Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

20ft OECS billboard vandalised!

- vandalism a major concern in the territory, says Dean ‘The Sportsman’ Greenaway
The destroyed OECS billboard on Thursday June 30, 2016. Photo: Twitter
The billboard (above) before it was destroyed (below). Photo: Twitter
The billboard (above) before it was destroyed (below). Photo: Twitter
President of the BVI Athletics Association, Dean 'The Sportsman' Greenaway said vandalism is a major concern in the territory. Photo: VINO/File
President of the BVI Athletics Association, Dean 'The Sportsman' Greenaway said vandalism is a major concern in the territory. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Days before the 2nd OECS Track and Field Championships at the A.O. Shirley Grounds in Road Town, the giant billboard advertising the event at the main entrance of the venue was vandalised.

According to reports, the billboard was destroyed by a man said to be mentally unstable on Wednesday evening, June 29, 2016.

Persons expressed their disappointment on social media over the billboard being destroyed with some persons saying they were looking to take photos of themselves with the billboard in the background to show they had travelled to the VI for the championships.

The matter has, however, raised a different issue- the issue of mentally unstable persons roaming freely on the streets, sometimes interfering with people and destroying property.

Some persons used social media to call on Government to tackle the issue of mentally unstable persons in the territory.

‘Shock, angered & disappointed

The incident was confirmed by President of the BVI Athletics Association, Mr Dean ‘The Sportsman’ Greenaway.

“I was shocked, angered and disappointed when I learned that ‘Eggy’ had ripped up the 20'x12' billboard promoting the 2nd OECS TracK and Field Championships, around 8:25 pm on Wednesday evening.”

According to Mr Greenaway, he immediately called the Police and informed them about what had happened as the perpetrator was walking eastward towards the stoplight with the banner still wrapped around his hand. He added it was shocking on Thursday morning to see the level of vandalism when 18 of the 20 feet of the poster had been ripped off.

“I called Police again referring to my previous call on Thursday night. My particulars were taken and I was advised that and officer will at least call. It's Friday morning and there has been no communication,” Mr Greenaway told this news site today, July 1, 2016.

Mr Greenaway, however, expressed appreciation to Kelvin Titley and his Jahphix team for reprinting and erecting the billboard on Thursday afternoon.

Vandalism a major concern

The BVIAA President used the opportunity to voice his concern about the prevalence of vandalism in the territory.

“Vandalism is a major concern I've always had. In preparation for the 2nd OECS Track and Field Championships, I'd been asked about putting up fliers and I registered my concerns as I've seen on previous occasions we have used that medium to promote competitions and they had been taken down.

“This is a common occurrence when persons have spent hundreds of dollars in promoting their events, vandals strike and remove or destroy their posters,” Mr Greenaway said.

More than 180 visiting athletes for 2nd OECS C/ships

The 2nd OECS Championships which, gets into action tomorrow July 2 and wraps up on Sunday July 3, 2016 has attracted more than 180 visiting athletes and officials, with well over 200 athletes expected to be in action.

The OECS Member countries participating are Grenada, St Vincent & The Grenadines, St Lucia, Dominica, Montserrat, Antigua & Barbuda, St Kitts-Nevis, Anguilla and hosts VI.

Non OECS Members Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are also participating, with their athletes seeking to use the event to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

14 Responses to “20ft OECS billboard vandalised!”

  • vex yute (01/07/2016, 08:48) Like (3) Dislike (11) Reply
    With the NDP in power we do not care about our country
  • eggy wuk up (01/07/2016, 09:06) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    apparently the dude doesn't know right from wrong
  • wize up (01/07/2016, 09:09) Like (5) Dislike (4) Reply
    Government money needs to be given priority: spending a set of money on billboards which are owned by one company while other companies that offer more critical services to government have difficulty to get paid....any which way people are going to those games hundreds of dollars on billboards to one NDP affiliate while the rest can't get paid(shameful)
  • wellsa (01/07/2016, 10:01) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    Lock his backside up, anytime the dude swing at me I shall put a beating on him big time. Because his own family have him on the streets and expect government to take care of him...
  • Eggy (01/07/2016, 10:02) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    i had just want some new clothes
  • Concerned (01/07/2016, 11:01) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why call on government and there are agencies paid to do their JOBS. The Police along with Mental Health have been notified numerous times about this issue as I myself have complained about "Eggy" for months. When someone knock his A$$ out uou would hear then how much rights he have. This is pure BS. People spending money, time and resources and the Police and Mental Health Department dont see these things as priority unless they DEAD!!!
  • === (01/07/2016, 11:26) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Vandalism is never OK. It is destroying someone else's property. The sports event is organized with great care and comradery and unites islands and athletes for a common good.

    A separate issue in the planning of Road Town is the size and use of billboards in general. Many cities have banned them because of their unsightly nature. I think these in general are too big. I also think the billboards going west next to the hospital is totally unnecessary. If one owner can do it to make money, imagine 10-15 owners with billboards to make money. It turns into a tacky, cheap mess. Please regulate size and use of any billboards or lose character of Road Town to advertising.
  • Really? (01/07/2016, 11:43) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    Only vandalism is a major concern? Not rampant gun crime? Not corruption? Not failed fiscal policies....?SMH
  • Just saying... (01/07/2016, 14:54) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    there must be a reason why everything is falling apart in the BVI
  • Well (01/07/2016, 15:51) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Mentally unstable or not, he should have been made to sit his behind down and put that sign back together with glue or a staple gun.
    • tola (01/07/2016, 23:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      The mentally ill need to stay on their medication. when they do, they are not a problem. Who is responsible of making sure they get their treatment on a regular basis as prescribed.
  • Crackers (04/07/2016, 11:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Convert the current Senior Citizens home into a home for the mentally ill, since they will be moving the seniors to Spooners.


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.