Chamber Calls for Legal Protection and Urgent
The BVI Chamber of Commerce has called for urgent discussions with the Government and police amid escalating armed robberies across the territory. Warning that some business owners are contemplating closing their doors, the Chamber is advocating for lawful access to non-lethal protective devices and a transparent review of firearm licensing policies.
Mounting anxiety over a wave of armed robberies in the British Virgin Islands has pushed local business operators to a breaking point, prompting the BVI Chamber of Commerce to call for urgent talks with the Government and the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force on lawful protection and crime prevention.
In a formal statement issued on October 12, Chamber Chairman Sinclair Flemming voiced deep alarm following the circulation of WhatsApp video footage depicting two armed assailants aggressively pressing firearms against staff during a robbery at a prominent local supermarket. Flemming highlighted that business owners across the territory are growing increasingly desperate as violent incidents continue to threaten their livelihoods and personal safety.
Addressing the escalating crisis, the Chamber declared that operators should not have to choose between keeping their businesses open and keeping their employees alive. The organisation revealed that several entrepreneurs are now actively weighing whether to shut down operations entirely rather than expose staff and patrons to further danger.
While acknowledging ongoing efforts by the RVIPF to confiscate illegal weapons, the Chamber stressed that standard security measures, including surveillance cameras, reinforced entrances, access control systems, and cash management protocols, remain insufficient against armed criminals.
Financial constraints further compound the issue for smaller enterprises, many of which cannot afford private armed security or round-the-clock guarding services. Frustration has led some terrified operators to contemplate obtaining illegal firearms for protection. However, the Chamber firmly condemned this, reiterating that it vehemently opposes the possession or use of unlicensed weapons under any circumstances.
Instead, the Chamber is urging authorities to explore practical, legal alternatives, including regulated access to non-lethal protective devices such as projectile-based electronic incapacitation tools, subject to proper screening, licensing, and training. It is also calling for a transparent review of the firearm licensing framework to determine whether lawful provisions can better address demonstrable commercial security risks.
For immediate risk reduction, the Chamber recommended practical precautions, including removing excess cash at irregular intervals, controlling entry during later operating hours, improving exterior lighting, and establishing robbery-response protocols that prioritize human life over cash or property.
Additionally, the Chamber raised concerns that some crimes may go unreported because business operators fear negative publicity and the potential loss of clientele. Reports have also emerged regarding patrons being robbed of jewellery, watches, and cash late at night at various entertainment establishments and bars, which the Chamber noted requires further investigation.
Primary source: BVI News