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Lobster serving in off season & police doing nothing- Hon Flax-Charles

-Says reports were made with no cooperation or enforcement from local police officers on Anegada
Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development, Hon Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL) has called out police officers of Anegada for what she termed ‘no corporation’ as it relates to enforcement of laws on the sister islands. Photo: Internet Source/VINO/File
The Legislator said with no 'fisheries officer' on Anegada, the hope was that the police as a law enforcement arm would have issued warnings to defaulting restaurant(s), however, noting was done. Photo: VINO/File
The Legislator said with no 'fisheries officer' on Anegada, the hope was that the police as a law enforcement arm would have issued warnings to defaulting restaurant(s), however, noting was done. Photo: VINO/File
FAT HOGS BAY, Tortola, VI– Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development Hon Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL) has called out police officers on Anegada for what she termed ‘non-cooperation’ as it relates to enforcement of laws on the sister island.

Hon Flax-Charles, speaking on 'Da Morning Braff radio show on Tola Radio on October 24, 2022, complained bitterly of the alleged non-action of officers when it comes to acting on reports and enforcing the laws.

“We have a situation… in Anegada, we know that Lobster is out of season but persons are still serving lobster,” she said.

“When a report was made to the police, the police say well oh, they didn't know it was lobster close season, they cannot do anything because that's a fisheries issue,” she revealed.

According to VI laws, no person shall catch, sell, offer for sale, or buy Lobster between July 31 to October 31.

The Legislator said with no 'fisheries officer' on Anegada, the hope was that the police as a law enforcement arm would have issued warnings to defaulting restaurant(s). 

Police do not cooperate - Hon Falx-Charles 

“The police do not cooperate in a lot of instances and I don't care who gets upset but… we passed the laws and the laws are supposed to be enforced by either the inspector or the police,” she said.

Hon Flax-Charles posted an open question as to who was responsible for the police in the territory and why enforcement challenges continue to persist.

“When you call them, the first thing they telling you, they short staff,” she said, while noting that a new cohort of officers continues to enter the force annually.

79 Responses to “Lobster serving in off season & police doing nothing- Hon Flax-Charles”

  • NO SAH (27/10/2022, 14:22) Like (86) Dislike (12) Reply
    Well if you is the representative and you coming to a radio show like the rest of us, we really in problems mehson
    • News Flash (27/10/2022, 15:34) Like (41) Dislike (2) Reply
      Far as I know there are only 2 police on the island of Anegada. Secondly, wouldn't the first step in being penalized for this have to start with conservation and fisheries?
      • flUffy (27/10/2022, 21:36) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
        Conservation and who??? WHERE OR WHAT DEPARTMENT IS THAT??MY DEAR ..THAT DEPARTMENT WENT OUT THE WINDOW YEARS AGO WITH FISHERIES AND AGRICULTURE!!
    • Cookie Jar (27/10/2022, 17:06) Like (45) Dislike (8) Reply
      The junior minister is on periodic a rant about anything she can think about - then we won't hear from her for months.
    • Challenge (27/10/2022, 17:49) Like (10) Dislike (38) Reply
      If her hairstyle looks better than the lobsters hit like
      • NezRez (27/10/2022, 20:49) Like (15) Dislike (6) Reply
        @ Challenge. Release yourself from mental slavery. I see nothing wrong with her AFRO. She isn't trying to sport that nasty straight perm and weave to the point her edges no longer exist. She is wearing a style that represents Black people, so what is the problem? Women and men wore our afros back in the 70's, 80's and 90's, whether it was our hair or an afro wig, but we looked like us. Now women look like we don't know what. Respect yourself!
    • dumb (27/10/2022, 19:31) Like (19) Dislike (11) Reply
      So, if i Bought 100 lbs. of Lobster during season and store them in my well low temperature freezer, are you saying that i cannot sell it on my menu during off season. If so, be the case, then go to Rite-way and remove all the small lobster from their cold storage in the store. I don't think the minister is feeling too well.
      • Master stroke (28/10/2022, 09:40) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
        Well said mehson. This deserves all the likes. Slowande number 2. Can't blame her she is still better than ve.
      • @dumb (28/10/2022, 15:59) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
        You picked the right name. Read and understand. Closed season is closed season. Do not buy more than you can use/consume in the season. You can and should be fined if you have them in your possession at closed season.
    • Laws can be mist-interrupted (27/10/2022, 19:38) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      According to VI laws, no person shall catch, sell, offer for sale, or buy Lobster between July 31 to October 31.
      Do not quote the law if you do not understand it. The Law says: no person shall catch for sell, offer for sale, or buy Lobster between July 31 to October 31. The wording is Catch for sell. Not catch, sell! Hope you get the point. so put the for after the Catch.
      • Read (29/10/2022, 04:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        “Catch for sell” makes no sense in the English language.Try “ Catch to sell” or “ Catch for sale”. You’re welcome.
    • Rubber Duck (29/10/2022, 00:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Thick as a plankton.
    • few (29/10/2022, 04:35) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      What if the lobster ain’t from here?
    • @No Sah (30/10/2022, 00:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I agree with you…. Plus I’m pretty sure she’s purchasing as well
  • Oh Why (27/10/2022, 14:26) Like (49) Dislike (5) Reply
    Only on the media does she talk. Take this into the HOA. Use the proper platform. You are an elected official!!
  • Jason (27/10/2022, 14:26) Like (12) Dislike (6) Reply
    so upcoming lobster fest is wrong or right

