TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, CMC – The Virgin Islands has launched a three-day Anti-Crime Summit aimed toward tackling rising crime by bringing collectively authorities officers, legislation enforcement companies, faculties, faith-based teams, and group leaders.
The summit, held underneath the theme “OUR Virgin Islands: Protected Communities, Affluent Territory”, opened on Tuesday with a public info session.
It types a part of the Nationwide Safety Council’s efforts to develop a Nationwide Crime Prevention and Discount Technique.
Governor Daniel Pruce informed contributors the summit should transcend speak. “We now have an excellent alternative over the approaching days to have an intensive dialog about crime, the causes of crime, and the way we are able to reply to crime,” Pruce acknowledged.
He careworn that collaboration was key.
“The responses to crime, coping with this problem that confronts us all, transcend safety. Safety needs to be a part of the reply, nevertheless it’s solely a part of the reply. All these different interventions, which communities can work collectively on, which ministries can have interaction in, which NGOs may also help assist, are additionally a part of the reply,” he defined.
Pruce urged attendees to deal with engagement, listening, and motion as guiding factors over the three days.
“There’s acquired to be motion that comes after that. There’s acquired to be a follow-up. We’d like all of us, myself included, to make substantial, clear, and concrete commitments by way of what we’re going to do,” he mentioned.
Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley informed the gathering that the problem required the involvement of everybody. “This crime summit is a vital second for us. I don’t anticipate that we’ll remedy the crime problem over the following three days. However what I do anticipate is for us as a group to come back collectively and to place our arms as much as say, I’m going to be part of the answer,” Dr Wheatley acknowledged.
He emphasised the necessity to strengthen households, faculties, and communities. “We have to be sure that we strengthen that establishment to make sure that the household and the college work collectively for a stronger younger particular person. And we additionally have to strengthen our group. As a result of regardless of what the household does, regardless of what the college does, if we’ve got these destructive influences in our group, these younger individuals who’re notably weak can fall by the wayside,” he defined.
The programme will function college students from throughout the territory, cultural performances, panel discussions, and a “Youth Voice to Energy” session, the place younger individuals can have the chance to query leaders immediately. Officers mentioned the summit will shut with formal commitments from authorities, legislation enforcement, and companions to hold the work ahead.
