ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI — How safe are residents and businesses in the Virgin Islands, and why is the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) saying so little about reported incidents of crime?
Those are questions the public deserves answers to as Guavaberry Media continues to receive reports of serious criminal incidents across the Territory, including reports of supermarket robberies over the weekend and the arrest of a man facing multiple charges, some reportedly involving threats against police officers.
What is equally concerning is the apparent lack of timely communication from the RVIPF, leaving the media and the wider public with more questions than answers about incidents that may have direct implications for public safety.
Guavaberry Media has been informed of a number of significant incidents over the past week alone. These include the arrest and charging of one man in connection with gun possession, along with more than 10 charges reportedly brought against him, including charges relating to threats against the lives of police officers.
The seriousness of these reports demands clear, timely and authoritative communication from the police.
Yet the questions continue to mount.
TWO SUPERMARKETS REPORTEDLY ROBBED OVER THE WEEKEND
Guavaberry Media understands that two supermarkets were robbed over the weekend.
The first reported incident occurred at Mr. Nice Guy in Manuel Reef on Saturday night, October 10, 2026, followed by a reported robbery at Rite Way at Road Reef Plaza on Sunday night, October 11, 2026.
These reports have not been independently confirmed by the RVIPF at the time of writing. Guavaberry Media is therefore calling on the police to clarify what occurred, whether suspects have been identified or arrested, and whether investigators believe the incidents are connected.
Our newsroom has also received other reports of robberies involving businesses and individuals across the Territory.
If these reports are confirmed, the public has a legitimate interest in knowing the nature and extent of the incidents, particularly where there may be an ongoing threat to businesses, employees, customers or members of the public.
Residents should not be left to piece together the state of public safety through rumours, private messages and unverified reports circulating in the community.
WHERE IS THE COMMUNICATION FROM THE POLICE?
Perhaps just as troubling as the reports themselves is the apparent breakdown in communication between the RVIPF and the media.
Guavaberry Media continues to receive information from members of the public about incidents they say have occurred. As a responsible media house, our newsroom seeks clarification from the relevant authorities before presenting unverified information as established fact.
However, obtaining basic information about reported incidents has become increasingly difficult.
Guavaberry Media notes that, as of October 12, 2026, it has not seen an RVIPF press release concerning criminal incidents since September 30, 2026 released through any of their official channels to the media or public.
That is a period of nearly two weeks without a crime-related press release appearing in the media house’s records.
This observation does not establish that the police have issued no communications through other channels, nor does it mean that no investigative work is taking place. But it raises a legitimate question: why is there so little publicly available information about reported incidents of crime?
The public should not have to rely exclusively on unofficial sources to learn about serious incidents that may affect their safety.
The media is not asking the police to compromise active investigations, reveal confidential intelligence, identify protected witnesses or disclose operational details that could put officers at risk.
It is asking for basic, responsible communication.
When a business is reportedly robbed, the public should be told what the police can safely disclose. When a suspect is arrested and charged with serious offences, the community should receive accurate information through appropriate official channels. When incidents pose a continuing risk, timely public advisories may help people take precautions.
Silence cannot be the default response to every serious report.
IS THE PUBLIC BEING LEFT AT RISK?
This is the central question the RVIPF must answer.
If robberies are occurring at multiple locations, are investigators examining possible connections? Are businesses being advised about any known threats or patterns? Is there information that residents need to protect themselves? And if the reports circulating in the community are inaccurate, why has the public not been given clarification?
These questions are not accusations that the police are failing to investigate. They are reasonable questions about public information, accountability and crime prevention.
There is an important distinction between protecting an investigation and withholding information that could help the public remain safe.
The police must be able to do both: investigate crime effectively and communicate responsibly with the people they are sworn to protect.
A lack of information creates a vacuum. That vacuum is often filled by speculation, conflicting accounts and rumours. It can also undermine public confidence, particularly when residents hear about serious incidents but cannot find reliable confirmation from the authorities.
Effective policing requires more than arrests and investigations. It also requires public trust, community cooperation and confidence that the authorities will communicate when it matters.
BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS DESERVE ANSWERS
For business owners, a robbery is not simply another police report. It can mean financial losses, trauma for employees, concern for customers and uncertainty about whether a similar incident could happen again.
For ordinary residents, reports of robberies can raise questions about personal safety, the security of commercial areas and what steps they should take to protect themselves.
These concerns become more difficult to address when reliable information is scarce.
The RVIPF should not wait until public anxiety reaches a breaking point before providing an update. Nor should residents have to depend on information passed privately to journalists to understand what is happening in their own communities.
A regular, accessible public information system would help. Even where details are limited, the police can acknowledge reported incidents, explain when information cannot yet be released and provide updates when it is appropriate to do so.
That is not a demand for sensational headlines. It is a demand for responsible public service.
GUAVABERRY MEDIA CALLS ON THE RVIPF TO RESPOND
Guavaberry Media is calling on the Commissioner of Police and the RVIPF’s public information officials to address the growing questions surrounding the reports received by our newsroom.
Specifically, the public deserves clarification on the following:
- The reported supermarket robberies: Have the incidents at Mr. Nice Guy in Manuel Reef on October 10 and Rite Way at Road Reef Plaza on October 11 been reported to and confirmed by police?
- The reported firearm and multiple charges: Can the RVIPF provide an official account of the arrest and charges reportedly involving gun possession and threats against police officers?
- Other reported robberies: Are police investigating additional robberies involving businesses or individuals, and can any details safely be released to assist public awareness?
- Public safety: Are there any known patterns, ongoing threats or precautionary measures that residents and business owners should be made aware of?
- Media communication: Why has Guavaberry Media not seen a crime-related press release from the RVIPF since September 30, and what arrangements are in place to ensure timely updates on serious incidents?
These are fair questions. They deserve direct answers.
The RVIPF may have legitimate reasons for withholding certain details, and active investigations must be protected. But those considerations should not eliminate the need for regular communication with the public.
The media cannot responsibly report what the authorities will not confirm, and the public cannot make informed decisions when essential information is unavailable.
SILENCE IS NOT A PUBLIC SAFETY STRATEGY
The Virgin Islands needs effective policing, but it also needs a police force that communicates with the community in a timely, transparent and responsible manner.
If the reports received by Guavaberry Media are accurate, the public needs to understand the nature of the incidents and whether there is any broader threat. If some reports are inaccurate, official clarification is equally important.
Either way, the public deserves more than uncertainty.
The question is no longer simply what crimes may have occurred. It is whether the public is receiving the information it needs to understand the risks and respond appropriately.
Guavaberry Media will continue seeking clarification from the relevant authorities and will report verified information as it becomes available.
Public safety is too important for communication to be treated as an afterthought.
The RVIPF owes the public answers.