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'Worrying trend' of men grabbing women’s backsides in public- Premier

There is a worrying trend of men grabbing women’s backsides in public, according to panelists on Let's Chew on the Issues livestreamed on Facebook on April 6, 2023. Photo: hubpages.com
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has spoken out against what he described as a heightened worrying trend as it relates to aggressive forms of abuse perpetrated against women. Photo: Facebook
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has spoken out against what he described as a heightened worrying trend as it relates to aggressive forms of abuse perpetrated against women. Photo: Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has spoken out against what he described as a heightened worrying trend as it relates to aggressive forms of abuse perpetrated against women.

Dr Wheatley was at the time responding to the question of whether or not the [British] Virgin Islands (VI) is prepared to touch on sexual assault within the territory and the possibility of establishing a Sexual Offender Registry.

The Premier was part of a panel discussion titled 'Let's Chew on the Issue' and live-streamed on the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Facebook page on April 6, 2023.

'Worrying trend'

“I’m noticing a worrying trend where there is like a lot of disrespect to women, like a woman’s walking by, you grab the woman on her behind and all of these type of things that I’m seeing become a bigger trend. People are becoming more aggressive, even in a public setting with women and I think that we have to come together as a society and say ‘no tolerance’ for that,” Dr Wheatley noted.

He also turned his attention to various other forms of abuse against women, which he noted seem to have been “normalised” by members of society and which are becoming worrying issues that need to be addressed.

“We’ve seen a very worrying trend in things like sexual assault, not just sexual assault but domestic violence. The Deputy Premier and I, we sit in the National Security Council and we get regular reports from the Police Commissioner- crime reports, and that is something that we both raised concern on in National Security Council and we’ve asked for strategy. We’ve demanded that the Police Commissioner put a strategy in place to deal with issues of domestic violence, sexual assault, etcetera, and of course to work collaboratively with ourselves and the elected government to address that worrying trend,” Dr Wheatley added.

Society-wide effort needed

He further stated that they are fully committed to addressing the challenges and have even brought in the Ministry of Health and Social Development to give a particular presentation.

Dr Wheatley stressed; however, that it has to be a society-wide effort.

“It has to have our churches, it has to have our schools. A lot of the young people who are being abused, they come to school and so it takes like a teacher to recognise the signs, to see that something is wrong. And then that teacher is obligated to report to Social Development, Social Development is obligated to report to the Police,” he continued.

According to the Premier, a very broad conversation also needs to be had about individual values, since he noted in some cases a blind eye is turned on men with underage females and this is something that has become normalised and needs to be called out.

“It’s something that we need to educate, in particular, our young men but also our young women about,” Dr Wheatley said.

28 Responses to “'Worrying trend' of men grabbing women’s backsides in public- Premier”

  • Nature Little Secret (07/04/2023, 11:15) Like (25) Dislike (7) Reply
    Women are treated like dirt in the BVI and when women stand up against it …, Then women criticize them for taking action . We are our worst enemies.
    It stems from JEALOUSY.
    Families , relatives feel you must shut your mouth if their relatives abiuse you . This needs to stop
  • pat (07/04/2023, 11:23) Like (11) Dislike (4) Reply
    He is right
    • @pat (07/04/2023, 15:35) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
      AGREED! They need to check the last Governor and what all happened and was covered up down in his office. Any way Pat...shhhhh........that is between you and I.
  • cap (07/04/2023, 11:48) Like (23) Dislike (9) Reply
    Trying to win the female vote?
  • Xxx (07/04/2023, 11:55) Like (12) Dislike (3) Reply
    Well sah this happens all the time even in the work places
    • @xxx (07/04/2023, 18:55) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
      Report it. If it's your boss doing it, find his boss. We need to beaware of the scumbags our there. No action done, you taje action.
      • Break it off (09/04/2023, 18:38) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply

        If someone puts their hands on you, BREAK IT OFF! Grab them while they are grabbing you and yell as loud as you can to bring attention to them. Don't be afraid of these cowards at all. Let everyone know what they just did! If it's your boss, so what, sue their @£$ and make it public. You'll get another job, freak that SH**E!

