Crime

Funds to Install Surveillance Cameras to Fight Crime Have Been Sitting at the PFA for 6 Years

Over the years, government officials have talked up the importance of combating the crime problem the Virgin Islands has seemingly perennially faced. But funding for the installation of what has proven to be one of the most effective crime-prevention tools — surveillance cameras, serving as effective deterrents to would-be criminals — has sat at the Public Finance Authority (PFA) since 2014 and has not been utilized to this day. That's according to Senator Novelle Francis, a former police chief and police commissioner, who spoke with the Consortium Friday about the matter. The senator has been attempting to get movement on the installation of the surveillance cameras for years, including attempts during the Governor Kenneth Mapp administration. To this day, however, he said $1 million for the installation of the cameras has not been put to use.  Mr. Francis introduced legislation to at least have surveillance cameras at the traffic lights. From there, work would go to other areas for...