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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesV.I. Gang Experts Sound Warning Bell to BVI Officials

V.I. Gang Experts Sound Warning Bell to BVI Officials

Experts on V.I. gangs recently visited the island of Tortola to exchange knowledge and conduct seminars on the emergence of gangs in the British Virgin Islands.

More than 400 Tortola residents—including members of the Royal V.I. Police Force, as well as teachers, counselors and other education professionals—attended a series of six seminars intended to educate the public about gangs, their signs, symbols and mentality.

“Tortola is right across the water from us,” said Asst. Police Commissioner Raymond Hyndman, who organized the seminars after talks with BVI Police Commissioner Reynell Fraser. “Their problems are our problems. The gang behavior we see in the V.I. is beginning to emerge in the BVI. It is to our advantage to stop this in its tracks.”

BVI Police Force Sgt. Ivor Fraser said people intending to commit crimes persons with criminal intent regularly cross the water between the neighboring territories.

“When you factor in gang affiliations, there is an instant connection similar to a family structure, which ties members in Tortola to members in the V.I. This is likely to cause an increase in criminality in the region,” he said.

The V.I. team included VIPD School Security Officer Roy Chesterfield, St. Thomas Weed and Seed Director Jacqueline Freeman, Criminal Intelligence Unit Director Ray Martinez, and Project Safe Neighborhood and Anti-Gang Committee trainer Lavelle Campbell.

Before addressing the groups, Campbell scoured the island armed with a camera capturing graffiti and gangs signs displayed in public places. During his presentation, he showed slides of gang-inspired graffiti found on St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John. After explaining the meaning and significance of the signs and graffiti, he launched another set of slides.

“These are the photos I took while on Tortola,” he said, demonstrating that the graffiti is identical to the ones taken in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“This is real. The gangs are marking their territories. It’s only a matter of time. If you don’t deal with it now it will get worse,” he warned.

Fraser has seen the gang-inspired graffiti scattered through Tortola, especially near schools and playgrounds. “This is a problem for everyone—the police, parents and teachers. We have to get our heads out of the sand and recognize what is going on.”

Frazer said there has been an increase in robberies and burglaries by “young fellas,” which has been taken for granted. “Now we are going to be part of the team. We know what the signs mean and what the graffiti means. It’s time to take action.”

“Each of you can change this trend,” Officer Chesterfield told the newly enlightened audience. He urged the school to begin random searches, to be aware of changes in students’ appearance that may signal gang affiliation, and told parents not to “give up” their parenting rights and responsibilities.

“The signs of gangs are here; we can deny it no longer," Fraser said, thanking the V.I. officials. "The police and public have learned a lot, and we look forward to similar interactions between our police forces and our communities,” he said.

Police Commissioner Novelle Francis Jr. said the collaboration between the VIPD and its BVI counterpart is vital.

“It is important that we adapt a regional approach to fighting crime in the Caribbean," Francis said. "To be successful we must collaborate and share best practices. Our research shows that persons with criminal histories regularly travel from one island to the next, making connections and committing crimes.”

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