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'Send expat looters home' - Hon Skelton

- Hon Christian said looting is 'not who we are as BVI people'
Persons seen looting from a store located next to Peoples Shoe Store in Road Town, Tortola. Photo: VINO
A place of business in Road Town that was allegedly looted following Hurricane Irma. Photo: VINO
A place of business in Road Town that was allegedly looted following Hurricane Irma. Photo: VINO
Police guard Scotiabank in Road Town from looters on September 8, 2017. Photo: VINO
Police guard Scotiabank in Road Town from looters on September 8, 2017. Photo: VINO
Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) has called for expats found to have looted following Hurricane Irma to be sent home. Photo: VINO/File
Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) has called for expats found to have looted following Hurricane Irma to be sent home. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - After category 5 hurricane Irma ravaged the territory on September 6, 2017, expatriates and locals were involved in looting of numerous businesses throughout the Virgin Islands (VI).

Honourable Archibald C. Christian (AL), Junior Minister of Tourism, during the first post-hurricane sitting of the House of Assembly (HoA) expressed disappointment in persons looting at a time like this, adding that it is not in our heritage to rob.

He said, "This part angers us. This is not who we are as a BVI people. The looting is not in our culture. Its not in our heritage."

Hon Christian, along with other government officials, are pleading with residents to submit photos and videos of persons seen looting to the police.

"If you feel you want to provide it in confidence, provide it to your Minister of Gospel, Minister of Religion, member of the House of Assembly or Justice of the Peace; anybody that you have confidence in," Hon Christian explained.

The minister noted that a number of persons have already been prosecuted while some are still at-large.

The Junior Minister for Tourism recalled an incident of a 20-foot container leaving the territory with stolen items.

"A 20-foot container going to a particular destination full of appliances and all sorts of goods and the person could not tell customs how they acquired these items," he lamented.

Hon Christian angrily expressed that the territory has been looking after thousands of persons and they turn around to destroy the Virgin Islands.

Expat looters should leave the country"- Hon Skelton

While sharing the same sentiments as his colleagues, Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton, Minister for Health and Social Development, told the House that he saw persons looting and he confronted them, adding that the expatriates that are among the offenders should leave the country.

"We need to find these people. There are pictures and we need to get them out of our country," noting that if any of these offenders know him personally, they should not seek assistance from him.

29 Responses to “'Send expat looters home' - Hon Skelton”

  • hungry (11/10/2017, 12:03) Like (23) Dislike (21) Reply
    send dem home?? wait... but dem looters are "tolian"
    • tretretrete (11/10/2017, 14:46) Like (18) Dislike (4) Reply
      Alot of Locals Looted too, hope you jail them.
      Spanish account for 80%.
    • tretretrete (12/10/2017, 14:22) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      He right
      A visitor who steals from their host gets booted
      A member of the household who steal gets a cut axx
    • Observer (15/10/2017, 15:46) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply

      I wonder what bundles of plywood labeled "Anguilla" and "St. Marten" are doing in the Skelton whatehouse on the right as you drive in? We holding them for Anguilla etc???

  • Lord o (11/10/2017, 12:11) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    Ronnie U R the real deal. U need to speak more.. Everyone has Sins during this disaster.. The Looters. The Police that watch and did nothing. The Employers who use this disaster as escuse to layoff...The government with the slow response... Enough blame to go around for everyone to get some...Those that broke the Doors and Windows of businesses to get entry. Jail then home..
  • voter (11/10/2017, 12:40) Like (23) Dislike (5) Reply
    Not a word on those who looted the tax payers talk that china minister
  • So? (11/10/2017, 12:44) Like (21) Dislike (3) Reply
    All of them were not from Tola. Send the foreign ones home for looting I agree.
  • wize up (11/10/2017, 13:24) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    what looters; you mean a set of thieves our forefathers rolling over in thier gave at some of the most recent conduct by people who call this territory home: progress is a very high price to pay in this small territory: immigrant reform is needed and who vex vex; most folks have good intentions but my God; we now have a set of thieves and killers living among us
  • Jimmy smith (11/10/2017, 14:00) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply

    Please Honorable Skelton know that his pal Gad........ was looting he was seen when he use a brick to break in to five girl in east end and also at bolo's going with the expensive perfumes. talk that P@ul P......... IS A DAMN THEIF

