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CoP to criminals: 'We know who you are!'

- Said residents who know who the criminals are & say nothing are guilty of protecting them
Commissioner of Police Michael Matthews has urged residents of the Virgin Islands to assist the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) by providing them with information on criminals and criminal activities. Photo: Provided
A handful of persons turned up for the community meeting called by the Commissioner of Police Michael Matthews at the Stickett in Long Look, Tortola on January 16, 2017. Photo: Provided
A handful of persons turned up for the community meeting called by the Commissioner of Police Michael Matthews at the Stickett in Long Look, Tortola on January 16, 2017. Photo: Provided
Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr The Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering, who is also the Seventh District Representative, said the police has a job to do but all as citizens of the community equally have a responsibility to each other to ensure that ‘we do our best to protect one-another.’ Photo: Provided
Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr The Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering, who is also the Seventh District Representative, said the police has a job to do but all as citizens of the community equally have a responsibility to each other to ensure that ‘we do our best to protect one-another.’ Photo: Provided
EAST END, Tortola VI – Commissioner of Police (COP) Michael Matthews has warned criminals across the territory to “start looking over their shoulders” as the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) knows who they are and is coming after them.

COP Matthews was the opening and key-note speaker at the RVIPF’s first in a series of community meetings, held at the Stickett, Long Look on the main island of Tortola on January 16, 2017. It was a meeting that was opened to all persons across the territory.

We know your name & where you live

Among those that were noticeably present were Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr The Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering, who is also the Seventh District Representative, Opposition Leader Hon Julian Fraser RA, (R3), Junior Minister for Trade and Investment Promotion Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8), former Deputy Premier R. Dancia Penn, Virgin Islands Party (VIP) 2015 General Elections’ Candidates Sharie B.Y. de Castro and Charmaine Rosan-Bunbury, VIP President Natalio D. ‘Sowande Uhuru’ Wheatley, former Complaints Commissioner Elton Georges, and Acting Chief Immigration Officer Mrs Geraldine Ritter-Freeman, among others.

“And if any of those who know that they did it [crimes] are listening to this tonight or subsequently in any radio re-broadcast or any public broadcast, start looking over your shoulders because I am serious, we know the names of some of these people, we know where they live…,” Mr Matthews said emphatically but added, “But what’s more important is if we know, people in the community also know and we need you to speak up and say what you know….somebody knows who is doing this and by saying nothing is protecting them.”

This is not America

Commissioner Matthews said that he has been given several suggestions to curb the wave of crimes hitting the territory, among which was to equip all business owners with firearms. “What I do know is that we do not have the right to bear arms, this is not America (USA) it’s not in our constitution, what I do know is that if you shoot an offender in the Virgin Islands because you think it’s the right thing to do to protect your business interest, my officers will investigate you for homicide, that’s the law.”

Matthews told residents that police officers were right on the outside of the business place of Mr Frankie J Fahie when he was shot. He also alluded to another recent robbery where he said a witness saw men hiding and preparing their guns and putting on their masks. In another incident, a person attempted to pay a cashier in the height of the business being robbed at gun point. He referenced to those incidents as he appealed to persons/witnesses to call police at any sighting of suspicious criminal activities.

Don’t get frustrated COP

Lending his support to the RVIPF, Hon Pickering said, “the police have a job to do but all of us as citizens of the community equally have a responsibility to each other to ensure that we do our best to protect one-another.” He said it’s not a job for the COP, elected representative, pastor or a teacher but rather its one for all collectively.

Hon Fraser, while lending his support for the work of the RVIPF, voiced that he is convinced that Commissioner Matthews understands what is going on in the Virgin Islands as he told him, “Don’t get frustrated when you can’t get people to come and give evidence, don’t get frustrated, you have to understand the culture under which they are refusing to do all this. Your job and the jobs of the elected representative, such as Deputy Premier, are to try and change that attitude.”

Hon Fraser added that the people of East End/Long Look are no different from others of the territory and they should not be subjected to the kind of violence that is meted out to their community.

