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8 mths later: Not even 1 CCTV camera installed; Crime fighting a joke?

The CCTV cameras installed in Road Town were not operational even before Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria destroyed them in September of 2017. Photo: File
Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert, right, and Police Commissioner Michael B. Matthews, left, are directly responsible for security in the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File
Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert, right, and Police Commissioner Michael B. Matthews, left, are directly responsible for security in the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Even before Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria in September of 2017 not even one of the CCTV cameras installed in Road Town was operational. Then came the two category 5 hurricanes that toppled the poles and smashed the cameras on Tortola and Virgin Gorda.

Full of money but no action

Following the hurricanes, the public heard about millions of dollars budgeted for crime fighting measures in the Territory. Outside of local funding of some $5M, an announcement was made by Police Commissioner Michael B. Mathews in January of this year that the United Kingdom (UK) will give directly to the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force another 1.2M Pounds, which is about 1.68M US Dollars.

Therefore, the issue of funding seemed to have been addressed.

Where is the national crime plan?

However, to date, the Government has been unable to at least start with the installation of CCTV cameras around Tortola and Virgin Gorda, and the other hot spots on the other sister islands. It is unclear why seven months after Hurricanes Irma and Maria the progress and tools to fight crime seem not to be forthcoming, even after monies have been provided.

The Governor and Police Commissioner, two British Nationals, are directly responsible for security with Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) responsible for local funding and coming up with policies, via the National Security Council (NSC), to reduce crime, which has skyrocketed in the tiny British Overseas Territory of the Virgin Islands of less than 30,000 people. Some 30% of the population left immediately after the ravage of hurricanes Irma and Maria last year.

So far for 2018 there have been 3 brutal murders of local males and the public is starting to ask if there is a serious crime fighting plan in place for the Territory. However, there were three arrests made for one of the murders.

CCTV cameras are recognised in developed countries as one of many tools to help solve crimes.

We want to know

Police top cop Michael B. Mathews could not be reached for comments on the government’s crime fighting strategies or when after 8 months CCTV cameras will be installed anywhere on the islands to help protect residents.

The NSC met this morning April 23, 2018.

15 Responses to “8 mths later: Not even 1 CCTV camera installed; Crime fighting a joke?”

  • trrefdrfds (23/04/2018, 13:00) Like (5) Dislike (26) Reply
    because the money was only to hire British white male to work not to protect you black people
  • HMMM (23/04/2018, 13:13) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    what difference does it make? they were up before and we have umpteen unsolved crime that took place before
  • Mia (23/04/2018, 13:15) Like (7) Dislike (5) Reply
    What was done with the money what gov duncan took from doctor smith???
    • my run (23/04/2018, 17:08) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      cars, training trips and other, still waiting for some one to audit them
  • just asking.... (23/04/2018, 13:42) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    so the place is a wild town no one will see me unless I get caught through my phone
  • pat (23/04/2018, 14:10) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    They do not care until the big ones start getting touch
    • TO PAT (23/04/2018, 16:18) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      I agree with you. It still saddens me to this day to think of the innocent child and Mr.Penn who were killed And to this day nobody has been arrested and people still are not talking. I guess if it was a Gov Minister's family member that was killed all hell would have break loose
  • Just Woke (23/04/2018, 14:14) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    So much things more important than CCTV ain't touch as yet.. Hotels, Schools, Clinics.. Labour Law to protect workers in future disasters.. Could go on and on...CCTV is important not top priority. I understand everybody looking at their own interest..Like a farmer hoping and praying for Rain...
    • @ just woke (23/04/2018, 17:10) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      when they kill someone for you hope you do not start crying after 12 years when the crime is not solved. Set of fools LOCAL LIVES MATTER
  • ReX FeRal (23/04/2018, 20:16) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    While Dr Smith and his wife trot around the Globe, the carnage continues in the BVI.
  • vex (23/04/2018, 20:20) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Rest in peace, to the people who lost their lives from October 2017 to now. My sincere condolences to the family and friends.
  • BRAD BOYNES (24/04/2018, 05:47) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    They don't care about us as a society and people. The police does not think. The community does not cooperate. We are no longer humble people. We got some serious problems in these British Virgin Islands and that is in your face straight talk. I am yet to hear the politicos and aspiring politicos bringing solutions to these many problems. I'm not political but I will have something to say. Life is real.
  • List 521 (24/04/2018, 06:39) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Maybe someone can't find a cctv company that gives kickbacks


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