During a statement on JTV Channel 55, on October 22, 2022, Premier Wheatley said it was truly tragic to see two lives lost in such a senseless fashion, as he called on persons who would have witnessed the crime to cooperate with police "so that we can get these killers off the streets.”

The Premier also called on persons to generally stand up against violence and especially appealed to young men to turn their backs on a life of crime and violence.

“There are ways we can resolve our issues peacefully and violence only hurts all of us in the end."

He said following a life of crime and revenge only perpetuates a vicious cycle of violence, where there are really no winners.

“So it’s really not worth it to spend your life in prison or to lose your life, so we really want persons to do something different and turn a new page.”

Kawa Cornwall aka 'Willie', left, and Kadeem E. Frett, right, were shot to death in East End, Tortola on October 21, 2022.

'Tragic'

Premier Wheatley described the shooting as “very tragic”, noting that one of the persons killed recently buried his grandmother and now leaves a number of children fatherless, "and one of the children’s mother had already passed away and now that child is now without a father or a mother, so it is very difficult.”

In sending condolences to the families of both the murdered men, Premier Wheatley said one of the men killed is his cousin and member of his constituency while the other reportedly recently moved into the Seventh District and they would have had interactions on a number of occasions.

Premier Wheatley also wished the two persons injured a speedy recovery.