Too many guns! Governor wants Police Act back
Months after lawmakers passed a watered-down version of the original Police Act that Governor John Rankin put forward earlier this year, he has now called for the legislation to return to the House of Assembly (HOA).
Governor Rankin pointed to the spate of armed robberies over the past few months, including the daring daylight Pier Park jewellery heist, and said there were also several drug-related murders this year that were of concern.
He promised that persons arrested for those offences would face justice, but said there were far too many firearms in the territory.
“What we really need to do is to prevent crimes, including violent crimes taking place in the first instance,” Rankin said. “As I previously commented, there are too many guns. The RVIPF have made record seizures of guns here in the territory in the past two years and I welcome that, but we need to do more to stop guns entering the territory in the first place.”
The governor further argued that, with the Customs and Immigration departments now working proactively with the police to ensure more effective security at our seaports and airports, there is also a need to ensure that the RVIPF has the necessary powers to carry out their responsibilities.
“Which is why we need the Police Act to come back to the House of Assembly for passage,” he urged. “Contrary to what some say, the Act is compliant with international human rights and standards. It would not have my support if that were not the case.”
He said it was also important that other law enforcement agencies have the necessary facilities and powers to prevent crime and that together with the police, they can help to ensure the safety of the territory.
“That’s one reason why the Commission of Inquiry recommended a wider review of law enforcement and that review is now underway,” Rankin said.
He explained that the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is providing up to $1 million dollars for the cost of the review and said reviewers have already visited the territory.
According to the Governor, another team will arrive next month to begin field work. “I expect the recommendations from this review will shape law enforcement arrangements in the Virgin Islands for many years to come,” he added.
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Look at all dem fancy boats bringing people through customs every day without even getting off the boat Look real hard.
That police act tramples on the human rights of our citizens. We will not stand for it.
this racist governor looking for MORE ways to colonize us WITH HIS FAKE coi..STAY NO TO THE POLICE ACT
Why can’t he just be specific about what exactly he would like the law to do that it is not doing already. If there were no question of human rights infringements, why do they require 1,000,000 worth of reviewing of the policy. Would that money not have been better placed to equip the force, train more persons and promote those who are deserving of the promotion. The problem is internal. The people in the force are not happy and he is well aware of this. Why build on a weak foundation except you intend for the foundation to crumble beyond repair in the first place! That country needs prayers.
I hope you stand 10 toes down when one of these illegal weapons are pointed in your face. When you fall victim to the senseless crimes, when your home and property is under attack…stand very strong!
So because the governor says it does affect human rights we must forget what all the other trained lawyers in the BVI said about that Bill. You see how these white people think. His mouth is Bible. That Police Bill is not good for the BVI get away from us with that nonsense. Implement it in the UK.
Just stop the smuggling of ammunition. Guns are useless without bullets.
The police act is another symbol of white supremacy and racism
Please BVI Bar Association…we want to hear from you. Are our rights being trampled on like our Government made us to believe? Please Attorney General, we also want to hear from you. I read it and compared it to the Police Act from other jurisdictions and do not see my rights being violated but I am not a lawyer. This is why we need you to speak Bar Association and Attorney General, and tell us if we should be concerned about this bill, please.
What he need is a more effective police chief
This Governor is showing more and more he does not respect our democracy and our democraric rights. It is his way or no way. The police act ammendments are largely infringing on our humans rights but he cares not because his plans must go through no matter what. This makes me question his motives. All lawyers in BVI and abroad have clearly stated the ammendments are dangerous as it gives the police powers they do not need and without accountability plus citizens rights will be infringed with no recourse. HOA is not suppose to he a rubber stamp for no one so I geuss this is one of many reasons why he is dangling the order of council over our heads which is wrong. This bill needs a judicial review to show this dictatorship once and for all what he wants is wrong. Also passing a law like this does not and cannot guarantee success with eliminating guns. This is more than guns they are after. It is now clear they are after oppressing us as a people. I am now deeply concern if the COI was really independent. They are showing their true colours more and more.
All by design. Create the environment and then pretend to be the solution to the so called ‘problem’. They took over Turks & Caicos over 10 years ago, how is that experiment working out? If the UK wants to really ‘help’ it should be with education and infrastructure. Creating a Police State will not help anybody in the BVI especially when Police were involved with the biggest cocaine bust in the history of the BVI, or did we forget that?
Our laws not stopping the police from fighting crime. The answer is not to give the police the right to do anything to you and your property with immunity in the name of fighting gun violence.