    did the Hon VG Lady come up with the list of women for next year Heroes list
  • Facts or proof. (27/10/2022, 14:27) Like (28) Dislike (2) Reply
    Do you know of any complains made to the police by the public or even you of location where Lobster is being sold and police did nothing. ? We kno the police are lazy, well not lazy but afraid to get involved but they think they are always wrong in the public eyes. But for the hon to make such allegation she must have some facts...
    • Just saying (27/10/2022, 15:36) Like (9) Dislike (6) Reply
      Read between the lines this seems like a tit for tat move.
      • NOT (27/10/2022, 22:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        really.
      • Why now minister (28/10/2022, 16:52) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        I would have thought that if the minister has evidence of this nature the most sensible thing to do would have raised it in the house months ago under members other business. She could have bring it to the attention of the Premier and have him raise it at cabinet with the Governor. Or she herself write and call the Cop and raise it there. If no satisfactory reply or response is given bring it to the public. Politicians need to begin to act responsible and matured instead of leading the masses down a rabbit hole.
    • reports (27/10/2022, 22:51) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      are continuous... people see people talk. and those abiding by the law are pissed to see others getting away with breaking it and taking away their dollars they could have made.
    • On Anegada (28/10/2022, 07:14) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
      People in anegada have complained to the police for years.. Shereen knows cause working tourist board people went to her steady... so this is not hearsay. It's facts!!!! People even been complaining to fisheries and they do nothing.....
  • Just saying (27/10/2022, 14:32) Like (11) Dislike (30) Reply
    The police is weak Collins is bad news he has lost his ligitermcy after that nasty vedio
  • WHAT!!! (27/10/2022, 14:58) Like (36) Dislike (2) Reply
    The whole reason for having a closed lobster season is so that they can bread and have young.
    To ignore closed season will mean that eventualy there will be no lobsters left to catch, what will your children or grandchildren on Anegada do then or do you not care.





