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NSC drafting plan that includes ‘non-traditional’ crime-fighting tactics – Premier

-says once a plan is complete it will be sent to cabinet & tabled in HoA for all to 'join hands' in local crime fighting
Virgin Islands (VI) Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Whatley (R7) says in an effort to tackle crime in the VI, non-tradition crime-fighting strategies will be taken on in the VI. Photo: HoA/Youtube
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) also expressed sadness over the recent killings and shared that it is mostly mostly males, who have lost their lives, to gun violence. Photo: HoA/Youtube
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) also expressed sadness over the recent killings and shared that it is mostly mostly males, who have lost their lives, to gun violence. Photo: HoA/Youtube
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Virgin Islands (VI) Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Whatley (R7) says in an effort to tackle crime in the VI, non-tradition crime-fighting strategies will be taken on in the VI.

The Premier made the statements during the continuation of the Second Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly, on September 5, 2023.

“Whenever I see incidents of gun violence in our community and Madam Speaker, my thoughts and prayers are with the family of the young man who recently lost his life, as well as all the other families who have lost lives, to gun violence.”

He added that as a member of the National Security Council (NSC), crime remains an urgent and critical concern for him and that the NSC recently made a decision to develop a national plan to address violence in the territory.

“This plan is expected to be a comprehensive one and will include non-traditional methods of addressing crime,” he said.

Plan to be tabled in HoA – Premier

The Premier added, “The drafting of this plan has already commenced, and once it to finished, of course it will be brought to the National Security Council and on to Cabinet. Then it will be laid on the table of the House of Assembly and we will ask all parties involved to put hands and hearts together in this fight against crime in our territory,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) also expressed sadness over the recent killings and shared that it is mostly mostly males, who have lost their lives, to gun violence.

He also asked for clarification on what is the nontraditional crimefighting tactics to be employed by the NSC.

According to the Premier, the plan will include strategies to reduce crime and violence with education, youth & job programs,, conflict resolution, and more, which he added will ultimately lead to less crime.

He said this would come in addition to the more direct strategy the police and other law enforcement would use in addressing local crime.

