Smith charges Commissioner to present crime plan in 2 weeks
Territorial At-Large Representative Neville Smith has publicly charged the Commissioner of Police to urgently declare his plan to curb crime in the territory.
The government legislator instructed that Commissioner Michael Matthews provide this plan within the next 14 days.
Smith “called out” the Commissioner in the House of Assembly on Wednesday amid what appears to be an increase in serious crime in the territory.
Since the start of the year, the territory has recorded two confirmed murders, another two of what the police describe as “unexplained deaths”, as well as multiple high-profile drug incidents, robberies, and firearm-related offences.
Responding to this hive of criminal activity, Smith said: “I am going to call out the Commissioner of Police today. I’m going to call him out and I’m going to tell him he needs to come to the public … and give us a plan on what he has to fight crime right now, and what’s going on it the BVI. I’ll give him two weeks. But he needs to come with a plan to the people to say how he’s going to fight this crime.”
In the meantime, the legislator who is part of the governing Virgin Islands Party said persons should stop blaming the government for the territory’s current crime problems.
“You’re calling down the government about stuff we are not responsible for. Yes, we’re responsible because we’re government. But we are not the ones who are responsible to turn around and enforce the law,” Smith argued.
The territory’s governor has portfolio responsibility for national security.
Smith “called out” the Commissioner in the House of Assembly on Wednesday amid what appears to be an increase in serious crime in the territory.
Since the start of the year, the territory has recorded two confirmed murders, another two of what the police describe as “unexplained deaths”, as well as multiple high-profile drug incidents, robberies, and firearm-related offences.
Responding to this hive of criminal activity, Smith said: “I am going to call out the Commissioner of Police today. I’m going to call him out and I’m going to tell him he needs to come to the public … and give us a plan on what he has to fight crime right now, and what’s going on it the BVI. I’ll give him two weeks. But he needs to come with a plan to the people to say how he’s going to fight this crime.”
In the meantime, the legislator who is part of the governing Virgin Islands Party said persons should stop blaming the government for the territory’s current crime problems.
“You’re calling down the government about stuff we are not responsible for. Yes, we’re responsible because we’re government. But we are not the ones who are responsible to turn around and enforce the law,” Smith argued.
The territory’s governor has portfolio responsibility for national security.
