Upsurge of violent crime in the BVI shocks community

 COMMENTARY by Oscar Ramjeet

 As indicated by Chief Minister, Dr. Orlando Smith, violence is unusual in the British Virgin Islands, but last week the territory has seen a double murder, the shooting of one of the brightest young lawyers and two days earlier the shooting of Rolland Serrano at Sea Cow's Bay during a robbery.

These violent crimes in matter of days forced the Chief Minister not only to issue a public statement, but to request the Governor to convene an emergency meeting of the Executive Council, and the Acting Police Commissioner, Reynell Frazer, to summon a press conference in which he assured the public that the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force " is working tirelessly to resolve the recent crimes" and has requested co-operation from members of the public.

It was only two weeks before these violent murders  and shootings that Mr. Frazer, announced that he had launched tougher crime-fighting measures after two robberies at a gas station and a bakery on August 26, by masked bandits.

“...they should seek the assistance of Scotland Yard.

The RVI Police Force does not have an excellent track record in solving murders and other gruesome crimes as well as daring robberies...”

Now it is not only robberies, but gruesome murders, one in which a born Nevisian, 43 year old James Bolan, a long time resident of the BVI, whose body was fished out near the Village Cay Marina with a cord tied around his right ankle and right wrist, with a six inch concrete block attached to the cord closer to the wrist; the other in which Bolan's girl friend, 41 year old Toolsiedea Tittle, a Guyanese born Antiguan citizen was found dead in her home.

The Police suspect that the deaths of Bolan and Tittle are related, but did not indicate the motive for the gruesome murders.

The shooting of Crown Counsel, Kendoy Penn, a young and valiant man is very unfortunate and the police need to get to the bottom of this callous act as soon as possible. If they are unable to cope with these investigations they should seek the assistance of Scotland Yard.

The RVIPF does not have an excellent track record in solving murders and other gruesome crimes as well as daring robberies. There are a few unsolved murders including the shooting death of Eoan Watkins on April 21, 2000 at the One Stop Bar in Sea Cow's Bay. Two detectives from Greater Manchester Police and Kent Constabulary were deployed to assist, but without success.

Scotland Yard officers Det. Sgt Michel Murfin and Det. Kenny Allen were also brought in to assist in solving the murder of well known Trinidadian cyclist Jason Bally who was gunned down on the night of October 15, 1999, and after nearly three years one Darren Hodge who was serving a prison term was charged with Bally's murder, but was released by the Magistrate after the star witness did not testify.

FOUR MYSTERIOUS DEATHS OF THE EARLY 1990s STILL UNEXPLAINED

Journalists have written or said that this is the first time so many murders have occurred in the BVI. This is not accurate and I am reminded that well over ten years ago three young men were found “mysteriously” murdered on Joe’s Hill Road. At about the same time a fourth “mysterious” death took place at the dwelling of a  Baughers Bay resident. These four “mysterious” deaths were investigated but no one was arrested and charged.

Police alone cannot solve murders and other violent crimes. They would need the co-operation of members of the public, and therefore the community should heed the appeal of the Chief Minister and the Acting Police Commissioner to contact him or any police officer with any information that can assist in solving these crimes.

We should not allow crime to escalate in this territory as it is in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana. In fact I should mention that 260 murders were committed in Trinidad for the year so far, surpassing the total number for the entire 2004. Kidnapping is also prevalent in the twin island republic since 125 involving wealthy nationals have been reported for the year so far. In the Co-operative Republic crime is rampant, so much so that Guyanese who live abroad are reluctant even to go to their homeland on vacation because they are fearful that they would be targetted.

It is coincidental that at the time when Tittle's body was discovered in Tortola, a Guyanese-born Antiguan, Leyland Roger was shot and robbed in Cassandra Gardens, just outside St. Johns, the island's capital, and around the same time another Guyanese woman residing in Antigua was attacked and raped by three masked men.

Everything possible should be done by the authorities to stop the upsurge of crime, and this can only be done with the full co-operation of the populace. Lets work in harmony and as the Chief Minister said "united we are stronger than the criminals. United we are stronger than the hooligans. United we are capable of restoring our society to what we know it to be: a place of peace, a place of security, a place of decency."