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Sex offender’s registry coming ‘as soon as practical’- Hon Vincent O. Wheatley

- said a draft bill has already been received; however, amendments to various legislation & a consultation process are to be done
Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) has assured the House of Assembly (HoA) that progress is being made for the establishment of a sex offender’s registry. Photo: YouTube
Deputy Speaker Hon Stacy M. Mather, MBE (AL) has been advocating for a sex offender's registry in the Virgin Islands. Photo: YouTube
Deputy Speaker Hon Stacy M. Mather, MBE (AL) has been advocating for a sex offender's registry in the Virgin Islands. Photo: YouTube
The Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) has said his ministry has already received a draft of the sexual offences register bill. Photo: Internet Source
The Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) has said his ministry has already received a draft of the sexual offences register bill. Photo: Internet Source
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- “Any alleged incident of sexual impropriety made against any child in this territory should be a cause of concern for all of us,” Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) stated has he assured the House of Assembly (HoA) on October 18, 2024, that the establishment of a sex offender’s registry is in the works.

In response to Deputy Speaker and Opposition Member Hon Stacy R. Mather, MBE (AL) asking the Minister for an update on his (Mather’s) call for a sex offender’s registry, the Minister for Health and Social Development said he wanted to affirm the member his unwavering commitment to safeguarding the territory’s children and young persons.

“And by extension, Madam Speaker, this government through my ministry is committed to ensuring that legislation is enacted to protect our children from the dangers posed by sex offenders.”

Draft bill already received- Hon Wheatley

Hon Wheatley said he was pleased to update the House on the progress of the sexual offences bill and that “The Attorney General’s Chambers has been diligently working on supplying the necessary draft legislation for the establishment of a sex offenders registry.”

The Minister said his ministry has, in fact, already received a draft of the sexual offences register bill.

“The draft is a critical step towards establishing a comprehensive legal framework to monitor and track sex offenders, thereby enhancing public safety and reducing the opportunity for sexual re-offending.”

More legislation & amendments necessary

Hon Wheatley said he had to emphasise; however, that a sex offender registry bill cannot stand alone. “The bill’s provision has a significant implication for other existing laws and, as such, the Attorney General’s Chambers has advised that a series of legislative amendments must be made to ensure a cohesive and effective legal framework.”

Giving examples, Hon Wheatley said the Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill will ensure appropriate penalties for those who fail to comply with the register’s registration and reporting requirements while the Sexual Offenders Bill will finalise the list of registrable offences, which are still being refined.

“I am confident in the progress thus far. While we have received drafts and some of the necessary amendments, we are still awaiting others.

“In the interim, we have been conducting our own internal reviews of these submissions. Once all the drafts are received, a comprehensive review with the relevant stakeholders will be conducted to ensure that all aspects of the legislation have been fully vetted and fit for purpose.”

Hon Wheatley said he remains committed to bringing this crucial legislation before the House of Assembly “as soon as this is practical, with the working support of the Honourable Attorney General’s Chambers and her team.”

Would registry be retroactive?

Meanwhile, Hon Mather wanted to know if the registry would be retroactive for “those who have already committed these offences in our society.”

Hon Wheatley said it was an excellent suggestion and one which he could take up with the Attorney General; however, “Generally laws are not retroactive.”

21 Responses to “Sex offender’s registry coming ‘as soon as practical’- Hon Vincent O. Wheatley”

  • Ning (07/11/2024, 13:05) Like (26) Dislike (0) Reply
    Slow cooker motion on Bills that grossly affect the welfare of the citizens of this country! Boss speed that up!! This is a ticking time bomb and some of ayo family/friends that have these tendencies and propensities, you all will start to find them missing and in pieces….keep playing with the people of this country and find out!
  • TruDat! (07/11/2024, 13:08) Like (27) Dislike (0) Reply
    Will the offender have to have been convicted of the crime? If so, this will be a blank book, given the deplorably low conviction rate that the RVIPF and DPP seem to be able to achieve.
    Conversely, adding people to a list just because someone "said" they did something is not right either. I see us stuck between a rock and a hard place here and in the meantime people, especially young people, will continue to suffer at the hands of perverts.
  • WOW (07/11/2024, 13:19) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Supercop dreadddddd
  • WEW (07/11/2024, 13:29) Like (9) Dislike (14) Reply
    HOA members are exempt
  • Accused (07/11/2024, 14:11) Like (13) Dislike (2) Reply
    hope any one who was accused of rape even if he is set free gets on this list and cannot run for office
  • WTF (07/11/2024, 14:56) Like (27) Dislike (0) Reply
    What kind of language is that? As soon as practical. So Vincent, when is it going to be practical?
  • Moved away (07/11/2024, 16:28) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hope this comes to fruition. Sea Cows bay HAD a lot of pedophiles, some are dead and/older men from the village. I know and experience it. The men in the village use to love to take advantage of the young girls. No use in feeling shame or trying to deny, I can name every last one of them that hurt me. That is the reason I moved away and have no intention of moving back to Tortola. To many bad memories.
  • resident (07/11/2024, 16:29) Like (22) Dislike (0) Reply
    government aint serious, after what is rumored to be going on in the highschool, why isn't this being given priority
  • @wtf (07/11/2024, 16:46) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
    It's going to be "practical" as soon as they figure out how many of their friends and supporters are on it and what the plan is to bury that infomation.
  • CASTRATE THEM (07/11/2024, 16:54) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    STOP PLAYING GAMES WITH THESE BASTARDS , WD GIR A REQUEST FOR THEIR SEEDZ , WE AIN'T SAVING ANY , LET THOSE WITH PITBULLS ENJOY THEMSELVES WATCHING THEIR DOGS FEAST ON SOME - BARBECUE BALLZ FROM THESE SETS OF PERVERTS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE
    LOOSE
  • J (07/11/2024, 16:55) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    They need to include persons who were convicted within the past 15 years.
  • Arena (07/11/2024, 17:41) Like (0) Dislike (6) Reply
    Yes yes sex offender should wear an intercom
    After release.
    Sentence should be 10yrs or more .
    Sex offender sex offender.
    Please please put them in the correct shoes.

  • Roger Burnett (07/11/2024, 18:14) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    The most obnoxious peadophile in the territory had, before his conviction for acts against another person's child, free access to the three young children of my marriage when I, as their father, was forbidden.

    My book "For the Sake of the Children" recounts the circumstances.
  • A Penn (08/11/2024, 00:38) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Put me down first .
  • Tommy J (08/11/2024, 06:00) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    There are more pressing issues affecting people lives going on in the virgin islands. He should be firetbon the list
  • Definitely (08/11/2024, 10:25) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    It makes no sense for it not to be retroactive, especially for repeated offenders in the past. It should be retroactive.
  • ausar (08/11/2024, 11:57) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    And, don't you dare forget, dear representative, of the innumerable cases of those, involving incestual acts- regardless, of their age, status, famiial last names, bank account balances, and titles of positions, held, in this country!!

    Like, ALREADY!!


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