Roadtown, Tortola - The 2009 Criminal Justice Conference is now underway at the Long Bay Beach Resort under the theme “Identifying our Organisational Strengths and Weaknesses–What needs to be achieved to sustain and improve”.
The Conference, which brought together commissioners of police, comptrollers of customs, chief immigration officers from the United Kingdom Caribbean Overseas Territories (UKCOTs) and Bermuda as well as officials from the British High Commission, is being hosted by the Virgin Islands (UK) from April 21-23.
His Excellency the Governor Pearey in his remarks welcomed the delegates to the Territory and officially opened the ceremony. “The linked issues of criminal justice and law enforcement are very dear to my heart, and as with other Governors, are seldom out of my thoughts,” the Governor said.
“The truth as we all know very well is that the criminal justice fraternity faces challenges, which we simply have to surmount if we are to sustain the economy and societies, which we have inherited and which we will seek to bequeath to our children,” the Governor said.
He spoke about a number of challenges that are facing the criminal justice fraternity such as the financial threat and youth crimes. “The data on BVI crime that the Commissioner of Police presents weekly to our National Security Council contains increasing and disturbing evidence that young men in particular are becoming attracted to the lure of what are seen as quick wins to a life of crime,” he said.
“It is not all in my view doom and gloom. I truly believe that we can defeat these scourges in our society because even though we are doing well, I honestly think we can do even better and the theme for this conference is the right theme at the right time,” Governor Pearey added.
The Premier also welcomed the delegates to the Territory and expressed the appropriateness of the theme. “I feel that this is an appropriate theme as governments all around the world strive to find the solutions to the global challenges facing us today. The sessions are all relevant and we must pay attention to these issues if we are to make any progress in these challenging times.”
The Premier added that, “we in this Territory recognise the vital role effective law enforcement plays in fostering good governance and in improving the social well-being of our people.”
Honourable O’Neal said “the entire economy and especially the tourism and financial services sectors are to a large extent dependent on how effective and efficient our law enforcement bodies function and cooperate with each other. I am happy to see that the United Kingdom Overseas Territories continue to form groupings of common interest because it is only as a united front can we respond effectively and timely to the rapidly changing environment in which our law enforcement officers must work on a daily basis.”
Commissioner of Police Mr. Reynell Frazer explained the purpose of the conference saying “it is important for us to identify gaps and shortcomings within our respective organisations and take corrective actions accordingly. It is critical that we individually and collectively engage, reinvigorate and improve our partnership approach in the interest of law and order and public safety.
Implementing a criminal justice strategy for the overseas territories and the wider Caribbean is critical if we are to achieve a reduction in our fight against local and transnational crime.”
The Criminal Justice Conference is held annually to bring together law enforcement professionals from all of the UKOT to share best practices. The conference was last held in the Virgin Islands (UK) in March 2004.
British Virgin Islands News