‘Silence only favours those who seek to harm our community’- Premier
This is according to Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), who has said every law-abiding person in the Virgin Islands must be willing to speak up in defence of the territory that “we so love”.
Dr Wheatley was speaking at a Press Conference called by the National Security Council (NSC) on October 12, 2023, to update the community on recent events that have raised concerns in the territory.
The issues included the shooting of a prison guard who was transporting an inmate to court, a disturbance at Elmore Stoutt High School and a spike in burglaries.
Premier Wheatley thanked the Governor, John J. Rankin, CMG and Police Commissioner Mark Collins for responding positively to his request to have the press conference in response to the concerns of the public “who want to hear from their leaders as it pertains to crime.”
He said as Minister of Finance he has been supportive in providing the resources necessary for the police to be able to do their work; however, other entities have a responsibility to ensure the VI remains a safe place to live, to work, and to visit.
Teach children ‘right from wrong’
The Premier then made a direct appeal to families.
“Families have to ensure that we do our part to raise persons who are positive, constructive members of society.
“And when we see our children engaged in activities that we know are wrong we have to step up to the plate and we have to ensure that those activities do not take place. And we have to raise our children in such a way where they know right from wrong and they do what is right.”
‘It takes a village to raise a child’
Premier Wheatley added that we also have responsibilities as members of a community, and be able to respond, “When we see families that are clearly struggling, whether single-parent homes, whether persons are having difficulty making ends meet, they have to work more than one job.”
He said the Virgin Islands must abide by the principle that it takes a village to raise a child.
The Premier also acknowledged the churches in the community who he said have recognised their responsibility to help strengthen the social fabric of the community.
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Before the village comes the parent, and preferably in the plural: mother and father. The Caribbean concept of the extended family can lead to parents neglecting their responsibilities.