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VI not as ‘safe anymore’- Shaina M. Smith
Vice President of Business at the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotels Association (BVICCHA) Ms Shaina M. Smith voiced her concerns over the rise in crime that the territory has been experiencing of late and made several suggestions geared towards the overall improvement of the crime fighting strategy in the Virgin Islands (UK).
Ms Smith was speaking on the weekly programme Umoja with Cromwell Smith ka Edju Enka on ZBVI 780 AM on Thursday January 12, 2017.
Community trust has to be rebuilt
According to Shaina M. Smith, a political candidate of the National Democratic Party (NDP) for the 2015 general elections, building trust is a very important aspect to be considered.
“If we don’t have that trust, then the working relationship for us to all be secure has broken down and that has to be rebuilt, we have to acknowledge that it has to be rebuilt,” she insisted.
“For whatever reason it is not in good shape, the focus I think needs to be on rebuilding that working relationship between the community and the police and maintaining it because they shouldn’t be around when we have a spike in crime and then we are saying we are not working together to address the issues but it is something that we are intentionally looking at all the time.”
Communication to be improved
Smith believes that communication is another part of the issue, to inform members of the community of what is taking place and what is not taking place.
“I know there is certain information that they would have to hold back …but I think it would be good for more communication to be out there to say this is what’s happening and even public education with regards to our own personal safety,” she pointed out.
VI not as safe anymore
The outspoken VP of the BVICCHA said, at times, residents take for granted that the territory is safe, however, the environment that she grew up in 30 years ago is not the same as now.
“I am more conscious about who’s around me and whether or not I recognise a face that’s outside my door.”
She also mentioned that local law enforcement should be more involved in the schools, to educate the students and even suggested that they could partner with existing programmes and clubs, and called on members of the community to also reach out and involve them more.
“There needs to be a holistic strategy to policing, I really want to know what is the police plan of attack on what’s happening with crime,” she added.
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17 Responses to “VI not as ‘safe anymore’- Shaina M. Smith”
All I have to say, GIRL BYE!
START WITH THE BIGGEST CRIMINAL OF ALL, THE MAN WHO OWNS THE ................. I DON'T KNOW HOW HE COULD WALK AROUND WITH NO SHAME..... IT MUST FEEL GOOD LIVING IN TORTOLA CAUSE THIS KIND OF NONSENSE COULDN'T HAPPEN ANYWHERE ELSE.... HOW CAN THE COUNTRY GET ANY BETTER IF THE POLITICIANS ARE DOING THE SAME THING??? THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS ONE HAS A MASK AND GUN AND THE OTHER ONE HAS ON A SUIT... A THIEF IS A THIEF!! I COULD NEVER HAVE RESPECT FOR THEM PEOPLE...
Parents dont give a $%^& anymore. We raise a bunch of savages with no education, no guidance, no care on the world and now we are acting surprised that they have become nuisances on their old age. In most of these cases parents, friends and others are well aware of who are doing what but stay quiet and blame police and govt. Let them keep it up because people are fed up and will start blasting back.
Whether him wear jacket and tie
Or him walk barefoot
The only difference is whether him good or evil
A man is still a man
Whether him rich or poor
Black or white for sure
The only difference is whether him good or evil"
It does not matter what you wear. The fancy suits don't bother I. Jah will be the judge of them elected members. Judgement day is when God talks through the voters to take our country back. I doubt God wants us to live in hell on earth! The real judgement day may the lord have mercy on us all when he comes for this world.
Feel Shaina's pain but the quiet, enjoyment and safety of 30 years ago is long gone. It is a new VI. The VI has ballooned from being a little sleepy hollow to all roads now lead to the VI. Over a hundred nationalities now resides in the VI. The VI has grown into one of the more prosperous country in the region, boasting of having one of the highest quality of life and standard of living in the region, along with having one of the highest per capita income in the region($38K). Nevertheless, with progress ( growth and development) comes the good, the bad and the ugly. Social and cultural growth lagged economic growth. This gap has fueled some of social issues now plaguing the VI. In the chase for material stuff, the "Village" once the core of the VI being was lost and the VI is no better for it. It is not an insurmountable climb to get back but it will take time, resources, and sacrifices to make the long climb back may be to what was. It will be a challenge.
Another issue that is plaguing the VI is drug trafficking and drug use. Drugs and guns are like Siamese twins. The must seek help from the UK others to go after the king pins, not just the small users.