Armed business owners debated in BVI amid surge of daylight robberies in Road Town
BVI Chamber of Commerce chairman calls for licensed firearms for business owners as robberies escalate. Critics warn more guns could worsen violence across the territory.
BVI Chamber pushes for business firearm licences as Road Town robberies escalate
The question of whether business owners in the British Virgin Islands should be permitted to carry licensed firearms has resurfaced following a string of brazen robberies in Road Town and surrounding communities, BVI News reports.
The debate was reignited this week on the radio programme Talking Points, where BVI Chamber of Commerce Chairman Sinclair Flemming said fear is spreading among business operators as attacks grow bolder across the territory.
"One of the biggest deterrents is giving business owners actual projectile weapons to be able to defend themselves and their businesses," Flemming said, noting that many operators are questioning how much risk they are still willing to accept.
Jewellery store targeted twice in a year
Road Town has seen several high-profile robberies in recent months, some carried out in broad daylight in busy commercial areas. One jewellery store in the capital was targeted by armed men on two separate occasions within a single year, deepening anxiety among retailers and their staff.
Flemming argued that criminals act with impunity precisely because they know victims are defenceless. "I think one of the major issues is that the person doing the illegal activity knows that you have nothing at your side or in your position that can deter them in any way, shape or form," he stated.
The Chamber has been advocating for a tightly controlled licensing process, limited to business owners who have been properly vetted and deemed most at risk. Flemming was also careful to distance the organisation from any push for blanket gun access. "We are not advocating for a 'gun-touting society'," he said, describing the proposal as a targeted and regulated measure.
Acting Commissioner reviewing applications
Flemming told the programme that a recent meeting with the Acting Commissioner of Police produced some encouraging signs. "I was happy to hear that they did review some [firearm licence requests], approved a few, and are looking into some more. Obviously, it's less than the percentage that we want to see, but I'm happy to see that it's being at least looked at," he explained. He added that the Chamber has simultaneously advocated for non-lethal defensive options.
Host raises concern over escalation risk
Talking Points host Damion Grange pushed back, pointing to jurisdictions where broader civilian gun ownership has coincided with higher rates of gun violence. Grange questioned whether expanding firearms access in the BVI could make the territory more dangerous rather than safer.
The exchange reflects a sharp split in public opinion. Commenters responding to BVI News coverage were largely sceptical of the proposal, with several warning that easier access to licensed firearms would inevitably lead to guns reaching criminal hands. Others noted that most recent business robberies had not involved gunshot injuries, and argued that an armed standoff between business owners and robbers would change that calculus. One commenter drew a direct comparison to the US Virgin Islands: "Tortola becomes St Thomas."
Supporters of the measure countered that criminals are already armed, and that allowing law-abiding business owners to defend themselves would shift the balance. Some called instead for mandatory sentencing for firearm offences and intensified stop-and-search operations as the more effective route to reducing gun violence.
Police yet to release details on ongoing investigations
Beyond the firearms debate, residents have been pressing authorities for stronger policing and quicker arrests. Police have so far released limited public information about suspects or active investigations linked to the recent wave of incidents.
The Chamber's position has also drawn criticism from within the business community itself. Some observers questioned whether Flemming's call reflects a genuine consensus among Chamber members or whether it amounts to a personal stance on a deeply contested public safety issue.
No legislation on expanded firearm licensing has been tabled, and no timeline for further consultations between the Chamber and police leadership has been announced.
Source: BVI News