Bryan speaks at violence prevention summit on St. Thomas

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. addressed local nonprofit groups on October 1, 2019, during the first day of the Non-Profits Violence Prevention Summit at the University of the Virgin Islands on St. Thomas, calling for community efforts to address gun violence.

According to Government House, Bryan said the territory had the fourth-highest incarceration rate per capita in the United States, but said arrests and incarceration would not solve gun violence. He said the community needed to find ways to engage young people.

He also said the Virgin Islands had no place where someone could walk into a store and buy a gun, but that weapons continued to proliferate and some residents felt they needed to arm themselves for protection.

After Bryan's remarks, officials held a panel discussion on gun violence featuring Labor Commissioner Gary Molloy, Police Commissioner designee Trevor Velinor, Law Enforcement Planning Commission Director Ray Martinez, Human Services Commissioner Kimberley Causey-Gomez, Attorney General Denise George, Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion and Corrections Bureau Director Wynnie Testamark.

Government House said the summit was scheduled to continue on October 2, 2019, at UVI on St. Croix.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-addresses-local-organizations-at-non-profit-violence-prevention-summit/