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'Murders are symptoms of a deeper problem' - John I. Cline

- says the community at large must do something to fix the problem
February 15th, 2018 | Tags: Bishop John I Cline murder young men deeper issue
Bishop John I. Cline, former Chairman of the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) Board, lead pastor at the New Life Baptist Church in Duff’s Bottom and businessman commented that the murders are symptoms of a deeper issue. Photo: Facebook
 Michael Stevens, 26 (left) and Clevaughn Sweeney, 24 (right) were brutally murdered on Saturday, February 10, 2018 in the vicinity of the Althea Scatliffe Primary School (ASPS). Photo: Team of Reporters
Michael Stevens, 26 (left) and Clevaughn Sweeney, 24 (right) were brutally murdered on Saturday, February 10, 2018 in the vicinity of the Althea Scatliffe Primary School (ASPS). Photo: Team of Reporters
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Bishop John I. Cline, former Chairman of the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) Board, lead pastor at the New Life Baptist Church in Duff’s Bottom and businessman, has joined in voicing his concerns about the recent violent crimes plaguing the Virgin Islands.

The most recent heinous crime was a double murder that took place on Saturday, February 10, 2018 where two young men were shot in the area of the Althea Scatliffe Primary School (ASPS).

In an exclusive interview with Bishop Cline, he expressed the young men of society are seeking answers elsewhere because they cannot find it from the community, government, churches and even the in the home.

“What we are seeing is, we are reaping a harvest of a generation lost. These young men are crying out for help and they are looking to gangs, they are looking to drugs. They are looking to others for answers that we as a community, whether it be church, home or government did not give to them. Therefore, we find ourselves now witnessing a generation that has been lost," said the bishop.

“Value system has been broken down”

He further stated that the human resources and the family system needs rebuilding, adding that emphasis has been placed elsewhere and the Virgin Islands “value system has been broken down”.

“Our value system has been broken down in the BVI. The church as remained somewhat quiet within the four walls even though some of us have tried to reach out. We have put a lot of focus on our prosperity, our infrastructure, rebuilding, our economy but we need to put our focus back on how do we rebuild our human resource. The family structure needs to be rebuilt, it’s the substratum of any community. So, together as parents, schools, churches, government, the community at large need to come together and we can’t start when they are 16, 17, 18, 20, we have to start when they are young and begin to reinstall the values that makes a difference when they grow up, the kind of value that most of us have grown up with, which is discipline, honesty, integrity, respect, those kinds of things and if we do that we will be able to save the next generation to come after us,” Bishop Cline said.

“A deeper problem”

Meanwhile, Mr Cline pointed out that the murders are "symptoms of a deeper issue which needs to be fixed, while adding that the whole territory must do something.

Pastor Cline said, "The murders are just a symptom of a deeper problem and we have to fix the problem, otherwise we will reap another harvest of lost generations. I believe that we as a Christian council, community of churches must do more. We must work with government. We must work with families in our individual churches to try to strengthen the moral fibre of our community."

"We need a peace broker" 

Bishop John Cline suggested the need for what he termed a "peace broker", someone who can sit and talk to these misguided young men and show them an alternative route.

"We need a peace broker, someone who can sit down with some of these gangs. Some of these young men who are on the edge, who are at risk, who are still searching because they are still young and they still have a chance to sit down with them and say listen this kind of thing will only end in death or imprisonment and give them an alternative. If it’s not their destiny, they don’t know their destiny, help them to find one that they can be proud of," explained the Bishop.

He continued, "A lot of them have children. What kind of father do you want to be? How do you want your children to grow up? Help them to see better some of the things that they can do to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of their family, children, and community at large. We have some work to do and I don’t think we can just talk about it. I think we have to get busy doing it."

