-
by pltm
(PLTM) - Citing that his government has provided the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force with adequate resources, Premier Hon. Dr. D. Orlando Smith has demanded that the force step up its fight against crime.
"We have provided the police with all the financial support they need, and we are demanding of them that they step up their efforts, to respond to and solve open criminal cases," Premier Smith said in his midterm report on July 10.
"I appreciate the efforts of those community minded persons who have called attention to this rise in crime, through concerts and other events, and reiterate my call upon the people of the Territory to work with the police toward the goal of solving crimes that have been committed."
The BVI has recorded six murders for the year and has seen a spike in firearms incidences.
"I am deeply troubled by the persistence of violent crime in our Territory, and I am resolute about doing something about it. We in the BVI are a family. We are neighbours to each other. We are bound by common ties of blood, kinship and values," Premier Smith said.
He lamented that it is intolerable and unacceptable that so many young people have bought into the lies sold to them by foreign companies, promoting a lifestyle of drugs, violence, hatred and murder.
"Let me speak clearly; we are all in a battle for the lives of our children and the safety of our community. I give thanks to God that the BVI is still a very safe corner of the world. Our rates of violent crime remain much lower than much of our region or the broader world beyond."
Premier Smith said yet, even these relatively low rates of crime are not acceptable to him, to the government, or to the God-fearing and law abiding people of the community.
