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Press Release From Independent Source

I have zero tolerance for crime - Premier Smith

February 10th, 2018 | Tags: D. Orlando Smith shooting killing community gun crime
Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith (AL) has condemned the execution style killing of two men on Tortola this morning, February 10, 2018. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Below is a statement by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) on the fatal shooting of two men on Tortola, today, Saturday, February 10, 2018.

"This morning I was saddened to learn of the tragic shooting of two males in the vicinity of the BVI Red Cross on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at approximately 4:00 A.M.

I am concerned about this violent crime, because we should not take matters into our own hands!

I want to make this equivocally clear, the British Virgin Islands is no place for crime! I have zero tolerance for it and the community should have zero tolerance as well.

If there is anyone out there with information or anyone who witnessed anything, no matter how minute the detail, say something! Please contact the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force.

Remember, we are working together to build the BVI stronger and better and incidents such as these, will only undermine our efforts.

It is important that we continue working together to make the BVI safe for ourselves and our visitors.

My condolences go out to the families of the victims. I pray that God's tender mercies surround all of them at this time."

16 Responses to “I have zero tolerance for crime - Premier Smith”

  • Bvi weak (10/02/2018, 17:34) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    Pure waste of time talk
  • when (10/02/2018, 19:14) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    govt used money to fight crime we say many things or nothing at all.When it is used on education we bang we mouth.Spending money for education is more worthwhile than crime.Children stay in school and please don't come out gun tooting fools
    • Paradise my foot (11/02/2018, 00:24) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
      The problem with the bvi is that too many of you in the position to do the right thing is afraid to do it bc too many of you are related! Family relations and greed is what killing bvi. If i am a police officer called out to a crime depending on who the person is, the crime never sees the light of day. If it does I am pressured to 'do the right thing' according to family. No one wants to be the one to lock up their brother, or cousin. Nobody wants to point fingers at a long time friend, or sister. And so we let them go without much thought bc no one wants to be the black sheep. What have we done to ourselves? We are a sick nation and yet we invite visitors to our shores. Do you think they see the picture perfect paradise we peddle or hell hole we try to hide.
  • trrefdrfds (10/02/2018, 19:47) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    I agree with you sir but crime is crime what about the tax payers money that’s missin
  • Snoozy (10/02/2018, 20:29) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    Talk is cheap. Where was he when Franklin Penn and Trinity were gunned down at West end? You would think the death of an innocent child would have caused outrage from the community and our elected officials, but only a few spoke up.
  • foxy (11/02/2018, 01:02) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    The police could have use that $7.2m to help fight crime. Go from here Dr Smith you have killed the bvi
  • Greg (11/02/2018, 03:27) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Zero tolerance for what kind of crimes? White collar , murders, burglary, speeding or Government stealing?
  • lost (11/02/2018, 06:51) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Oh please Orlando. You just like the pastor who gets up in church on Sunday and say fornication is wrong but yet you doing it from Monday to Saturday.
    Crime is crime. You and your gang busy killing the BVI. This place IS lawless.
  • Diplomat (11/02/2018, 12:07) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Increasing property and violent crime, especially murders, can be the dagger in the heart of tourism, 1/2 of the economic twin pillars, as it probably did for St. Croix in the 1970s with the Fountain Valley Golf Course incident. St. Croix is probably still reeling both economically and socially from the massacre on the golf course. The violent and property crime scourge need to be arrested.

    The murderers need to be identified, tried, convicted and lost in jail. Nonetheless we cannot just jail our way out of this problem. We cannot just treat the symptoms; we need to find and root out the root causes. The community is a key player in helping the RVIPF to root out the problem and bring the perpetrators to justice.

    But the RVIPF has a systemic problem; it leaks like sieve and people for their own personal safety lacks trust in it. The RVIPF is an indisciplined agency and is dysfunctional. Feud among local, regional and UK officers is not helping matters. It needs resources but just throwing money at it is not a panacea for healing its myriad of problems. The community is in my opinion willing to assist the RVIPF but it needs much more from the force. The force must be more than a pay check. It needs to demonstrate rock solid professionalism.

    Moreover, the community must also do its part. An improved quality of life and standard of living is no doubt a good thing. However, the drive/quest for materialism resulted in a causalty—-the children. The children are lost and not part of nation building. For there to be growth continuity, there must a generation to pass baton to. Where is the next generation? They are either chillin at Balo or St. Lucia being non productive or resting in the grave yards. This is a social problem that needs to be fixed; the whole community must be engaged——parents, family members, neighbors, schools, NGOs, churches, government......etc. Bring back the “ Village”.
  • Nero Lass (11/02/2018, 15:44) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Orlando please stop. You never care about crime in the Virgin Islands. Just put a sox in it.
  • M & M (11/02/2018, 18:16) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I wish he would say zero tolerance to white collar crime too
  • LOST BOYS (11/02/2018, 22:07) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is so sad to see what we have degenerated to. Until we gain the courage to stand up and fight for what is right we can expect more of the same. With every sick incident comes the confusion chorus. What do we expect from our youth who are basically educated to run after a ball and imitate gangster rappers? We have failed our youth for reasons such as cowardice, greed and ignorance. Until we begin to produce real men instead of follow fashion wanna-be; expect the madness to continue.
  • Boo (11/02/2018, 22:45) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    These five lost boys who call themselves the Government...smh and their entourage on the back bench waving gallery need to get real.

    Who are the real criminals here sodomizing the treasury and our intelligence day in and day out? Project after project goes into "overruns" and nary an audited financial or report in sight. Half-baked idea after half baked idea and no real governance or leadership in this our lowest hour and time of need.

    That is a real crime. Do you have any tolerance for that? It seems you have a lot. Mine unfortunately has run out.
  • Comments (11/02/2018, 23:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Smith . i see from the comments that you are very much disliked
  • suggestion (12/02/2018, 07:18) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    Why can't there be a lot of stop and search be done on a daily basis unknown to the public but you will say someone will squeel someone will always will. There should be through search also at the ports especially at several barrels and other packages coming in and also night patrols at sea.
  • Elkie (12/02/2018, 10:13) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    This news release and public bombardment on the airways by our leader is yet another weak statement and plunges the approval rating of our leadership close to zero.


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