Hon Penn summed up his charge to the community with quotes from the famous Martin Luther King Jr. “He who accepts passively accepts evils is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it….The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

Hon Penn also voiced that there are just a few persons in the communities guilty of the acts of ‘terror’ but community members are the ones with the power to break the silence.

Think about the children

In her address, Ms de Castro said “Blame us as a community” for the state of crimes while Ms Shakima Stoutt challenged criminals to give up themselves and think about the children, the up-coming generation.

Head of the East End Police Station Sergeant Selwin Rock assured residents that he and his team are prepared to do what it takes in supporting the community and to bring criminals to justice.

19 Responses to “CoP to criminals: 'We know who you are!'”

  • eye spell (18/01/2017, 14:07) Like (43) Dislike (1) Reply
    this thread soon be littered with comments - white man dis and police that but Penn he say the thing from MLK and it true ppl, you cover these ppl you guilty, guilty mehson! we got to take this back and stand up as a community or our families will be terror from these men. We got to STAND UP! Easy talk comin, blame everyone. But we know what goin on.
    • Reply (18/01/2017, 21:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Whatever we believe, the BVI cannot continue in this spiralling hell.
  • Yes (18/01/2017, 16:10) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    he got to be bluffing
  • street man (18/01/2017, 18:00) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Y'all don't kno nothing
    • thief is thief (18/01/2017, 21:07) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      We support zero tolerance to any form of breaking our laws since no one is above the law. so what about the white color crime thiefing from the treasury???
  • weed (18/01/2017, 18:05) Like (4) Dislike (6) Reply
    This guy just got talk nothing has changed
  • okay (18/01/2017, 18:44) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Less talk, lets see some action.
  • zoe (18/01/2017, 19:24) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Because police chief must never admit the possibility of defeat!!!!!
  • RealPol (18/01/2017, 19:34) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Mr. Mathews style of policing is in the PASS
  • See (18/01/2017, 20:56) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    more gutless talk . Shut up and do something
  • Struggling (18/01/2017, 21:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    If you know will do something about it
  • BVIslander (18/01/2017, 21:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    once peaceful BVI is plagued by lawlessness and people who think they have a right to commit deeds of wrongdoing with impunity.
  • Freedom! (18/01/2017, 21:18) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I believe that when we view complicity with even-handedness, including our individual responsibility to uphold the law, then, at a minimum, we would have begun to approach the issue of crime and national insecurity, with integrity.
  • B Savage (18/01/2017, 22:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Certain people in vibes just up and down cooling and so well I know they not giving up anybody right.
  • hello (19/01/2017, 05:39) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Friends and neighbors, PLEASE lets not come down on the police. I mean, no matter what, all civilized communities need them. Instead, lets work hand in hand with them in fixing OUR COMMUNITY. Step up and tell them who the few punks are that's having such a negative effect on us all. Thank you.
  • wantosee (19/01/2017, 07:40) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr. commissioner, please start your process off with handlling the situation you have on hand with the four or five policemen who were caught in the. act ofcommitting. criminal activities using their position to. confiscate illegal drugs and opening markets for the sale of the same. they were making. large sums of monies from the proceeds. lets see 0how you deal with these culprits. and that would determine involvement.
  • wow (19/01/2017, 17:57) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    If Yall Knew Things, Many Of These Heartless Criminals Would Be Off The Streets. The Same Criminals You All (The Police) Have Leniency On But Giving The Good People Who Probably Made One Mistake A Hard Time
    But People Really Know Who To Pick On Mehson
  • Varlack (19/01/2017, 19:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hate to break up the party but some of those "dignitaries" that talking who from who are the biggest crooks or know who the crooks are and the Commissioner knows that too but hey. It's hard to see a thief or a murderer among you. Crimes will never be solved so hey don't get frustrated just chil! I wonder what was really accomplished from this meeting.
  • sbc (01/02/2017, 08:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Man made laws are meant to be broken what about nature laws one money is in existence crime will always be there know truth and believe lies it funny people here in tola so smart but yet can't think for they self


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