  • smh (27/10/2022, 15:12) Like (9) Dislike (17) Reply
    blablabla we’d pick gumshion over you easy if he run
  • WOW (27/10/2022, 15:19) Like (20) Dislike (5) Reply
    If it is off season what does it have to do with the police? is it not the government department that makes it off season to fine them - if that is what is regulated? say for example an environmental or fisheries department violation?
    • point missed (27/10/2022, 22:50) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      I see.... she indicated Anegada is a place with no conservation and fisheries officer so yes I agree with her, police needs to step in. What are they doing all day anyway? Even if Fisheries sends Kia up there in the day the offenders strike at dinnertime too so again, police, where ya'll at?
  • sustainability (27/10/2022, 15:21) Like (34) Dislike (1) Reply
    Instead of bleating to the media fisheries needs educational information to fishermen and restaurants and a sound knowledge of lobster/conch stock and whether its depleting or sustaining. Spiny lobster breed all year runs so 2 months in the height of hurricane season is not enough. In Florida the closed season is April 1 to August 30th. For Tortola June 1 to October 30th is out of tourist season. Same issue for conch which have disappeared around Tortola. Fisheries really need to get on top of this.
    • Tourism can't handle such a long break (28/10/2022, 07:16) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
      The season here can NOT close that long cause then it would upturn our tourism product..... April - August is the height of the season are tou crazy.... Guess you don't work in tourism so you don't care... smh..
  • What if?/ (27/10/2022, 15:27) Like (23) Dislike (3) Reply
    What if someone bought up lobster and had them frozen, can't they sell them during that period or no?
    • @What if (27/10/2022, 16:02) Like (16) Dislike (4) Reply
      The answer is no!
    • NO FROZEN LOBSTER (28/10/2022, 07:18) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      People visit the BvI for FRESH lobster not FROZEN..smh... all who on her talking don't know one heck about the tourist season and what it calls for.. smh... stick to yall corporate jobs please thanks...
  • Ha.. (27/10/2022, 15:39) Like (6) Dislike (10) Reply
    O please she know she going buy some anyways
  • Huh? (27/10/2022, 15:47) Like (8) Dislike (7) Reply
    So is it impossible that ppl actually stocked lobsters and had them frozen while they were in season in preparation for the off season? .....i dont understand
  • Lobster hustle (27/10/2022, 15:48) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    Police and all was here eating lobsters, we do that all year round. Noyone up here watching face unlike Tola.
  • Hmm (27/10/2022, 16:03) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    You scrap conservation to blame the police .who selling lobster?
  • I know one thing (27/10/2022, 16:15) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    They are all running to the peoples radio for help. It is the peoples radio and we are demanding every last one of them to sit in the hot seat and take their blows, no exceptions. They have to face we the people their EMPLOYERS IF THEY WANT OUR HELP. The people is no longer playing with you POLITICIANS OR WHATEVER YOU CALL YOURSELVES. WE MEAN BUSINESS THIS TIME AROUND. A PERSON CAN ONLY TAKE BUT SO MUCH. Don’t let the SIMMERING VOLCANO GO BOOM.
  • Loose mouth (27/10/2022, 16:28) Like (17) Dislike (8) Reply
    Always giving speeches as if she is competing in a Public Speaking Competition. Lots of words without meaning. Constantly trying to impress. What has she done since she was elected?
    • hmmm (28/10/2022, 07:20) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
      She may not have done for you... but she has done a lot more that a few others...
  • Ghut lady (27/10/2022, 16:32) Like (4) Dislike (55) Reply
    Only people I voting for is Myron, Willock, Carvin and kye in my district the rest of you all can go to hell
  • Forbidden Truth (27/10/2022, 16:35) Like (8) Dislike (23) Reply
    Those are expat police. They do not give a dam about this country, the people, the ka3ws they are hired to enforce even though they get full pay every two weeks. Whelk season close also but you see foreign and locals picking whelks the same. To each his/her own in this lawlessness.
    • @Forbiden Truth (27/10/2022, 19:16) Like (4) Dislike (11) Reply
      That is the problem. Because most of the Officers are expatriates they have been treated as though they were a separate Department apart from the other law enforcement Departments such as Custom or Immigration who's Officers is made up of so called locals. Your people should have been patriotic enough to love and defend their own country there would have been no need for expatriates to enforce the laws of this territory instead our young men in particulars sits on blocks all day long smoking weed. Whenever they get in trouble every one especially the Politicians would go to the prison and take selfies with them and declare them to be innocent. while ignoring the victims of their crimes. Criminals are heros in the BVI. The Police are always seen as the problem. With all the serious crimes that are taking place in this territory.With all the young men who have gone missing or have been gunned down in cold blood, the at large member has never gone public to denounce crimes in this country but is ranting about a boat docked at a jetty and lobsters. So sad I voted for her. That my friend is the hidden truth.