  • @Trini (11/10/2017, 14:08) Like (24) Dislike (3) Reply
    Lord yal jus HADDDD to find a way to put the "expats" bak in the spot light eh....wat about allll the locals that were looting. We evacuated oh "look how all the expats run leave the BVI", we stay "oh look how these expats goin wan take over the country now", we ask for help "oh assistance should be for the locals, too much expats using up our supplies" ......Clearly WE as a ppl cannot win in this place, and clearly YOU ALL as a ppl don't even kno how to come together for the good of all.....yal sickening with this F&^K now!
    • Earthquake and tsunami next (11/10/2017, 16:01) Like (8) Dislike (7) Reply
      One day they’ll need to come down island and work you just watch I hope they get same treatment ah born here crap no mans land we all born somewhere but this is not ours it’s God’s this is just the smoke fire behind and honestly I don’t think they’ll change there are some locals who loves and appreciates us ... look how d expats country sent help they ain’t wanna be a part of carricom but happy to get things from them ...btw give what u gave us we pay for everything work for everything give big joke of the day
      • GT (11/10/2017, 19:46) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply

        Boy it rough. I hear a plane brought in stuff from South America and that Miss.Piggy N....... was the one taking charge of the supplies that was meant for her fellow county people...GOD don't like ugly,she will get what's coming to her

    • rewrsdffds (13/10/2017, 15:10) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
      The planes that were sent to evacuate left less than half full. The ingratitude lot stayed behind to burden and drain the BVI,
  • Jimmy smith (11/10/2017, 14:14) Like (23) Dislike (1) Reply

    A well know radio personality was seen coming out of five girls in long look with a cart loaded with stolen items, after he was seen breaking the doors with a brick by the land lord. He was also seen helping himself to Bolo expensive perfumes. this ia guy that always has a lot to say. Left the country as quickly ass could.

    • wize up (11/10/2017, 16:04) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply

      arrest them as soon as he shows back up because they will be back: in other places some of them would have shot dead by the business owners its only here this level of outrageous conduct is swept under the rug by the law enforcement officers because most of them from the same country

    • jah (13/10/2017, 06:20) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      This person should be ashame of himself he should be setting an example The minister say send them home not because is you friend you need to send him home . Radio personality!!! Oh plshe suppose to me off air. A thief can't be tamed . Such a disgrace!
  • more (11/10/2017, 14:43) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    and people looted houses that had been destroyed or rendered uninhabitable. even in the most difficult places.
    went up to check my place and someone helped themselves to a propane cylinder for Gods sakes. such
    meaness and in the current situation. and the extreme hostile driving behaviour as if trying to run people down
    and kill them. BVI showing itself now. not all of 'em, but sure a lot of 'em. local or not.
  • Bob (11/10/2017, 15:25) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    This was real bad they put a lot of people out of work
    • Me (11/10/2017, 16:14) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
      Yes, kick their A..es out. I left my house to stay with my elderly parents during the storm. When I went back the only damage to my house was blown out windows and the back door. The thiefs took the fridge, microwave, pots, dishes, all the linens out the linen closets, Tv. they even took the comforter off my bed.
  • stonecold (11/10/2017, 17:11) Like (9) Dislike (5) Reply
    I have some video most of those ppl are locals....
    • wize up (12/10/2017, 10:42) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ stone cold: what is your point simply turn over the picture to say to have over to the police unless you are apprearing in some of thOse same pictures.....we have to try to indentify such persons(set of thrives)
    • rock (13/10/2017, 06:11) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Please share it with the commissioner quickly
  • Get Real (12/10/2017, 10:07) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    Incredible! Are you seriously hangin the blame for the looting on the expats - who are only given entry to the BVI by immigration authorities because they have proven their ability to support themselves financially and have been subjected to police background checks to ensure that they are of lawful character.

    It's time to apply the same rules to ALL people in the BVI (regardless of skin color, nationality, beliefs, or 'who your family are') and get rid of the idiots ('entitled' or not) who are destroying this beautiful country with their greed, ignorance and bigotry.

  • Stella (12/10/2017, 11:16) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    Blame Mark and Myron for the influx of the amount of foreigners in the BVI. They would NOT let TT he immigration dept do their job and put the RIGHT chief of immigration to carry out the mandate. We have yet worse to see. We need a Donald Trump "ICE" now.
  • *** (12/10/2017, 13:56) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Both locals and expats looted which is shameful. I totally agree with Ronnie. We have enough trouble on our hands to have to deal with expat looters. I have no problem with expats living and working in this country but going out of the way to break into business places and steal and set everybody backwards is a definite NO. We will have to deal with the locals on our own because they belong to us.

    Other Caribbean islands have received assistance from the BVI before. Now that we are in need you all want to big up yourselves about what you all have done for the BVI. We have assisted many times over. One hand don't clap my friends. We should be each other's keepers but if you live in a man's country and doing wrong then I feel you need to suffer the consequences.
  • Airlifted (12/10/2017, 17:34) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    But the looters done gone home
  • Vamos (13/10/2017, 15:18) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well Blane yourselves BVI. You field up the place with murderers thieves prostitutes, The proceeded and now they and their picjanninies outnumber the locals, You made BVI a septic tank of the Caribbean. Hopefully the BVI will be rebuilt with stronger buildings and people with less propensity for every bad behaviour imaginable.











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