Walwyn urges comprehensive strategy on crime

Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has called on the government to adopt a coordinated national crime strategy in the face of rising robberies across the territory.

He warned that the spike in criminal activity is not just threatening public safety but also damaging the territory’s reputation as a peaceful and welcoming destination.

“Our home, a place admired around the world for its peace, its natural beauty, and warmth of its people, is now grappling with an alarming rise in robberies that has left many of us deeply unsettled,” Walwyn stated.

He expressed concern that the increase in crime is driving fear among residents, hurting local businesses, and risking declines in tourism and investment.

“Each incident of criminality chips away at our identity as a safe and welcoming society and sends a strong and dangerous signal to the world,” he explained.

While praising the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force for its swift responses, Walwyn said enforcement alone is not enough. He described the need for the strategy as “a matter of absolute urgency”.

“Traditional policing often focuses on responding to crimes after they occur, rather than preventing them. It is the bandage, not the cure,” he asserted.

Walwyn urged the government to implement a crime reduction strategy that is “coordinated, multi-sectoral, and community-driven,” involving civil society, churches, businesses, and residents.

“The purpose of this strategy would be to work towards lower crime rates and improve public safety by addressing the causes and consequences of criminal behaviour,” Walwyn explained.

He said youth must be at the centre of any plan. “Presently, too many of our young people are being raised in an environment where opportunities are scarce, and hope is fading,” he said.

Walwyn also criticised the government for failing to revive the Youth Employment Services Programme, which he said successfully linked youth to jobs before it was disbanded in 2019. “I have asked the Premier on numerous occasions to restart this programme, but to date nothing has happened,” he stated.

Police recently announced a significant drop in some forms of crime. They noted that burglaries, including break-ins at business premises, construction sites, and storage facilities, fell by 44 per cent compared to last year and are 30 per cent below the five-year average.

However, Police also confirmed a 100 per cent increase in reported robberies this year, along with increases in property damage and motor vehicle theft.

In the meantime, Walwyn said solutions must address deeper social issues, including poverty, mental illness, and community disconnection. “We must foster environments where individuals feel supported, empowered, and deeply connected to one another,” he urged.

He closed by directly addressing young people. “You are worth more than the choices you have made… every step you take away from crime is a step toward building a life that you can be proud of.”