  • Guilty (27/10/2022, 17:16) Like (22) Dislike (2) Reply
    well i know that Scrub Island was serving lobster all during the off season and advertising it on Facebook and nothing was said or done, there are multiple places on VG where she lives that continue to serve Lobster but nothing is said about that issue. Selling lobster that was purchased in July and being served now should not be an issue, will the Police go into people houses as you cannot even have lobster in your own freezer in the house and cook it for yourself during the closed season with the new order issued by the government in August, bit late when people have invested $8000 in Lobster to keep them going while the closed season is in effect and are just reopening. Did the tourism officer turned minister ever say anything back in the day when Interline Regatta happens in the close3d season yet 300 people decend on Anegada just to eat Lobster, please answer that question and why now only brining it up? Let me answer the weather is terrible and no boats are visiting Anegada over ths weekend and Tuesday is the new season. Just all about votes but she just lost 100
  • LAW (27/10/2022, 17:29) Like (21) Dislike (8) Reply
    the closed season is law, but the directive issued this year in August is not LAW, you can have lobster and conch in your freezer and consume it , the law is about taking live lobster from the sea during the closed season. This is the problem with the government agencies , they thing when they issue a memo its law, nowhere is the law gazetted staing you cannot consume lobster from your own freezer during closed season.
    • @Law (27/10/2022, 18:02) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
      From what I understand you can consume your own lobster that was caught BEFORE season closed, but restaurants & shops are NOT allowed to sell lobster in closed season - even if it was put in the freezer before season closed. This rule is similar to other islands (Bahamas).
      • @@law (27/10/2022, 20:31) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        wrong, the memo issued stated that you cannot have any lobster in your freezer or conch in the off season even in your own home. If you have lobster then C&F are supposed to come and either seal your freezer till the 1st Nov or throw it away, its a joke!
  • vi (27/10/2022, 17:44) Like (15) Dislike (5) Reply
    She for the people or herself
  • south (27/10/2022, 17:46) Like (14) Dislike (6) Reply
    Why election couldn’t be tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Gov officials is a joke (27/10/2022, 17:46) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
    To the people who sheared their voices on a media platform looking for popularity will eventually look stupid just as this one here...you see something is wrong you need to report it,not shear it amounts your friends..but it seems tola becomes a joke because of the power hungry official that doesn't know how to control their own house but the want to control an island
  • @ OH Y (27/10/2022, 18:13) Like (4) Dislike (5) Reply
    I THINK THAT SITTING IN THE STREET MUST OF ALTERED HER MIND / I HOPE NOTHING GOT BAR- B ,CUED ☺
  • Vote Out (27/10/2022, 18:18) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    Why you don't go tell fisheries do them work and stop blame the police seem when a dead animal on the road its the police job 2 ......
    • conservationist (27/10/2022, 22:39) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Fisheries and police should work together. Police is the enforcement agency Report made to Fisheries, Fisheries call police, police investigate and maybe catch someone in the Act. Don't you realize that you can barely get conch in the bvi now..soon there will be no Lobster Fest. They need to.let the lobsters breed. Silly people. Destroying their livelihood and not even realizing it. Pure greed
      • anegada (28/10/2022, 11:56) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        Thank you. These people bashing the Minister. Obviously she fed up to have taken it to the show out loud. Bunch of laws and law enforcers and nobody doing shyte! In Anegada, if the police get a report they should assist at least come on!! They know well they do not have fisheries personnel on island like that and it is unfair some have to obey and others do not. So the good ones lose because their guests going where they can get their way and when lobsters are depleted no Lobster fest #1 and the same tourists will go to other parts of the world who conserved their precious sea creatures and eat them there. SMH... Hon. Flax-CHARLES do not bother with them. They can take two seats
    • hello (27/10/2022, 22:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Fisheries needs to do their work yes but if they do not live on Anegada, and a law is broken, who we going to call? Ghostbusters?? Not the police?
  • ..... (27/10/2022, 19:08) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Foreigners are reading this probably thinking life is good when we get to argue over lobster...

