Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Aug 27, 2025

Concerns Raised Over 'Needy' Persons Walking The Streets

Concerns Raised Over 'Needy' Persons Walking The Streets

Government has assured residents that it is doing everything possible to address the apparent increased in the number of less fortunate persons including mentally challenged in the Territory.
The issue was raised recently by a resident to ministers of the government, who said there is an increased in the number of indigents walking the streets in the Territory.

“People are losing hope, throughout the world this is happening. We have a commitment here in the Virgin Islands to make sure that we take care of our less fortunate,” Health and Social Development Minister Hon. Carvin Malone said.

He added, “whether or not a good enough job is being done, that will always be debated but the fact is that we have a commitment for it and a responsibility to do this. We have been discussing this in the ministry lately, it must be brought to the forefront.”

Education Minister Hon. Natalio ‘Sowande’ Wheatley said it takes a village to help with addressing the issue of less fortunate persons.

Wheatley, who is also the Representative for the Seventh District said that residents in his district are doing their part.

“Just this weekend the seventh district raised some food donations from the supermarkets for the less fortunate in the seventh district community…a lot of things we do in our communities to assist,” he said.

The Minister said these are difficult times and the residents must come together.

“We have Rotary Clubs, Lions Club. I want to encourage as many persons as possible out there to get in involved in community efforts to be able to support those who are less fortunate.”

He said: “We know it is very difficult times, we know persons are unemployed, some persons going through very difficult time, we will only get through this together.”

Recently police disclosed that they are seeing a spike in bizarre incidences involving persons who are mentally unsound.

Police stated that officers reported six incidents in one week with persons with apparent mental illnesses. Of those six, one mother in Virgin Gorda asked for police assistance in calming her mentally ill adult son after making threats of violence.

Further, a woman was taken to the Behavioural Ward after she was reported missing and then found outside her residence naked in Purcell Estate. Officers were also summoned after a 13-year-old, who had been previously assessed, threatened to commit suicide and kill members of his household.

Also on September 19, there was an alleged suicide attempt of a 20-year-old man at the Road Town Ferry Dock who was a patient at the Behavioral Ward of the Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital. He was swiftly rescued by members of the Marine and Beat and Patrol Unit.

Persons requiring assistance for mentally ill individuals can contact the Mental Health Unit at 852-7675 or the Psychosocial Hotline 541-2383.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Spotify’s Strange Move: The Feature Nobody Asked For – Returns
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
×