In a recent statement Junior Minister for Tourism and District 6 representative Hon. Alvera Maduro- Caines issued a statement on a leaked video titled ‘Police in Paradise’.
Maduro-Caines wrote, “As Junior Minister for Tourism and as a proud Virgin Islander, I reject the intentions, assumptions, generalisations and implications in the video of tasteless and in many parts, dated video.
While it is too early to judge any effects of the video, I find it an affront to the team at the BVI Tourist Board and Film Commission who work tirelessly to secure the truthful images of the BVI that the world has come to love. We know that crime is a deterrent to any tourist seeking a place for rest and relaxation and to do so safely. The crime in the BVI is no higher than any other destination and in fact the small number of occurrences is lower than in many other destinations. Undoubtedly, some illegal activity do involve a small number of residents, but the BVI is still a very safe place to live, work and visit.
The British Virgin Islands endures its geographic challenges. Our porous borders do make us susceptible to those who wish to use our many coves and waterways for nefarious deeds. Nonetheless, there is a far difference from crime originating within the territory and the crime that happens upon us, an unsuspecting people, and that was not made clear.”
Caines added, “I would like to add that no mention was made to the significant budgetary realignments we have given the RVIPF to better their ability to defend our shores. We live in a time where some of the largest drug busts and weapon confiscations, in the past years, have resulted in some officers being arrested.
It becomes increasingly harder to continue to correct the misconceptions that videos like these cause, when the enemy to our tourism product also seemingly comes from within, (smiling, giving quotes, brandishing guns, and possibly signing off on this product of low journalistic integrity and created with a specific objective in mind) with no duty of care given for the work that several professionals do here and abroad to make the BVI the leading tourist destination it is.”
In closing she encouraged Virgin Islanders to spread the good that takes place in the Virgin Islands.
Stating, “I encourage the people of the BVI (and we will all admit that there are faults to be found) not to allow these images to encircle the world as a true representation of us, however let us continue to post and share the beauty of these shores and never let us be confined to isolated incidences used hastily to hurt the reputation of our territory.
A few months ago, the BVI Tourist Board and Film Commission did a mini campaign, #ThisIsBVI where the true representation of the BVI was shown via images and videos. I encourage the people to wage war on the propaganda machine and share your best and brightest images of our beloved BVI.
When they go low, we will go high. And as they try to bury us, they will learn that we’re seeds and we will grow where we’re planted!”