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Police needs support amidst surge in gun crime– Hon Marlon A. Penn

- calls on youths to put down guns & solve difference without crime
Unity Government Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) says amidst an upsurge of gun crimes in the VI, the local law enforcement needs as much support as possible. Photo: VINO/File
Hon Penn was at the time speaking as a guest during the February 13, 2023, edition of the Umoja show hosted by Cromwell Smith with guest Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8). Photo: Facebook/File
Hon Penn was at the time speaking as a guest during the February 13, 2023, edition of the Umoja show hosted by Cromwell Smith with guest Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8). Photo: Facebook/File
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI– Unity Government Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) says, amidst an upsurge of gun crime in the Virgin Islands, the local law enforcement needs as much support as possible.

Hon Penn was at the time speaking as a guest on Umoja on ZBVI 780 AM on February 13, 2023.

The Minister said with a surge of shooting deaths within the last 6 months in the VI, the latest killing in the East End/Long Look Community was one that came close to home.

“To see it so close to home really magnifies the need for us to really take a serious attempt to curb the crime, in particular gun crimes, that happen within our community,” he added while noting that the East End/Long Look area is where he grew up.

“We need to support the law enforcement agencies as much as we can. It has to be a true partnership,” he added.

There have already been two fatal shootings for 2023.

More trust between law enforcement & people needed - Hon Penn 

Hon Penn detailed that within the community, there is a need to further rebuild trust between people at the local law enforcement so that people can feel safe.

“All of us have a role to play in terms of protecting our community and the society from the scourge of crime,” he added.

Hon Penn said that people must learn to find better ways to work out their differences rather than turning to gun crime.

“I will certainly do my part as a leader in this community to really speak to the young people and speak to persons to really put the guns down," he said.

22 Responses to “Police needs support amidst surge in gun crime– Hon Marlon A. Penn ”

  • asking for a friend (16/02/2023, 07:53) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    does he support the police bill?
  • L**s (16/02/2023, 08:11) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    You are not genuine with your concern.
  • Pay the youths them better (16/02/2023, 08:37) Like (18) Dislike (18) Reply
    All this Is a Ripple effect from the lack of giving the youths a healthy start…look at some example…. Entry level Jobs yall pay grade is discouraging island wide…..Go college and study… y’all still want to give the youths entry level salaries….

    For the youth that have business or businesses…..When some of these big business call u for your service they still want to bid you down for you to offer your service at less than nothing…

    Paid the youths properly give dem a decent head start time and cost of living has change….

    Da system is the real problem
  • We need a change in the 7th and 8th districts (16/02/2023, 09:29) Like (6) Dislike (19) Reply
    Several murders were committed in these two districts so obviously its a leadership problem
  • crazy (16/02/2023, 10:10) Like (15) Dislike (2) Reply
    The fact that you telling the public that you must take away human rights to solve crimes, the whole police force needs to be changed, if this is the case.
  • 2023 (16/02/2023, 10:25) Like (16) Dislike (4) Reply
    once the white folks says jump he simply asking how high whereas our people crying out about the dump at pockwood pond and not one word of concern publicly from the said minister

    the smoke from that incinerator is very hazardous to the west side residents
  • local boy (16/02/2023, 10:26) Like (0) Dislike (28) Reply
    Marlon Penn for Premier, Kyle Rymer his Deputy. ????
  • Citizen (16/02/2023, 10:33) Like (17) Dislike (7) Reply
    I cannot stand this man. He is just useless. Sounds to me that he is supporting the new police bill. The governor's puppet.
  • nonsense (16/02/2023, 10:40) Like (15) Dislike (8) Reply
    Marlon it’s time to vacate you seat. You are not the answer to district 8 much less trying to run a country. Just shut up because you make no sense. You more fake than the devil.
  • WOW (16/02/2023, 11:11) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
    "Police needs support amidst surge in gun crime"

    Yea how about you get on their back with passing the cannabis bill or an amended form.

