BVI. No one, no matter how small gets a free ride this time. No one.
Some of these young men are NOT calculating the future cost of their actions, intentions and decisions.
Check containers and boxes coming in thoroughly. Black people are not the ones importing the guns. Guns are being sold to them by people who have the capability to import them hidden among their merchandise. The people who are less likely to be checked properly are the ones who are getting away with this evil.