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No charges, fines issued over large New Year's Eve parties– Top CoP

- says RVIPF is probing breaches of noise permits
Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mark Collins says the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force is currently probing breaches on noise permits regarding social events and parties hosted over the New Year’s Weekend 2022. Photo: Internet Source
Speaking to Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) today, January 4, 2021, the Top Cop Mark Collins said complaints were made regarding venue(s), however, no names of the establishments were provided. Photo: Facebook/File
Speaking to Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) today, January 4, 2021, the Top Cop Mark Collins said complaints were made regarding venue(s), however, no names of the establishments were provided. Photo: Facebook/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Commissioner of Police, Mr Mark Collins says the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) is currently probing breaches of noise permits, regarding social events and parties hosted over the New Year’s Weekend 2022.

This comes after reports of large New Year’s Eve parties, where attendees may have flouted public health guidelines regarding social distancing and mask-wearing.

Speaking to Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) today, January 4, 2022, the Top Cop said complaints were made regarding venue(s), however, no names of the establishments were provided.

“I can say that we are looking into a breach of a noise permit. Following complaints that were made,” Mr Collins told VINO.

When asked about whether the force received any recommendations from the Public Health Department regarding charges or fines for those who hosted large parties, Mr Collins said while the force works closely with the department, no fines or charges have been recommended to the best of his knowledge.

Cases continue to rise 

Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL), did not respond to inquiries on whether the Public Health Department, through the RVIPF, will be charging venues such as clubs, bars, etc for flouting COVID-19 public health measures over the  New Year's weekend.

As of January 3, 2022, the VI recorded 601 active COVID-19 cases, with 268 of those cases recorded over New Year's weekend.

The territory also recorded its first COVID-19 related death for 2022 to mark 40 total COVID-19 related deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronald E. Georges, ahead of the weekend, had raised concerns over the flouting of rules as a contributing factor to a spike in COVID-19 cases.

12 Responses to “No charges, fines issued over large New Year's Eve parties– Top CoP”

  • Pureblood II (04/01/2022, 16:24) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    Amen and Amen
  • watching (04/01/2022, 17:16) Like (20) Dislike (3) Reply
    The laws here are a joke and we all know it .
  • Completely Shameful (04/01/2022, 17:39) Like (34) Dislike (0) Reply
    Where is the accountability? The whole system is once again, ‘as it continues to be’...nonchalant and irresponsibly careless. There is never a continuous enforcement of rules and regulations. We cannot trim the grass on our highways on a regular basis, we cannot stop the noise pollution of the motorcyclist, we cannot enforce health laws for more than a few months and the list goes on.
    • .... (05/01/2022, 21:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      What world do you want to live in where the grass does not grow that’s a sterile place and this isn’t a police state it’s where people go to escape that nonsense.
  • jah (04/01/2022, 18:42) Like (19) Dislike (1) Reply
    People need to understand this land doesn't belong to you..majority of the people who complain about things doesn't belong to tortola they just trying to fit in by complaining about what they think is best for VI..how often you see them shop for appliances at the stores?..they order everything online while expats do all the shopping here why they work and contribute back.
    • Comment (04/01/2022, 21:58) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
      Firstly, there are many BVIslanders purchasing items overseas. This has been our way of shopping for as long as I can remember. Secondly, yes there are many persons complaining online that are not from these lands but I am not one of them and I truly believe that we need to do better in many ways.
  • Bad words (04/01/2022, 21:12) Like (20) Dislike (3) Reply
    All those loud dirty F Bombs coming from QE Park and the Bombo this and that wasn’t cool. It even ain’t had music just loud talking and the DJ telling the crowd make some noise. Dude play music that’s what you’re hired to do. Not talk talk talk and curse and scream
  • Sly Mongoose (04/01/2022, 22:00) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    "No names of establishments were provided". The picture is out of focus. Why?
  • I can name one (05/01/2022, 09:17) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    They should look at Long Bay. Big event with unvaccinated staff. Noise going on to late. Asked to turn down music and did nothing. Just rude replies from there staff.
  • WILL SAY IT (05/01/2022, 09:48) Like (13) Dislike (11) Reply
    Most of the problems on the Island is from the down Island people living on Tortola. The true Tortolians does not behave or act that way. Don’t get mad because it is the truth. Blame the Government that keep letting those people in that is destroying and giving Tortola a bad name.
    • Slim Jim (05/01/2022, 13:10) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      If you are going to say it, try to back it up with PROOF, otherwise please stop spreading this poisonous nonsense. Where you are born and raised has less to do with your character than the choices we make. I agree that sometimes we experiences challenges when dealing with different cultures and practices, but seriously... do we always have to make everything abut "born here" vs "down islanders"? Really?

      Guess what? We all were born somewhere, and most of us BVIslanders (yes, I am "born here") were born in the US and happily take advantage of that dual-nationality loophole to enjoy the benefits of both countries while denying others similar privileges. Just gotta love the hypocrisy... then when we are feeling the pinch, we chat a bunch of crap about "Caribbean brothers and sisters". Let's act a bit more like our brother's keeper everyday and not just when its convenient.

      I didn't mean to rant but it really is getting on my last set of nerves now. Our men date and have children with the women from other lands, but still they are not good enough to be respected as "one of us" when push comes to shove. They come and dwell among us for "donkey years", raising their families, paying their taxes, contributing towards the economy and society at large, and we still treat them like sub-human indentured servants not worthy of our respect. They are born here to foreign parents but have to wait until 18 to "apply" for citizenship, and even if they achieve that... behold they are still not from here because they are not "indigenous" (don't you know that the real indigenous Virgin Islanders were the Amerindians natives who were killed/driven off off by the Europeans? You are not indigenous... that's a concept made up to differentiate between "us" and "them").

      Lord have mercy on us... (mentally deficient) slaves enslaving their fellow (financially strapped) slaves!
      Crabs in a barrel!
      Willfully blind fools!
      Shame on us for having and harboring such mentalities!

      #bvilove is an verb not a noun (think about it)
  • FEO GOMEZ (05/01/2022, 11:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why fine them the Hospital and staff will pay for it because they forced to deal with idiots decisions.


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