18 Responses to “NSC drafting plan that includes ‘non-traditional’ crime-fighting tactics – Premier ”

  • good news (07/09/2023, 12:04) Like (10) Dislike (24) Reply
    This is good news but make sure the Governor and UK Commissioner of Police is not using this to be given a legal license to violate people's rights as there must be balance.
    • @Good News (07/09/2023, 13:33) Like (7) Dislike (28) Reply
      Well said. Also, the Governor and his Commissioner of police are not concern about the real issues affecting the people of the BVI which also contribute to crime which is the economy. The economy & crime goes hand in hand. I share some suggestions after speaking with a few people of various ages. Make the tax free income for all to raise from up from $10,000 to $20,000. Legalize the medicinal Marijuana as the UK is intentionally blocking this while it is boosting their economy in the millions. Keep stamp duty exemption for all 1st time home owners and negotiate with banks to make all of them give 100% home & land mortgages for 1st time owners. Give tax deductions for all persons who donate to government programmes and projects but have a limited amount allowed to donate to qualify. Have an automatic amnesty for all ten years and above to get status then close the flood gates. These are a few of many ideas the real BVI people on the streets are requesting. These are things the Governor and his side kick will never assist in getting done as it will neither let them look good nor will it fuel their wicked intentions of a High handed takeover. They already failed us with fighting crime.
  • ok (07/09/2023, 12:43) Like (11) Dislike (23) Reply
    Can we legalize weed already and have the cops 100% on the people's side.
  • West side (07/09/2023, 12:44) Like (2) Dislike (17) Reply
    Look how you all giving mark collie the Biggest failure a pass
    • @west side (07/09/2023, 13:22) Like (5) Dislike (24) Reply
      We all must fight crime but the Premier must be aware of the hidden agendas of the Governor and his UK Commissioner of Police and not fall prey to it by finding the correct balance.
    • To West Side (07/09/2023, 14:27) Like (4) Dislike (22) Reply
      That man is a dangerous man. He does not like anyone opposing him. He has a serious challenge with the truth. Even some of the whites around him are concerned. He needs to be relieved of his duties.
  • ANOTHER TRAP (07/09/2023, 13:39) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply
    I am 100% for fighting crime. We all need to come together on this vecing issue. However, neither the Premier nor any member of HOA or NSC are experts on crime. Security is under the Governor and so is the police. The job of the Commissioner of Police is to come up with the plan to fight crime and implement them in an aggressive & assertive manner which does not violate the laws of the land and the rights of the people as even the police must be policed to ensure they do not go rogue or abuse their powers. What the Governor is doing is hiding behind the NSC so his failures can be absorbed by the Premier while getting the Premier to agree with many plans to fight crime but have underlining agendas as is always the case with these British Officials. This is the reason they cannot successfully fight crime because their motives are not pure.
  • Ah sah (07/09/2023, 13:42) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
    Look how this high handed Governor is going to use this opportunity to slip in some more of his high handed tactics cloaked as fighting crime. Their will never be any trust in this modern partnership.
  • smh (07/09/2023, 13:48) Like (11) Dislike (5) Reply
    You’ll can’t be against gun and illegal activities and still bringing artists to the BVI only only talks about killing, drugs and doing illegal activities. To hear the Premier talk about the gun violence and knowing how much they put into festivals to promote this ain’t sitting well.
    • @SMH (07/09/2023, 14:45) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
      Here you are talking piddle hoping this sticks up to elections time. What about the failure of the Governor and his Commissioner of Police to fight crime. What about the lack of Police presence all over each island in BVI. What about the failure to increase Police patrolling in all the hot spot areas. Festival did not cause the crimes nor can they put these things in place so stop talking the same foolishness and put the emphasis on the right people who are failing the BVI in fighting crime.
  • The TRUTH (07/09/2023, 14:20) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    We need the goddamn A-Team, Knight Rider and Air Wolf for these MS.
  • Concerned (07/09/2023, 14:29) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    We have a very unstable minded Premier who seems to say one thing and does a next while unnecessarily selling out his people behind the scenes.
    • A Capitalist Who Loves the BVI (07/09/2023, 21:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      He's clearly in over his head.
    • AMEM (08/09/2023, 11:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      All he is doing is going behind the scenes with the Governor and UK and selling his people out and then come to us in the public speaking as if he is looking out for the people of the BVI. He is accepting whatever they want to implement wholesale and not looking out for what is best for present and future generations of the BVI. Look how he is implemting ALL the COI recommendations the UK prearranged to have implemented. Look how he sold us out with the District Assistance Funds. Clearly the Premier did not like the funds and therefore gladly agreed with the UK Coi to put it under Social Development. This is a massive mistake for several reasons. Not all issues requesting assistance are social issues. Some are health issues. Some are education/college assistance issues. Along with other important issues. People are still suffering from Irma and financial hits from covid. This was not well thought out. The funds needed to stay with HOA but implement stiff oversight. The funds needs to go back to HOA and administered there even if it needs each district to implement an oversight committee as the people of the area will know the people better and who are really in need and those trying to scam. This action seems to be one of many to sell out the people of BVI by their leaders.
  • Strupes (07/09/2023, 16:35) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
    We will continue making criminals of our own people & separating the police from the public as long as weed remains illegal. Stop this foolishness I beg its sad & the height of ignorance.

    Human beings put in a cage for a therapeutic plant... against all scientific evidence & medical logic. We sit back, tolerate and fund that?

    Remember people in Singapore sat back this year and watched a man get hanged for the same plant. wow.
    • Nature (11/09/2023, 14:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Meanwhile in Canada the truth is spoken by Suzuki
      https://gem.cbc.ca/the-nature-of-things/s62e13?autoplay=1
  • JourneyCake (07/09/2023, 17:15) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
    Not too long ago, it was reported that the BVI census indicated that the immigrant population exceed that of BVIslanders. Jamaicans,Vincentians ,Guyanese , DR were listed as the dominant population. It cannot be disregarded that these countries are in the top ten list of most murders in the world...this planet Earth. This fact is known and always been known even previous to the massive influx of this demographic into these VI. This destructive life and country altering degrading mechanism was instituted and continues with the
    deliberate signatures and agreements of the local elected Government. A method where assistance could be garnered by using the flood gate to hide and to assist in varied ways corruption and wrongdoings. BVIwas literally a crimefree haven. The UK built prison, for the confinementof the newly has long been overcrowded, 99% of the crime and prison occupancy is by immigrants from the previously mentioned places and their spawns.It will be interesting to read Sowande's announced proposal to stem the rot. Unless it entails deportations, visa restrictions then it is all froth. The UK proposals for emergency actions have been rejected and shelved by Sowande et al, so what mamaguy empty bovine crap attempting to pacify the public is a "must listen" for entertainment and confirmation of disgust.



  • BuzzBvi (08/09/2023, 10:22) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Non-traditional?
    Do you mean people are finally going to tell the police when they know something about a crime.
    We could finally solve the crime where the little girl was shot dead along with lots of other hideous crimes that people have information about.
    Such a shame with have this tradition in the first place.


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