    There should be no lobster for sale during the closed aka breeding season. Doesn’t matter if you invest 10k you are over buying if it can’t be sold within the open season.

    If only they would have the same attitude about broccoli and refer it to fisheries & agriculture department
  • lol (27/10/2022, 19:11) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    She workin hard to be on that heroes list with the man them eh.
  • only (27/10/2022, 19:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    So what else is new.
  • Josiahsbay (27/10/2022, 21:39) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    What's the issue? Is it the selling of lobsters or the fishing for them? Enquiring minds want to know.
  • Larry the Lobster (27/10/2022, 21:53) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Jeeze man, can’t we all just get along?
  • Santa claws (27/10/2022, 22:42) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    What, cocaine trafficking and murders should take a back seat to lobster poaching?
  • Stupeeeesss (28/10/2022, 07:05) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    Yap yap yap yap. Nonsense
  • Magistrate Process (28/10/2022, 07:24) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Sounds like she does not know how the police work...she should work to change the laws through legislation, not by being on the radio!
    Asking a police to enforce a fish and game law is like asking the immigration department to make it stop raining. Dumb dumb dumb.
    Give the police the ability to write tickets through legislation for these violations. And while you are at it, let them write tickets for water safety violations (like driving boats to fast where people swim). That should be where the focus is.
    Sheerene - write some legislation please...and stop yapping
  • ,@,YES (28/10/2022, 09:56) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    OK U RIGHT ,, SHE DIDN'T SIT IN THE STREET , THE STREET SAT ON HER . ( DID YOU REALLY SWALLOW THAT PUBLICITY STUNT THAT THEY
    THINK THEY FOOLED THE PEOPLE WITH ??? THAT WAS LIKE ADDING INSULT TO INJURY , BECAUSE ITS THEIR CORRUPTION THAT CAUSED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE, ) AND THERE SHE WAS SINGING THE RACISM SONG WITH THREATENING LYRICS
  • hypocrite (28/10/2022, 10:07) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    WE KNOW THATS YOUR MOST CREATIVE SKILL YAPPING , AND ITS NOTHING BUT NOISE BECAUSE YOU AINT REALLY SAYING ANYTHING CONSTRUCTIVE AS USUAL , BUT YOU ARE SO HOOKED ON YOURSELF YOU WON'T EVEN SEE IT EVEN IF YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR ,
  • THIS IS ENOUGH... (28/10/2022, 10:17) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    Hon. Shereen Flax-Charles, I am sick of you now. As a minister/elected official, if you're seeing these things and not doing anything but waiting to air it on a radio station then you're a part of the problem. As an elected official, who too is from a sister island why not make it know to the owners right then and there and if the need arises threaten to take further actions if a stop isn't put to it rather than counting on and calling out Police Officers on the island? If you're aware of it (an from the way you speak, you seem to be) then do something about it.

    I realize as of late, you've been very much vocal on some things but just over the air, are you the Junior Minister of Radio Station? Come on Hon. Flax-Charles, you're more than that. Think and act effectively before it all point back at the inefficiency that you somehow seem to possess. CJAN
  • Funny (28/10/2022, 11:42) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    meanwhile her family is doing far worse on vg...have a sit shereen
  • reality (28/10/2022, 11:54) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    the main breeding season of lobster is march to June so should we close the lobster season then?
    also as the minister lives on VG why is turtle allowed to be served during easter festival when the season has closed? Answer that question or STFU
  • Rant (28/10/2022, 13:12) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    is not crime to serve lobster out off season. It's crime to catch them. Lots of people store lobster for off season
    • Correction (28/10/2022, 16:23) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      it is a crime to serve lobster in a restaurant out of season. sorry..bubble buster I know but there really needs to be more education administered to the public because ignorance is not bliss
  • bad mind (28/10/2022, 15:56) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    When you come to me looking vote, I’ll be sure to correct you this time.Then again all you politicians set for life now.We the people was fooled once again.
  • Election coming ???????????????? (28/10/2022, 22:17) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    I find this one ranting on any and everything suddenly! Btw, did she taste the food to confirm is lobster or she just adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere for no reason?!
    • Rantthis (29/10/2022, 17:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      The fact is plain! If you the people, you the businesses, you the government cannot and WillNot enforce the Goddamn laws for all, then by God, remove them from the books for everyone. Law enforcers are police. If conservation and fisheries officers not on Sister Islands, damn it, ensure that police step in. Ensure they know their role. Y'all on holiday in Anegada?? You tryin to make friends? Send UK police there then. It is only a matter of time before the corruption of the police force and the lawlessness of a few individuals destroys the very fabric of which the small community is comprised


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