Where has this come from! Smith slams rising gun violence
Junior Minister for Trade Lorna Smith has questioned what is driving the apparent rise of gun violence in the BVI, declaring that the growing trend is not representative of the society she knows.
Smith made the comments recently in the House of Assembly following the killing of businessman Kai de Castro, whose death sent shockwaves across the territory.
“I echo the Premier’s comments in relation to putting down the guns. This is not what this society is about,” Smith said. “Where has this come from? We are all asking.”
De Castro’s killing came just ahead of the territory’s annual Emancipation Festival celebrations, casting a shadow over a period normally associated with culture, celebration and community.
“This killing has created an appal over this whole community for this Festival. It is so very sad,” Smith said.
She also extended condolences to de Castro’s family, friends and colleagues, specifically mentioning his parents, brother and other relatives. Her comments come as gun crime continues to generate concern in the BVI, even as the territory remains one of the safer jurisdictions in the Caribbean, with murders still relatively infrequent compared to several neighbouring countries.
However, over the past decade, the BVI has developed a troubling pattern in which the few murders that do occur often remain unsolved for years.
The problem has fuelled frustration on both sides. Police have repeatedly complained that witnesses and residents with potentially valuable information remain silent, making it difficult to bring perpetrators before the courts. Residents, meanwhile, have frequently pushed back against that criticism, arguing that police must conduct stronger investigations rather than relying heavily on members of the public to solve crimes.
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I was going to make a comment but I forgot what I was going to say.
You have Eighty (80) unsolved murders in the British Virgin islands since 1992 with most occurring on Tortola and you are asking where this come from. Give me a break. This is real.
Some of those murders were before then. Usvi has much more.
@@Brad Boynes……NOT
Grateful that Virgin Islanders elected you to sit in our House of Assembly, Lorna. I thank GOD everyday that the likes of C.Rosan failed to destroy your reputation and years of dedicated public service.
You could spin a story boy. Nobody trying to destroy Lorna. It’s her own cr**ked and de***tive ways that destroying her. She ain’t getting my vote again this election so you better have an extra vote to give her.
You clearly didn’t read between the lines to spot sarcasm.
That is so embarrassing and shameful. Ms. Rosan had nor did she try to destroy Lorna’s reputation, Lorna did that all on her own. Lorna shifty ways exposed itself.
Police themselves know who are committing these crimes….rely on public??!
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN LIVING ? ~¿~ / ITS BEEN THE NEW CULTURE WAY BEFORE YOU DID THE MOONWALK OVER TO VIP ~(#2) EVEN OUR MASTER WEATIE HAVE SAID THAT THERE ARE * COLDBLOODED EXECUTION STYLE KILLERS* WALKING IN THE STREETS AMONGST US . IT WAS EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER YOU WERE OUR *DEPUTY* / AND SINCE THEN , THERE’S BEEN ENDLESS YHAG REMAINS UNSOLVED ~ BUT YOU CAN ASK HIM, AM SURE HE WILL BE HAPPY TO REMIND YOU – YOUR HONOR ~ Byiiii
It is impossible to have 0% crime.
Wherever there is flour to make bread…weevels go mad! Simply put and I don’t mean inside of a Bakery!
Lorna Smith you are asking where dose gun violence come from well I would like to answer Part of that question, in part it comes from law makers, the government the who won’t ask the UK for help they prefer to ask a corrupt Jamaican police force for help, anyone caught with a unlicensed GUN or ammunition should be booked into prison for 10 years no trial, do stop and search. We need outside help because the local police know some of the ones doing the shootings and the people who knows don’t want to talk to the police because they don’t trust the police. Save the BVI by asking the UK for help. Forget about independence because if that was to happen that would be the end of the British Virgin Islands. To the Governor please step in and try and request help from the UK whether it be military, police and or detectives because these people don’t care anything about the last name. They will do their job. I remember after the hurricane in 2017 there was a lot of looting when the navy arrived it stopped.
@brad Boynes @What does the USVI has to do with the BVI? Are we in competition if so I hope we don’t catch up with the USVI?
It’s the flip side of the out of control drugs trafficking. Drugs go one way, guns come back.
I wonder how many came in on Andrew Fahie’s watch while Maynard ran the port?
Did the barges stop many?
Do we use drones in BVI? Do we do enough cordon and search ops?
As a society we will put up with guns because as a society we can feed off the corruption that comes from the drugs trade. It’s not complicated.
Lack of law enforcement… stop giving bail to people found with guns
Police need to put effort where it counts! Theyre out here giving regular Joe tickets, $300.00, $500.00 for xxxx instead of putting that manpower where it would be valuable.
You see them out here actually stalking residents, setting up for entrapment. These are the same ppl you want to come forth with information after you screw them over!
Do ya’ll jobs. Guns coming in, Drugs coming in, People coming in and yall out here doing what?!
“Where has this come from?” It did not happen overnight. When drug routes were disrupted, many young men were left on the streets without meaningful alternatives. Add the high cost of living, low wages, poor youth programmes, limited technical education, weak financial education and a lack of real opportunities.
We also see repeat robberies, chain snatching and criminals who feel untouchable, while the public continues to question wasteful spending, questionable contracts and corruption.
You cannot simply tell young people to “put down the guns” without addressing the environment that helped create the problem. This is the result of years of poor youth development, weak accountability and poor country management past and present.
The gun violences comes from 50 years of trying to pretend there is no NARCO STATE in the BVI.
Where do you think all the big concrete multi-story houses, heavy equipment businesses, fast boat and big account balances come from? Growing soursop?
Why do you think half of the country still runs around with big bills in their back pockets and why are the banks still accepting these?
The successive UK Governors must be DUMB and BLIND as well..
Where were you? This started years back
You dont know where the $5Million Dollars were lost and you don’t know where the guns violence is coming from.
Despite celebrating drug kingpin criminals on the walls of the HOA and employing gangsta music stars to encourage our youths.
And placeing $5Million of our money in your bank.
You are not actually much use to us really.
Legalize weed and do a clean up. Going down an alley to buy illegal weed is the gateway to criminal life.