by Michael Bell
“But the chief problem in any community cursed with crime is not Punishment of the criminals, but the preventing of the young from being trained to crime.”― W E B Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk: By W. E. B. Du Bois
As bloodshed, violence, and unanswered crimes continue to ravage the U.S. Virgin Islands, one is left to wonder when this dark cloud of misfortune will leave our emerald shores. With a brash number of robberies, hijackings, murders, and unsolved crimes, many believe that this is due to the lack of manpower in the Law enforcement department and, as the departments puts it, “a lack of support from the Community.”
During a press conference held on August 24, 2021, V.I.P.D. Criminal Investigation Bureau Commander Naomi Joseph gave a heartfelt plea to the community, an attempt to seek and gain the community’s assistance. As our homicide rate has now gone up to twenty-four, a new development arises within the pandemic, continuing to ravage the territory.
“…nearly 800 cases are pending in the USVI with no set date for resumption of jury trials…four people were murdered while awaiting trials.”
At a recent Senate budget hearing, it came to light that nearly 800 cases are pending in the USVI with no set date for resumption of jury trials. According to this story, four people were murdered while awaiting trials. The court has not heard one single case since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, as reported by the Virgin Islands consortium.
“…[USVI] court has not heard one single case since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020…”
One is left wondering how much more Bloodshed will be enough, when will loved ones stop dying in the streets, as the new year draws closer, one can only wonder if this violence will dissipate.