22 Responses to “'Murders are symptoms of a deeper problem' - John I. Cline”

  • cay (15/02/2018, 10:12) Like (5) Dislike (5) Reply
    He speaking good
  • Real Talk (15/02/2018, 10:12) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    Thereare people out there that can help with those murders am not astreet person and i sat next to some people in town just to hear them say .that dude serious boy he dont play to pull a trigger that states they have a idea is who .we need to talk up
    • aji (19/02/2018, 06:11) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Don't be fooled the police also know. Many of these gang members are police children or close family
  • The Watcher (15/02/2018, 10:27) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    There's a deeper problem than people murdering each other?
  • brilliant (15/02/2018, 12:14) Like (2) Dislike (9) Reply
    What an observation - you must be a man of God..
  • Serious thing (15/02/2018, 13:07) Like (0) Dislike (15) Reply
    THE BVI ARE CURSED
  • Gumption.Official (15/02/2018, 13:56) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    The cure will be using some of the recovery money and building more programs like (YEP) Youth Empowerment Program. Every district needs one. Anegada and JVD is understandable they should have one as well (making it two within a district. Part of the Cure will be getting to the youths at the kindergartens And primary school while they’re still young and youthful. Easy to reach. Easy to be inspired. We can dilute our issues (If) we focus on the future. It’s a community effort. Parents. Teachers. Public figures. Police officers. The greatest asset for our police officers will always be a working together community. Working purely Betterment’s of our future.
  • OG (15/02/2018, 14:29) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    My only say is, every killer walking around. People know who they are but refuse to turn them in. Those same killers that you are protecting be it relative or friend, one day they are going to turn on you when they feel the heat comming. I would rather turn a killer in than know his secret.
  • nonsense (15/02/2018, 14:40) Like (20) Dislike (1) Reply
    Next week nobody will be talking about this, it will be back to political nonsense, envy, jealousy and greed. Then when someone is killed again, we go back to the usual talking points acting shocked and saying who should do what. Meanwhile in our real lives we walk pass all these young men especially and don't really give a shit about them.
  • So true (15/02/2018, 15:02) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    get them at that ripe and tender age but further to say some gonna still go that part. Look around is everyone for Christ no but still we got to find a way to help. If our children are not academically inclined then help them to chose a part like football sports or a worthwhile skill. We all not gonna be doctors lawyers teachers etc but some us can be good chef mechanics IT experts etc. Father Lord give us direction so we can be come a better BVI.Yes Lord yes.
  • nonsense (15/02/2018, 16:48) Like (30) Dislike (0) Reply
    These thugs are thugs and thugs in the making because that is the life they choose. They are watching to much gangster movies and listening to the rap garbage. I know a few young men that grew up with a single mother and they choose the right path. They did not allow the greed and lust for fast money sway them.That dirty dollar that they are hurting and killing each other over will turn on them in a second if not handled correctly.
    • to nonsense (15/02/2018, 17:19) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
      I agree with you there are many persons out there that came from rough upbringing and they still managed to get themselves decent jobs rather than sit on the block drinking, smoking, gambling and whatever else. Some men choose to be lazy and rather Rob And kill others rather than work hard and earn a decent pay. Look at the age group of those killed in gang like shootings, most of them are young just like the young ones who sit up on the block in Belle Vue ,East End, and on basketball courts. It's what they choose for themselves not the community or their families.
  • wize up (15/02/2018, 18:35) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Each district elected official must find time to hold talks with the 15 and up in their respective districts not all might attempt; but for the love God try something for the youth of our territory: there more to live basketball tournaments....do you know how many posiiable boat captain running up and down on these bikes-the devil will find work for idle Hans: dissect polican find time for the youth in your district don’t only love them just before the Election Day and once elected all you do is drive through the hub under your air conditioner
    • But (15/02/2018, 20:39) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Wise up, I understand what you are saying but most of these young men do not want better for themselves. They would prefer to sit around all day smoking weed, drinking, listening to gangster rap and plot who house or person they are going to rob because they are to damn trifeling to get up off their lazy behinds and get a job.
  • Murder is Greed (16/02/2018, 06:08) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    The selling of Guns is Greed. The selling of Drugs is Greed. Robbing and stealing what's not ours is greed... Hutting others for our own benefit is greed..turning or closing our eyes to wrong for a money is greed... Its all about greed..
  • Solutions (16/02/2018, 09:43) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    who is going to do something? Nobody? the fake church leaders? fathers? mothers? teachers who are not qualified or well trained?

    as a community we all need to get off our backsides (I know, we in BVI>>>) and get a plan and do something with it.

    Buddies in community?
    of course schools are a huge problem that need a lot of strategic investment
    bahn here approach to labour force discourages youth from having to try and to get an education or even think about the many creative things they can be inspired by - some could be lawyers, accountant and boaties but why not have properly qualified tradespeople? why not have innovative IT people from here (I know, internet too bad and too expensive)? sportsmen, craftmen, artists. being promised a job in govt or because bahn here won't help inspire kids to reach their potential.
    police patrols - of course we have all asked where they all are (hiding or eating seems to be the conclusion)
    enforcing the laws we already have - if people cant get away with everything why not push it and push it into more serious crime.
  • tretretrete (16/02/2018, 21:46) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    From these post Nobody has mentioned the fact that this is about a lack of porper parenting. This begins in the HOME. Parents train up your children in the way they should go! When they are old they will not depart from it!
    We do not discipline them. They get into all sorts of things and then it is the job of the government, the fake preaches, fake leaders and unqualified teachers. I hope it is not a parent making that comment cause this is sympotic of the problem with the children. They have eaten sour grapes and their teeth is on edge. The bible do not lie. Parents need to do their jobs. It is your responsibility. The fathers carry full blame for being absent. Put the problems where it belongs. Clean up you act fathers and mothers. Model proper behaviour for your children. If you need help seek it out Do not wait for it to get out of control. Start when they are young. This is not the job of the government!
    • y (17/02/2018, 10:17) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      It is everyone's job. It takes a village. We used to have that village in the past but we have allowed the village to be destroyed.
      • and (17/02/2018, 10:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Irma didn't destroy it. We destroyed it with ourselves with our sinful ways...with all manner of things including and especially greed and jealousy and some of us with our spiteful evil ways.
  • Pastor who (17/02/2018, 22:53) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    This man ain't no kind of example for no body. He is the same man saying make weed legal.he ain't have no shame .he better go repent.


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