Acting Governor Osbert Potter Calls Urgent Press Conference Following Surge Of Gun Violence On St. Croix

ST. CROIX — Following the barrage of criminal activity on this island on Friday, Lieutenant Governor Osbert Potter will host a press conference at Government House here at 12:00 p.m., according to a press release issued this morning.

Governor Kenneth Mapp left the territory on Thursday to participate in New York’s Labor Day Weekend celebrations, and to promote the territory at various media stops, according to Government House. The territory’s leader won’t return to the islands until Sept. 9.

Before yesterday’s incidents, Government House had issued a press release with remarks from Potter concerning criminal activity in the territory, pinpointing the homicide that occurred near UVI in St. Thomas the day before.

“As the vicious cycle of senseless murders and gun play permeates our territory, I appeal to the residents of this community, who are the parents, relatives, friends, and associates of the victims, to cooperate with and assist police and all law enforcement agencies in their efforts to solve these crimes.  Since many of these violent crimes seem to be retaliatory in nature, we must, as a community, change the mind set of victims and their associates, who too often take it upon themselves to resolve matters on their own, as if to preserve some code of honor,” the acting governor said.

He added: “Unless we are able to discourage and overcome this misguided attempt to enforce ‘street justice’ among groups, gangs, and families, we will continue to bury more and more of our residents, particularly those among the young male population.  The time has come, if we are to survive as a community, for each of us to demonstrate responsibility, and share what we know with our law enforcement community, and enable our duly authorized professionals to do the jobs which they have been trained to do.

“All members of our community must face the sobering reality that our police officers need our help.  Victims of violent crimes, their families and associates, must begin cooperating with police, or we risk being held hostage by a minority of thugs, who will continue operating as usual, confident in the knowledge that many in the community fear them, while the rest have bought into their ‘culture of secrecy’, and will not share information with law enforcement.  I ask that we not allow ourselves to be doomed to such a fate.  We should all consider the consequences for the future of our community if we do not reverse this deadly trend.”