    As it is today if the youth stand too close to an officer who cares they will be searched and go to jail for that dank 0.5 grams of vegetable matter.
  • RS (16/02/2023, 11:39) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Some of them know about them guns not all of them don't get me wrong
  • Mustang (16/02/2023, 12:08) Like (11) Dislike (5) Reply
    The RVIPF and those they are supposed to serve and protect must engage in a fair and unbiased partnership. That is not happening now. The rule of law is being administered unevenly and selectively in a racial manner. If you Black, you are harassed by White officers and if you are White you are special and worst you may get a slap on the wrist. For example, Blacks are hauled into court for alleged breach of thrust but if you are White no big deal for a similar action, ie, CoP Collins on VI video, Guv Rankin no accountability for functions under his purview in the CoI; Functions under Blacks raked over hot coals. Moreover, if the Police truly wants the assistance of the public, it must build and engender trust. Right now there is a double standard which is festering distrust. The racial divisions within the RVIPF is harming its ability to fairly and effectively serve and protect. Time for a change, for both Rankin and Collins had opportunity to institute change but race infect their operations. Time for a new crew; the vacation is over. The parasitic journey is over.
  • East youth (16/02/2023, 12:09) Like (9) Dislike (3) Reply
    This man name on the street does not sound good.
  • Oh Please (16/02/2023, 12:11) Like (15) Dislike (3) Reply
    School children say he is part of the problem on the streets.
  • SUPPORT ?????? (16/02/2023, 13:11) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    THE POLICE ARE BEING WALKED OVER BY OUR OWN PREMIER , BECAUSE AS HE SAID , HE WAS ABUSED BY SOME POLICE BEFORE / SO DOES THAT MAKE ALL POLICE BAD ??? YHE POLICE HAVE TO STEP UP THEIR GAME , ,AS WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE ROGUE COPS EVERYWHERE WHO ARE WORKING WITH PEOPLE ON THE OUTSIDE , SO THEY HAVE TO USE SUPPRISE AS TOOL TO CATCH THE CRIMINALS OFFGUARD
    WITH RANDOM SEARCH ETC / AND OFCOURSE BTHEY HAVE TO BE CHECKED OUT TO MAKE SURE RESPECT THE SAME LAW THAT THE SWORE TO UP HOLD , JUST LIKE THE PREMIER ,
    HE IN NOT ABOVE THE LAW EITHER , UNLESS HE WANTS TO DO LIKE HIS EX COACH
  • LONG LOOK WE COME FROM (16/02/2023, 17:34) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    M Penn as we does call him this side… put down the wha n left the wha? Hon Penn when would y’all the politicians the leaders the same police them take blame for what’s really going on in our country no community but our country…. As simple as it comes to the youths y’all ain’t putting nothing in place for the youths them everything is bout the older heads but leave the young ones to kill them self y’all need to put things in place open up y’all vision as tomorrow is the youth them own the youths need things to do. a thing the Americans do now is put down your guns n lift your bike legalize bikes in our country it bout time we move forward but just put laws in place 18 n younger scooters only 20 to 22 (150cc to 250cc) all plates must be registered to owner rider with a account that u don’t self got to chase the youths charge them account 23 to 28 (250cc to 600cc) n so on y’all so lost in thinking police going do thing! no they not they ain’t going to be everywhere when a gun man come thru put some stuff in place bring back sports we need back our national basketball league the real thing not those thing they been trying softball bring back the culture festivals stop robbing the ppl can give ppl the right time and these redic prices y’all be having it’s emancipation we should be celebrating our heritage/ culture/ freedom…. Bout time we have our fisheries back in full swing y’all stop playing politics with the ppl it’s so much more you can say I remember when NDP was in power and it had someone keep commenting saying blame NDP blame NDP n the person talk bout times like these n this thing is real ans when the government the leaders stop playing politics n get serious with the ppl a lot of our eyes will open an a lot of us will know what life is all about… sad our young men them coming under attack like this but this shall end as we for the ppl will stand up to the non sense n fathers talk to y’all sons mother talk to y’all sons lady be loyal too your man from looking money man lmao but yes back to HON Penn tell them Free the young man he defended his life if he got gunned down we would of never know who did it cause what we still can’t identify the man in a mask!! self defense is the plea free the youth!
  • Urgh (16/02/2023, 17:50) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yeah we need support with the food prices.
  • Really? (17/02/2023, 13:29) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Do you understand what’s really going on?
  • questions (17/02/2023, 20:54) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Let's say it have 100 officers in the rvipf, how much of them trustworthy? How much police within the last three years been exposed for committing despicable crimes? Why should I cooperate with them when they doing more illegal things than me?
  • my two cents (18/02/2023, 02:49) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    is this the moo moo you all NDP say you want to be the next Premier? set of crazy people in this place


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