Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

We need a sex offender’s registry in the VI’- Hon Stacy R. Mather

First term legislator and Deputy Speaker of the Virgin Islands (VI) House of Assembly (HoA), Hon Stacy R. Mather (AL) aka ‘Buddha’ has called for a sex offender’s registry to be set up in the territory. Photo: VINO/File
While there are no statistics immediately available about the extent of the issue in the VI, Hon Mather noted, “our children need to be protected, there are persons who are coming into our community, who are being repatriated and they have criminal records.” Photo: Internet Source
While there are no statistics immediately available about the extent of the issue in the VI, Hon Mather noted, “our children need to be protected, there are persons who are coming into our community, who are being repatriated and they have criminal records.” Photo: Internet Source
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- First term legislator and Deputy Speaker of the Virgin Islands (VI) House of Assembly (HoA), Hon Stacy R. Mather (AL) aka ‘Buddha’ has called for a sex offender’s registry to be set up in the territory.

Hon Mather was at the time speaking at the continuation of the Ninth Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth HoA on Tuesday April 9, 2024 under other business.

He noted that there are known predators lurking among children in the VI, “We need a sex offender’s registry in the Virgin Islands... Anguilla has one, Turks and Caicos has one, Antigua has one,” the At-Large member opined.

While there are no statistics immediately available about the extent of the issue in the VI, Hon Mather noted, “our children need to be protected, there are persons who are coming into our community, who are being repatriated and they have criminal records.”

We need more details

According to the lawmaker, “only some people in the community are aware of the predators lurking around their children, while others remain clueless.”

Hon Mather did not go into any details on how the sexual offender’s registry is to be used and how will persons accused, arrested, acquitted or charged with rape and other sexual assaults of underage children will be addressed. 

The government of Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) noted that through the Health and Social Development Minister, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9), a Sexual Offenses Bill is to be brought to the HoA, however, suggested the Attorney General's Chambers may be causing the delay.

22 Responses to “We need a sex offender’s registry in the VI’- Hon Stacy R. Mather”

  • jack (13/04/2024, 19:36) Like (46) Dislike (0) Reply
    I agree with him
  • Arrion (13/04/2024, 19:58) Like (31) Dislike (1) Reply
    That's right, so we will know who not allow our children or anyone to be near them alone. We can point them out and shame them so everyone can be weary of them and be safe.
  • justin (13/04/2024, 20:32) Like (37) Dislike (0) Reply
    there is also a number of people residing in the territory unlawfully
    • @justin (14/04/2024, 22:53) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      True. And lots of people know who they are and see them everyday. That is easy to fix in a small community like ours, but first somebody, anybody in Immigration Department has to give a damn. They have computers with names of persons who haven't renewed, and where they worked, but they won't check. They should know where they lived as well in this small territory and pay an early morning visit to their latest address with picture in hand. But the young people who are running things now want the old people to shut up and keep out, but they are not performing at top levels even though we know they can. Work is now a paycheck only. Most people are not thinking consequences for actions. Joky Place. Terrible World.
  • Oh boy. (13/04/2024, 20:37) Like (44) Dislike (0) Reply
    Bro we need so many things, but we not getting anything done, its like having a fruit basket and taking a bite at all the fruits but finishing none, 1/ Admin building..2/ Prospect reef,, 3/ Water & Sewage and treed pulling tourist out of the Safari busses according to queen Don./4/ West End Terminal,.5/ Airport extension, 6/ Minimum wage..7/ Trade commission, .8/ Gaming law, Ganja law. On and on.. Nothing getting done
  • one eye (13/04/2024, 20:41) Like (42) Dislike (0) Reply
    You go boy let’s expose them
  • bvibuzz (13/04/2024, 20:47) Like (38) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thank you for your courage Hon Stacy as Yet too many of our current politicians are ill-prepared to rise to this challenge on these weighty issues
  • hm (13/04/2024, 23:07) Like (27) Dislike (1) Reply
    ¼ related to political figures
    ¼ is best friends with political figures
    ¼ teaching in the education and college
    ¼ on the pulpit
    • Blind (15/04/2024, 20:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      This is the comment!! The hypocrisy of it all is that they turn a blind eye based on their relationship and reliance on the offenders when it comes to sexual predators (they all pass around nudes and porn and have young side pieces), drug dealers, thieves, off-the-book businesses, illegal sex workers, corrupt business owners - “He/She safe man. That’s meh good friend, cousin, aunt, etc, give the a lil break man.”
  • Local youth (14/04/2024, 03:31) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    He has a point . But everyone knows who these guys are . And as hm said. They all got someone high in power protecting them. They are yall friends that yall bring around then snuggle up n get close to yall kids . N so parents so blind to notice the red flags
  • agreed (14/04/2024, 05:20) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Agreed
  • IT MIGHT HELP (14/04/2024, 06:47) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    AM NOT A PRO , OK , ƁUT IF YOU CASTRATE THOSE BASTARDS THAT WOULD NEUTRALIZE THE PERPETRATORS , ,PLUS MY PITBULLS LOVE BALLS , ESPECIALLY WHEN - * BAR B QUED * AM WILLING TO PAY A
    $100.00 EACH , ANYONE COMÌG OVER MY FENCE UNINVITED AND ENCOUNTER THEM ,WOULD BE LEAVING WITHOUT THEIR SEEDS , AND THEY ARE TRAINED TO PERFORM THE PROCEDURE WITH ONE BITE
  • Norris Turnbull (14/04/2024, 09:05) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    You have people who rape / molest their step children did jail time and never deported because they marry someone from here. Bull nonsense.
    • @ Norris Turnbull (14/04/2024, 10:07) Like (22) Dislike (0) Reply
      What about a local teacher who was in court for rape of a student and get off? Should he be on the register?
      • @ The above (14/04/2024, 13:12) Like (23) Dislike (0) Reply
        How about the school bus drivers that went to prison for molesting school girls, came out and are able to continue transporting school children? Make it make sense!!!
      • DEDE (14/04/2024, 13:17) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
        Yes he should be included. No one should be exempt because of family name, political status or position in the country. Once a guilty verdict is issued your name should be automatically register there. To much nonsense going on in the place and it needs to stop. Let us protect all victims especially our children. Don’t forget to include females, some of them just as bad and in some i cases worst than the men.
      • Norris Turnbull (14/04/2024, 18:17) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
        @@Norris Turnbull. No arguement here. All convicted rapist should go on the list when and if it ever becomes law.
  • Don't throw stones (14/04/2024, 14:35) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    If you live in a glass house
  • Outsider (15/04/2024, 09:56) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    Hon Mather, is it open to you to present a private members' bill to the House for its consideration and, if thought fit, approval?

    Act with caution. The sex offenders' register has become a disaster for many in the U.S. where they have been landed on the register for relatively minor offences permanently. It is the cause of a lot of misjustice.
  • Kelfa (15/04/2024, 11:20) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Facts a lot of grown men are picking up these underage girls and sneaking them out of their house at late hours!

    Parents be vigilant!

    Get the list and scorn them!
  • lol (15/04/2024, 17:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    “The Attorney General’s Chambers may be causing a delay”. Why the first thing to do is assume there is a problem and then throw someone under the bus? Could it possibly be that reviewing and drafting a complex piece of legislation takes time and is being worked on would be a better response?
  • non offender (16/04/2024, 16:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    maybe people who have children are the main sex offenders. maybe those who use sex strictly as a pleasure thing are on a much higher level. don't want that to go around....


Create a comment


Submit comment

Create a comment

Submit comment
Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.