Calypsonian Shereen Flax aka Queen Shereen has publicly condemned sexual harassment in the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File

It was in March of this year that Opposition Member Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), right, warned in the House of Assembly against some public officials engaging in sexual harassment of females and even males in the work place. Photo: VINO/File

Second runner-up in the Miss JR BVI Pageant 2016, Dje’moyia Smith, sang a calypso where she addressed the issue of older men preying on school-aged children and called for stiffer penalties for perverted men. Photo: VINO

One of the hot topics Queen Shereen spoke out against is the sexual harassment scandal in the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), saying, these occurrences should never be.

It was last week that an online news site reported that a female police officer was accusing male members of the force of sexual harassment and that she was not getting justice despite bringing the matter to the level of the Governor, Premier, Police Service Commission and Commissioner of Police.

Queen Shereen used her turn at the microphone to condemn all forms of abuse that women and children currently suffer in the territory.

“BVI we have to get serious about abuse of women, boys, and girls in this community,” Flax said. “The police department is rocked by the scandal of sexual harassment of a female officer. These are things that should not happen.”

She said young boys and girls are constantly being molested in the communities, employers bully their workers and all these must come to a halt.

“We are one BVI and we need to make it great. BVI we need to wake up!”

 The calypsonian, in her song entitled “Strength”, urged women to break from captivity and pursue liberty.

Sexual harassment matter brought to HoA

It was in March of this year that Opposition Member Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) warned against some public officials engaging in sexual harassment of females and even males in the work place.

Hon Fahie had made the disturbing revelations during the continuation of the Seventh Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly at parliament chambers in Road Town, Tortola on March 24, 2016.

“But I am sounding a warning. I am asking first that those in senior positions keep your hands to yourself and leave the public servants who are females, let them come and do their job, whether they single or whether they married, leave them so they could produce for this country.”

According to Hon Fahie, some of these transgressions are known by certain government officials but they choose to sweep them under the rug. “Since the powers that be want to always sweep under the rug when it comes to these things... leave the people girl children.”

Obviously emotional about the matter, Hon Fahie had said issues of sexual harassment are affecting the productivity of the civil service since persons are not willing to have to deal with certain persons who are in the habit of making advances. “And they telling me they can’t make it to the front of the public service because they quote unquote ‘aint giving up their front’ so they can’t make it to the front. It sounds harsh but I have girl children and since I got to come to this House to deal with certain things that are being covered up by certain entities …I can’t say all, the Government know.”

At this time Opposition Leader Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) had asked: “What about the men too?”

“I didn’t want to say that part because it have some men have started to come to me to the office to make the same complaints, but I going to leave out that part because I told them go to the weight room and get strong and defend yourselves,” Hon Fahie replied.

Stiffer penalties for perverted men

Meanwhile, the second runner-up in the Miss Jr BVI Pageant on July 10, 2016, Dje’moyia Smith, in her talent round, opted for a calypso where she also addressed the issue of older men preying on school-aged children.

According to her, these grown men wait by the school’s corner and using their power and money, try to lure both young men and women.

Smith said the solution is for stiffer penalties for these perpetrators.

“We need to tell these politicians to find some steeper legislation to protect those children being harassed by these perverted men,” she belted to an appreciative crowd. “So the best way out of this situation is to allow us to finish our education, I will tell you like it is, I have no room for this and after this class dismissed. So you could keep your money, you can’t convince me to sell my virginity.”

She even took a swing at some parents who facilitate the perversions of these men.

“Parents, don’t sell out your daughters, don’t sell out your sons!”