It’s no good the police arresting criminals if the DPP /Public prosecutors and the criminal court system don’t have the
1. Talented staff
2. Funding/ Support
3. Honesty
4. Impartiality
5. Integrity
6. Knowledge that both Government with Cross party support the honest determination to let the legal system stand alone unfettered by political at least interference if not corruption .
to prosecute and sentence those found guilty to the full extent of even the existing laws.
This one to soft, just talk, talk, talk. He is taking so much disrespect its unbelievable.I will say it for the 1000 times. He was to suspend fix the place, put things in order and hand it back to us. Just as they did in Cayman’s. Now Caymans is the the trend setter the good example of the region moving forward in prosperity. While we are peddling backwards. The weakness of the Gov and Britain is to blame for all that he is now condemning. He was to fix it..
There is a simple solution. Incremental control. Stage 1, introduce mandatory sentencing. Judges hate this, but in this situation it is called for. Automatic, non-negotiable 10 year immediate custodial sentence for possession of a fire arm. No ability for a judge to suspend. If you are caught and convicted of possession, you are off the streets for 10. Stage 2, carried out in parallel. Random please checks. Every few weeks a road is closed and sealed and checked. If you are caught in possession, you are away for 10 years.
These kids who think it’s tough to walk around our islands packing a weapon WILL think twice if they know that a stop will take 10 years of their freedom away. Guaranteed.
or direct UK rule are the only choices!
Until the talk of the day is how many people are locked up for having guns and aminition this will continue. What happen to that strick gun law that was passed? was that a joke?
How about just enacting the laws that are already on the books and stop giving criminals slaps on the wrist????
@Crazy Turks & Caicos is a better place since the UK took over they are in a lot better shape than we are in you should check out things before you write CRAP.
HM Customs and the RVIPF both have a fleet of vessels for patrolling our waters, but how many of them are ever out there?
Hmmmm…
Yes, the Turks and Caicos are a good place to look exactly right now!
“Turks and Caicos engulfed by gang warfare, says Foreign Office report
Exclusive: Police in British overseas territory known for beautiful beaches said to have been overwhelmed by extreme violence”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/17/turks-and-caicos-engulfed-by-gang-warfare-says-foreign-office-report
The guns are out of control every little boy have gun so whatever it takes to get guns off the streets I all for it.
Tell me where all those little boys get guns from here
Take that notion back to England. It is neither the solution nor is it wanted here.
We are living in the 21st century, and this is a 21st century problem, not a political one.
No one is threatening the stability of the nation with guns, and neither the nation nor the communities are under any eminent threat, especially the white ones.
And, to suggest that Rankin and Collins cars about the Black community is equivalent to saying, that sharks are not a threat to other fish.
Moreover, the enactment of that law will do exactly that. It will trigger reactions from all segments of the Black society that will cause major instability..
The governor and the imperial mechanisms are seeking that exact result that may create a justification to invade and take over.
The BVI people do not want to be another Turks and Cacaos. Down with that law!!
We do not want a clandestine military take over, by way of the police force, of our country.
Precisely, time and time again we see situations where there are laws in place but just not enforced. Without actual policing any law will be ineffective. (and time and time again we see millions go into consultancies instead of people and infrastucture).
Unfortunately, there are some grandpas who are also the authors of crime in the BVI. It is easy to blame to ‘younger’ generation, kids, etc., but shamefully there are grandpas at the heart of crime in this territory.
You right – me want drugs, guns and corruption. Is racist supremacy to stop me getting that
THANKS YOU GOVERNOR ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE CRIMINALS IN THERE FAMILY WOULD OPPOSE THE SAID ACT LONG LIVE THE KING
hey blondie can’t you stay on your yello site you are contaminating this site with your bullshit , get a life / if one of yhem crackheads roll up on you with a gun you will be singing a different song the UK ain’t the ones who is bringing in yhe guns / drugs and ordering the hits and putting down these robberies , look in the mirror now ( make sure you put on the light
Every resident should be utterly concerned and disturbed with the frequency of Gun violence here. Something must be done. Bring a few officers from Scotland yard and get 25 Special Forces agents for surveillance and raids. 6 months to a year, let’s clean house.
Guns aren’t manufactured here, block the holes on gun imports.
To whom it may concern, all the colonialists squatters in high political and law enforcement offices that the people never voted or asked for, whites and other:
Guns are no more of a problem here in BVI than it is in your country.
The problem is not guns, but more of the following:
1) you people don’t know how to leave us be.
2) you people cannot help yourself by not interfering with us.
3) you people think it is your right and privilege to do whatever evil and action you chose to defer and control our lives.
It is time, not the sixteenth, seventeenth or eighteenth century, but the twenty first, for you people to leave us to hell alone and “goulwann bout yo own bizness.” Sick ah al yo.now, keep imposing pon us yall will, ways and morasses.
The Police Act is Criminal