Support the police to 'stomp out crime' in VI- Hon Fahie
Hon Fahie was at the time commenting on the three shooting incidents which occurred on the main island of Tortola, which resulted in the death of two persons and wounding of three.
On November 4, 2017 a man was shot in the leg while in the vicinity of a bar in Huntums Ghut; on November 20, 2017, Elmore Stoutt High School teacher Paul S. Meyers was shot in both of his legs while at his residence in Huntums Ghut, and the latest shooting on November 22, 2017 on the western end of Tortola resulted in the death of 11-year old Trinity A. Thomas and Franklin E. Penn Jr. An adult female was injured and remains a patient at Peebles Hospital.
The recent killings also take the homicide count in the Territory to an unprecedented 10 for the year.
We are being robbed of families, security & peace- Hon Fahie
Honourable Fahie, speaking to Virgin Islands News Online, condemned the acts, stating that crimes like these put the territory in a negative light.
“It robs families of their loved one(s), it robs persons of their sense of security, it robs the community and territory of the peace and safety that we have grown to love and appreciate in our beautiful Virgin Islands.”
Residents are now attempting to recover after the category 5 hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated the Virgin Islands in early September of this year and the recent crimes, according to Honourable Fahie, are adding to the "already growing stress of residents and we must stand united in our efforts to eradicate crimes of all nature,” stated the Opposition Leader.
“My deepest sympathy goes out to all the families that lost loved ones due to crime.”
'Support the police'
The Leader of the Opposition also took the opportunity to voice his support for the law enforcement agencies. “I believe I speak for the majority of the people of the British Virgin Islands when I say that I wholeheartedly support our law enforcement agencies, especially our police, in their daily fight against crime.”
In a press release from the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) issued November 23, 2017, Commissioner of Police Michael B. Matthews had also lamented the recent fatal shootings, stating “While no murder is welcomed news, I believe that there are many in our community who are equally shocked, saddened and disgusted by this cowardly act and even more so that an innocent child was among the victims. More so, that there are people who live among us who would carry out such a contemptable act.”
Commissioner Matthews called for the support of all residents in bringing the perpetrators to justice. “My hope is that those who know the individuals responsible within this community will chose to speak out and not allow these perpetrators one more day of freedom than they deserve. Help us to identify these persons who carried out this heinous act,”
His sentiments were echoed by Honourable Fahie, who called on all residents to join in the fight against crime adding that, “We must bond together as a community so that together we can stomp out crime and do our part to support law enforcement with their mammoth task.”
'Spate of violence bad for the country'- Premier Smith
Meanwhile, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) condemned the recent killings while on the ZBVI 780 AM radio show, 'More Talk Less Music' with host Zoe J. Walcott-McMillan, today November 25, 2017.
"The spate of violence is bad for the country, it is bad for all of us and I just want to give my sincerest condolences to the family of those who were gunned down just a few days ago. It was another senselesss killing that we don't really need in this Territory at this time or any other time.
Premier Smith made an appeal to those engaging in criminal activities, especially gun violence, to desist as it does not help the VI.
"Right now we need everybody to be on board to be doing positive things, to help in the cleanup, to help your neighbour...Stop the violence, let's get together and make the country better," Premier Smith appealed.
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I am saying what I have seen very often... who vex, vex it is true.