‘Missteps in past coming home to roost’- Hon Fraser on crime
Problem is real & serious
“The problem before us is real and serious, but can very easily be exploited with rhetoric for political purposes. While it is good to identify the underlying issues, casting blames without solutions will not be helpful,” Hon Fraser stated in an exclusive interview with Virgin Islands News Online on the issue of an upsurge in violent crime in the Territory.
It is his belief that the upsurge in violence is “the symptom of a series of missteps in the past that are now coming home to roost.” Abolishing capital punishment, adapting every Western Liberal position on morality, and changing our sociocultural model to mirror Western Cultures, without a law enforcement reset, were all listed by the veteran legislator as changes that led up to our present state.
Stricter punishments needed
He further stated that if the authorities are sending mixed messages criminals are swift to take advantage.
“What’s the message to a criminal in a place that doesn’t have capital punishment? My take is, that a capital-crime can at worst draw a punishment of life imprisonment, which in reality could be as little as 15 years or less, and this is hardly a deterrent.”
The talk of stricter punishments is not new to the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) government as it was a part their 2011 Manifesto.
The manifesto had promised our children, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and ordinary law-abiding residents that they would enforce provisions which deal with illegal handguns and introduce 10-year minimum sentences for those caught with an unlawful firearm.
Six years later and the territory is no way closer to achieving security. Instead the gun violence has escalated.
Empty words; Lawmakers must be brave
Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) had again promised to address the issue of gun legislation at the first sitting of the House of Assembly in 2015; however, that too were just empty words.
While the mandate for security falls primarily on the Judicial arm of government, Hon Fraser pointed out that that Legislative arm has a part to play as well. “Lawmakers must be brave enough to pass legislation that protects the citizens of the territory better. One such means is to make laws for certain crimes that carries minimum sentences. Case in point, the possession of illegal firearms will see prison time for some, and another punishment for others.
“The battle against crime is a two-way street, Legislators can’t expect to leave their responsibility up to the Judiciary which itself has its own set of circumstances. This is not going to change unless social pressures are brought to bear upon those who are in position.”
He continued by advocating for more police presence and good intelligence as a deterrent to criminal activity.
Gun violence is here; arm the police
“The territory is badly in need of a law enforcement reset. Gun violence is here, and it will stay here if we continue to regard it as a fact of life rather than the scourge that it is. First, we must staff our force adequately second, we must equip our force adequately and probably most importantly, we must never put our force at a disadvantage.”
“I can say without fear of contradiction that currently; these three conditions are not in the favour of our Police Department. Coming from the UK, where there is always a Police Officer on your block, or not far away, and trying to practice the same style of policing here where the closest Police Officer is miles away without a patrol car, can’t work.”
The Representative of the Third District was not shy in emphasising again for the record his support for arming police officers. “It is not rocket science that criminals armed with firearms will have a decided advantage over Police Officers armed with nightsticks. And further, as a consequence no Police Officer will put themselves at such a disadvantage.”
The façade of being safe because of the Special Forces was dispelled as Hon Fraser explained that the squad “engages after the crime is committed, as opposed to the Patrol Officer who’s a deterrent.
“I find it strange that it was seen fit and quite welcoming to have armed Police Officers with machine guns all over the island after the hurricane by the same people who argues against having our Officers armed. I wonder why that was the case. Just curious.”
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24 Responses to “‘Missteps in past coming home to roost’- Hon Fraser on crime”
Social & Cultural ....those that are invited to live amongst you must bring improvement to your culture, be similar or must be willing to adjust to your way of life.
Make the Changes Now before its too Late!!!!!
He came to the people in 2015 and you all rejected him hands down what has charged?
Just a bunch of hypocrites on here blogging frat