Skelton to press Premier over rising gun crime
Opposition Leader Ronnie Skelton is expected to grill Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley over the BVI‘s escalating gun crime situation once the House of Assembly (HOA) resumes today.
In one of his questions listed on the HOA order paper, Skelton will ask Premier Wheatley to explain the steps and strategies being pursued by the National Security Council (NSC) and the Governor to arrest the growing threat of gun violence facing the BVI.
Skelton prefaced his question by pointing out that Dr Wheatley sits as a member of the NSC — the security body jointly chaired by the Premier and the Governor. It considers matters relating to internal security and any significant security developments in the territory.
The Opposition Leader said safety is fundamental to the quality of life in the territory. He also emphasised that this safety underpins the territory’s economic success to date.
According to Skelton, the people of the BVI are highly concerned about the increasing rate of gun-related crime in the territory.
Skelton’s question to Premier Wheatley comes against the backdrop of a hair-raising daylight robbery committed at the Cyril B Romney Tortola Pier Park’s House of Luxury by two masked, gun-toting bandits last Saturday.
After the robbery, the NSC hastily issued a release assuring persons that the security of the territory is of paramount concern and said “no stone will be left unturned in bringing the perpetrators of this crime to justice”.
That statement was followed by a high-level emergency meeting involving various security and tourism industry stakeholders who met to discuss “robust strategies and review security measures” at the pier park. A thorough security audit of the pier park was commissioned as a result of the meeting, officials said.
The pier park routinely accommodates thousands of cruise ship passengers during the height of the tourist season and is often a bustling hive of activity for family gatherings during weekends.
Officials have over the years blamed the escalating gun violence on the territory’s porous borders where guns and illicit drugs continue to move unimpeded.
The escalating crime rate is further heightened by the growing list of violent and unsolved gun murders committed in recent months, several of which have occurred in broad daylight.
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It’s like watching a sink drain and at day’s end it is all to the detriment of our Country. All these characters and bad actors in a reality show I could never have dreamed up.
Waste of time. Our people have to open up their minds when going to the poles to vote for these nincompoop.
Didn’t the Premier already said they upping on the cameras? Seems like they want the elected government to be there to fight the criminal when they decide to commit a crime.
Ask the Premier how they intend to inject more money in the economy man.
Come on Ronnie!
What the hell the premier can do about that Ronnie he is no the police SMH
Ronnie should’ve been Premier instead
Ronnie is asking what we all want to know! Natalee sits on NSC, has the highest percentage of violent crimes committed in his district- so yeah; ask dat ? what his plans are to stymie this trend!
As for questioning about the ECONOMY – ayo fools ain’t see this wannabe leader (Natalee) can’t balance his own cheque book much less the friggin’ country as evidenced by his co-signing of Covid grants to Rose and the ilk…..so what ayo think Natalee going say about economy and cost of loving when he wasted $250k for an event that generated what…? Gtfoh….plebs….but some sense when Riteway got sale….
Were the job left up to locals for this police situation I doubt it would be as it is. If weed is legalized there is no real crime to cover over for there not to be local officers mingling in the community daily. We know what real crime is… We were known as peaceful and safe.
The problem being the police force has been used to oppress the population for way too long for non violent & victimless self medication. All trust has been eroded in between. Many person old & young feel safer when the police leave. The people we voted for have made their choice.
Press the governor & police chief over rising gun crime
Mehson if ayo could have an alleged criminal who was charged right there in the HOA, how the hell do you expect to solve crime???????
Criminals running this damn place!
I already told the Governor many times over to do his damn job. Now he retiring in 6 months. No wonder the place upside down. Time for action and stop acting. This havoc place is a movie with a set of actors.
GOVERNOR DO YOUR JOB!
They have a man in the house facing jail time after being charged with a criminal offense how the hell the world going take us seriously?
@Uh
If you think legalizing the weed will solve some of our crime problems, then you are very delusional. While I agree that it has medicinal purpose not everyone can take it. In some case, it has the opposite effects.
If you really think legalizing it will stop the gun crimes, you are fooling yourself. Those gun crimes will still continue as all involve will still try to be the Bossman. We have become a society of greed rather than one of being our brother’s keeper.
That robbery that took place at the store did more damage to us than most people realize. The effects from this trek downs to everyone. I’m sure they have family members that work in this industry.
YOU GOT IT TWISTED , YOU GOT 6HE YELLOW SITE ? ALL TO U ,SO WHY U ON THIS SITE SPEWING OUT YOUR DIRTY VINDICTIVENESS , / YOU TRIED TO PLAY ,JUDGE , JURY & EXECUTIONER IN THE HOA , ( DIDN’T WORK ) THANKS TO ( BIG youth ) , WHO HAD TO DROP KICK YOU OUT , WITH THE HOPES OF BRINGING BACK SOME SORT OF INTEGRITY TO THE HOA / SO NOW YOU HAVE BECOME BITTER , YUK ?
THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN NEED A WORK THE PEOPLE CHOOSE HIM HE HAVE THE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO DO ANYTHING MR. WHEWTHLEY TRAVELING HE DONT CARE HE JUST HAVE TOLA UP SIDE DOWN HE NEED TO FOCUS VERY WELL ON THE YOUNG PEOPLE. HE’S TRYING MR. SKELTON BUT HE JUST DOING THINGS OUT OF ORDER.
This is all the result of the crazy gun laws in America. If America would do something, anything about the easy access of guns in America it would make a huge difference in the entire region.
Ronnie, Premier is not responsible for Gun Crime, stop playing games. Call on businesses to do the right things, call on security companies to hire qualify guards, call on black brothers and Sister’s to stop the hate and the envy for each other. Impose on them the importance of hard work and the Joy of owning what they work hard for. Discourage our people from running to Haiti paying thousands of Dollars to hurt and kill their own colour for selfish reason, and little misunderstanding. .Encourage the Police to get out and be visible…Gun Crime is both a personal business responsibility..#Getreal.
Respectfully I disagree. Many reputable studies have shown the decreased violence and decreased drug abuse linked to legalization of various substances. When you spend time in the street rather than your home you will notice this criminality all starts with persons feeling outcast for simple activities like smoking weed.
One path of corruption all starts with keeping the herb secret. Others start with power or money. “holding it down” is pure self preservation.
Young men especially are left to fend for themselves because people will not hire them even with a degree, iv experienced it! You are forced to assume a boss mentality because its all on them.
They then fall into a feeling of belonging with people who are also selling more than weed and eventually they get exposed to weapon talk.
All of this talk yet I’m the only one offering a solution.
The young men are troubling you yet you will not listen to the young people about fixing the issues that are causing this mess. You all want to double down on criminal creating foolishness that has not worked for 50+ years.
The drugs war is dumb and slowly turning this place into US vs THEM when we should move to fix this for everyone not one set of people who are stuck in their ways. Do something new! People are getting gunned down, friends getting robbed in day light! Fox
“While I agree that it has medicinal purpose not everyone can take it. ”
I am not encouraging people to go out smoking weed.
All I am saying is residents should be able to walk into a store and buy it period, or call up a delivery man who has legally posted reviews. He shorts you, you call the police no violence.
When our young adults walk into any hotspot to buy herb then potentially you can as a young person be tempted & offered all kinds of stuff you never wanted.
Ill bet this is why there are so many guns floating around!!!! We continue doing the same and expect new results.
So is the Premier fault then???? why not question the custom, border patrol and RVPF??
You see how it is??? When the poor man getting gunned down and nobody cares, but mess around the rich folks and watch how fast they care about gun crime. Where was the big marches when people were being gunned down over other day?? Nobody had energy to block roads for the crime victims who were gunned down like animals….
Similarly to your holding the governor accountable for the police. Same thing. Customs belong to the premier. No problem
Here
Have any of you even researched the practices that help bring down crime? The fact that ayo asking what the Premier can do is disturbing. Are you children?? There’s a whole damn lot that an intelligent government can do, relying on analysis of crime statistics etc. Get a clue.
Questions without genuine solutions are a waste! What did Macaroni promised to do with regards to crime? Education is the vehicle to improve all situations. Every facet of society need to take up this mantle starting with our youngest minds. Educating our minors will have the greatest benefit on our territory. Children speak what they hear and see and can curb the greed of those around them. Educate our young women or girls to place more value on themselves. Every drug and heinous crime committed is known by at least one female. Track our women, many have been spoiled by money. Study our students and their lifestyle, teach them who they are and of the contributions others before them have made. Remind them of the fall of the mighty 3 and not to disgrace their peoples and nation.
It is my humble opinion that all leaders should be shouting as loud as they can about the state of crime in these islands. We are in 2023 and the blame gameis always alive and well, but Hon. Skelton is correct that as a member of the National Security Council, questions should be asked by the Hon. Premier as to more police presence in our capital and the outskirts that would curb such violent crimes. This robbery at the Pier Park was committed in broad daylight for Heaven’s sake. We have almost 400 police officers in this country and they seem to not be utilised daily to assist in deterring driminals from this behaviour. They also need to get out on the street and talk to people who will quicker tell them things when they run into them in the street rather than making calls to a police station. That was the type of policing that worked long ago. Now we have cameras and other crime solving methods, but driving around cosy in airconditioned dark out vehicles will not get the assistance that they need. People will talk to you but you have to be approachable.
Ronnie please find an argument with substance.
Alleged is the operative word. Wicked people like you will get what’s coming to you.