Dear Source:
“While I assure you that our Virgin Islands Police Department has launched immediate investigations into these incidents and are working to bring those responsible to justice, I also want to assure you that our administration is being proactive in addressing the issues at the root of our persisting problem with violence in our community,” Gov. Bryan said.
The newly-sworn in governor called on Virgin Islanders to come together and take back their community and to work with law enforcement, both the private sector and non-profit organizations, as well as with his administration to provide better opportunities for young people and to improve the socioeconomic conditions in the territory.
“I want to also underscore the important need for us all to take greater steps to take back our community. It will take courage and painstaking measures to make the changes we need to address the problems of lawlessness in our neighborhoods, but we can and will if we all step up and do our part,” Gov. Bryan said.
“We’ve had studies, consent decrees and prayer vigils, but what we need is real action from all corners of our community to protect our young people. We need to improve the socioeconomic standing for many of our families, and to do better in our efforts to offer places of refuge for our young people who believe they are out of alternatives,” Bryan added.
“The Bryan/Roach administration will require stringent law enforcement by those responsible, but we will also hold accountable, through a comprehensive program, the V.I. Departments of Education, Human Services and of Health. We will work closely with our churches and with our non-profit organizations that have continued to provide social services that the government has failed to provide,” the governor stated.
But we must all be brave. Brave enough to say something when we see something wrong, brave enough to question and to appropriately discipline our children in our homes, and brave enough to take positive leadership roles in our communities and to look out for our neighbors as well as ourselves. Please get involved.” the governor concluded.
Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands Albert Bryan Jr.
