TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, CMC – The Virgin Islands has launched a three-day Anti-Crime Summit aimed at tackling rising crime by bringing together government officials, law enforcement agencies, schools, faith-based groups, and community leaders.
The summit, held under the theme “OUR Virgin Islands: Safe Communities, Prosperous Territory”, opened on Tuesday with a public information session.
It forms part of the National Security Council’s efforts to develop a National Crime Prevention and Reduction Strategy.
Governor Daniel Pruce told participants the summit must go beyond talk. “We have a great opportunity over the coming days to have an extensive conversation about crime, the causes of crime, and how we can respond to crime,” Pruce stated.
He stressed that collaboration was key.
“The responses to crime, dealing with this challenge that confronts us all, go beyond security. Security has to be part of the answer, but it’s only part of the answer. All these other interventions, which communities can work together on, which ministries can engage in, which NGOs can help support, are also part of the answer,” he explained.
Pruce urged attendees to treat engagement, listening, and action as guiding points over the three days.
“There’s got to be action that comes after that. There’s got to be a follow-up. We need all of us, myself included, to make substantial, clear, and concrete commitments in terms of what we are going to do,” he said.
Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley told the gathering that the issue required the involvement of everyone. “This crime summit is an important moment for us. I don’t expect that we will solve the crime challenge over the next three days. But what I do expect is for us as a community to come together and to put our hands up to say, I’m going to be a part of the solution,” Dr Wheatley stated.
He emphasized the need to strengthen families, schools, and communities. “We need to ensure that we strengthen that institution to ensure that the family and the school work together for a stronger young person. And we also need to strengthen our community. Because despite what the family does, despite what the school does, if we have those negative influences in our community, those young persons who are particularly vulnerable can fall by the wayside,” he explained.
The programme will feature students from across the territory, cultural performances, panel discussions, and a “Youth Voice to Power” session, where young people will have the opportunity to question leaders directly. Officials said the summit will close with formal commitments from government, law enforcement, and partners to carry the work forward.
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