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Youngsters removed from Purcell Community Centre were not all homeless- Parent

Police had recovered a quantity of marijuana at the Gertrude and Christiana Warner Community Centre in Purcell Estate on January 4, 2018. Photo: Team of Reporters
Sixth District Representative Hon Alvera Maduro-Caines had said she was not aware of the raid conducted on the Gertrude and Christiana Warner Community Centre in Purcell Estate on January 4, 2018. Photo: Youtube
Sixth District Representative Hon Alvera Maduro-Caines had said she was not aware of the raid conducted on the Gertrude and Christiana Warner Community Centre in Purcell Estate on January 4, 2018. Photo: Youtube
ROAD TOWN Tortola VI - "Bad company plus Irma, father who left us to go live in a comfortable home, making it so hard for me to control my son..." Those are words of a heartbroken mother who resides in the Purcell Estate community of Tortola.

Recently, officials from the Social Development Department and ranks from the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) moved in on a group of young men who had made the Gertrude and Christiana Warner Community Centre their home after the territory had many of its homes and infrastructure badly damaged or totally destroyed by Hurricane Irma on September 6, 2017.

The young men were reported as being homeless and conducting drug trades from the facility. A bag of marijuana with a street value of approximately $1000 was reportedly found in the building, a story first and accurately reported by this news site on January 5, 2018.

Not all were homeless

But a mother in tears told this news site that not all those who were chased out were necessarily homeless as they had their families who had not rejected them but they have been in the facility at their own choice.

"They used their homes being damaged as an excuse. Some I will say their homes are extremely damaged and yes the centre was a better place but they have family staying in their rightful homes and why they couldn't stay and help rebuild too?"

According to the woman, her son was among the group residing at the community centre and that problems in the home may have led him to leave.

"I hear the police calling them a gang but I don't know about that, they not really a gang. My son breaks my heart. I did all I could to raise him to be a productive citizen. Things got really hard for us because I have other children too. I also lost my job after the hurricane. His father is a womaniser and he gone to live in a comfortable home with his woman and leave us to struggle. My son got tied up with what I would not call bad company and he just wasn't coming home until I hear they got thrown out the centre."

The woman said she is a local and has been forced to do various jobs to maintain her family since September.

"They got them out and I am thankful my son is home and he seems to realise his mistakes and I know he is hurting because of his father but he is fighting to do better. I recently got him a little job so he is working and taking school," shared the woman.

http://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/homeless-youths-forced-out-by-police-from-purcell-community-centre

7 Responses to “Youngsters removed from Purcell Community Centre were not all homeless- Parent”

  • all is not lost (09/01/2018, 09:53) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    let us continue to pray and look out for our youths. They need us now more than ever. Nothing is wrong with marijuana it is how it is used but where there are drugs there are guns
  • SSA (09/01/2018, 10:34) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    ViNO that was said from the beginning. I am glad t he young man realized his mistake and is back home, found a little job and school. Some good came out of him being "Chased" from the Center
  • ... (09/01/2018, 10:54) Like (23) Dislike (4) Reply
    poor we in the bvi we are suffering bad bad
    • zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz (09/01/2018, 18:00) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      economy is robust and we are opening for business and back on our feet
  • Observing (09/01/2018, 11:02) Like (21) Dislike (3) Reply
    I applaud this mother for being honest about her situation and trying her best. I don't know who she is, but I hope that she has a good support team around her and her son, and I wish the best for them.
    • Reader (09/01/2018, 12:19) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ Observing, I too applaud the mother, am happy for the son getting back home, working and going to school (since education is good and can help dispel a life of ignorance and crime)...I too hope that people who can help and provide support, make themselves available.
  • Gumption.officail (09/01/2018, 15:31) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    So many mother’s have this problem but it’s sad the kinda community most have turned this place into. It’s really bad how little we really actually truly care.


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