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Senator Javan James called for a State of an Emergency Declaration in response to the recent gun violence on St. Croix, where the death toll has now reached 7 since Friday in a press release on Tuesday.
A State of an Emergency Declaration would authorize the Governor to "speed state agency assistance to communities in need" and would make resources “immediately available to rescue, evacuate, shelter, provide essential commodities and quell disturbances in affected localities.” he added that this “may also position the Virgin Islands to seek federal assistance when the scope of the event exceeds our resources. Action has to be taken immediately to prevent more senseless violence in a territory with some of the strictest gun laws in the United States Of America.”
As a member of the Committee on Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety James urged the VI Police Department to create a gun violence task force whose “sole duty is to find the perpetrators of these horrific crimes and bring them to justice.”
He suggested additional measures be put in place including the installation of camera security throughout the islands, enforce laws that have already been passed and referenced utilizing tint monitors and preventing loitering and Emergency Medical Services and the Virgin Islands Fire Service expediting their merger to share resources and speed up response times.
He also “urges the people of St. Croix to do something that may not have been done before: speak up and say something” and reminded residents that CrimeStoppers accepts anonymous tips at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or at www.crimestoppersvi.org
