Its commitment to the safety and security of the people of the USVI was seen and felt during the 70th Crucian Christmas Festival celebrations that wrapped up over the weekend, the V.I. Police Department said Monday.
There were extra security measures in place for locals and visitors to safely celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Crucian Christmas Festival Season on St. Croix, the VIPD said in a news release following the mostly peaceful celebrations.
Law enforcement and support personnel were highly visible along the parade and Jouvert routes. There were emergency flashing lights at every turn during the Crucian Rican Tramp, officers directing motorists and Virgin Islands National Guardsmen in camouflage, saturating almost every event to make sure the public was safe.
Commissioner Ray Martinez thanked the community for a safe festival season and the VIPD officers, as well as the Virgin Islands National Guard.
“The presence of both the Virgin Islands National Guard and the other law enforcement agencies to include DLCA, DPNR, Department of Health and the Superior Court Marshals, curtailed a couple of squabbles during the J’ouvert route and any violence that otherwise could have taken place,” Martinez said.
VIPD drones could be seen hovering overhead and the Mobile Command unit was highly
visible, assisting the officers to effectively perform their duties in recovering two firearms
from inside the Festival Village, the release stated. Joint operations were instrumental in achieving a successful and safe 70th Crucian Christmas Festival Season for all, it said.
Tourism Commissioner Joe Boschulte thanked the VIPD “for their outstanding job throughout the 2022-2023 Crucian Festival. Your efforts combined with our citizens’ and visitors’ respect for our laws, has been a true win for our VI culture,” he said.
The VIPD said it is now making preparations for the 51st annual Agriculture and Food Fair,
Agrifest 2023, “Growing Today for Tomorrow… You, me, all ah we.”