  • c (07/04/2023, 12:11) Like (13) Dislike (9) Reply
    Hmm? Lots of young pregnant women out of wedlock also.
  • THAT AIN'T NEW (07/04/2023, 12:21) Like (10) Dislike (7) Reply
    AND AS BAD AD IT IS , ITS JUST LIKE WEARING YOUR PANTS ON THE TIP OF YOUR REAR END , JUST LIKE A WHOLE SET OF CRACKHEADS / GUNS / VARIOUS TYPES OF DRUGS AVAILABLE HERE / COLD BLOODED MURDERS ETC , SO IT AIN'T NO SECRET , THE PERPETRATORS ARE
    WELL KNOWN , BUT PROTECTED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS . BUT ALL YOU CAN READ IS ABOUT , IS THE GOVERNOR / RACISM ,
    AND COLONIALISM BY WIGO THE WACO , AND HERE YOUR
  • Unvaxx 4eva (07/04/2023, 12:27) Like (10) Dislike (53) Reply
    After y'all done take those poisonous vaccines without thinking, don't be surprised about y'all behavior now.
  • ?? (07/04/2023, 12:35) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    Were these reports being made when Andrew Fahie, was the Premier,knowing that it's only 10 months since He's now the Premier?
  • truthfully (07/04/2023, 13:37) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
    I with Showda on this one
  • BLAME THE UK (07/04/2023, 14:16) Like (9) Dislike (4) Reply
    AS USUAL WHEN THEY GOT WITH THEIR PANTS DOWN / OR THEIR HANDS IN THE COOKIE JAR , THE CANARIES START HOLLERING OUT RACISM OR COLONIALISM RETHORIC AS A DISTRACTION , SO ITS THE NORM WITH THE SET OF HYPOCRITES WE GOT LOOSE HERE
  • slow (07/04/2023, 14:25) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    You don't respect Women too.....Remember there's all type of abuse.
  • honest (07/04/2023, 15:43) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    I'm surprised he's commenting, saying all he wanted was a Brugal and a wukup. We are now talking about the treatment of women in a culture where vulgar behavior such as going jam is the norm. If you don't value yourself why would you expect others to value you?
  • big girl (07/04/2023, 16:21) Like (6) Dislike (9) Reply
    the premier is correct he is a fighter for all our people we are marching with Nat
  • Gym teacher (07/04/2023, 18:35) Like (12) Dislike (9) Reply
    Seriously? Have you seen the size of some of these a$$e$ at the grocery store? I can’t pass the isle without a skim! Need more gyms in the BVI!
  • Josiahsbay (07/04/2023, 18:36) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    If there are laws against that type of behavior enforce them and make examples out of the offenders.
  • CANT EXPECT ANY BETTER (07/04/2023, 18:42) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT FALLS UNDER THE PREMIER
    • Nasty Flem.... (07/04/2023, 20:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Someone need to do something about the ones in customs.
    • BLUE IVORY (08/04/2023, 04:40) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      NOT ONLY MEN TOUCHING, WOMEN TOUCHING TOO, SO STOP STEROTYPING, BLAME BOTH SEXES
      LISTEN PEOPLE THERE'S A CERTAIN WOMAN WHO JUST COMPLAINED TO ME HOW MY HUSBAND TOUCH HER BOTTOM IN THE WORK PLACE AND SHE NOT LIKE IT. YET THE HUSBAND IS SAYING SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO ME, THAT IS SHE STARTED GRABBING AT HIS BOTTOM THEN CROUTCH. SO WHICH ONE IS LYING??
      HE SAID SHE CONTINUE DOING IT ON A DAILY BASIS AND HE HAD TO PUT THE CANDY ON HER SLACK SELF. THE WOMAN WENT FURTHER AND SENT MY HUSBAND A NASTY PIC OF HER BODY PARTS AFTER SHE COMPLAINED TO ME.
      • @ Blue Ivory (09/04/2023, 18:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        So your husband from day one didn't use his phone recorder to catch her? The picture of her body parts cannot be proven without a head attached or showing that it came from her phone. He can get so much evidence if he wanted to. I know men are victims too but are too ashamed to report it. Tell him to walk with his recorder on without her knowing, she will be fired and can be sued.
  • ? (07/04/2023, 18:57) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
    Don't bump into me and say sorry because that bump will turn into a thump, then a slap.
  • Myron walwyn (07/04/2023, 23:03) Like (0) Dislike (5) Reply
    Mehson if the woman them like it …why fight it ?
  • Teach your young (08/04/2023, 07:17) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is not a new trend. This has been going on for years. Cat-calling, inappropriate touching, it’s been going on for as long as I can remember. The only difference is that women now feel empowered to speak out. But when they speak out they are told that it’s a compliment and they shouldn’t complain. This is not just a BVI thing. Women across the world deal with this every day. It needs to be dealt with and men need to be under no illusions that this behavior will be tolerated.
  • Culture (08/04/2023, 12:08) Like (0) Dislike (4) Reply
    This behavior is simply culture. Here and throughout the Caribbean. The behavior is tolerated and accepted as part of culture. Try pulling that shit in the us or Europe and see what happens? Premier can talk all he wants but nobody here is really interested change.
  • Same sams (09/04/2023, 01:35) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Dont anyone dare touch my sweetthing backside. No acceptance to all your SORRY,or sorrowful excuses.
    I still understand what the premier is saying. But on the other hand , this premier was in support of the other wheatley giving Stature /Status to a Rapist.. can you feel the linkage.?.
  • Secret Ways (11/04/2023, 11:55) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

    A Concern

    While it is a concern and a social issue of men sexually harassing women - some women are at fault. Some Women are dressing half naked and exposing themselves to the men. Look at how half naked them dressing - them breast out, them bottom out, them back out, them side out, them leg and p*$$ out - What do you expect.?

    Some of them have on these short tight pants and dresses exposing themselves - What do you expect? Some of them come in the Churches dress the same way like they going to a disco. Look at how they dress in these costumes for Festival. What do you expect? This statement was written by a woman.



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