SERRANO CASE CLASSIFIED AS MURDER

Police are confirming that the case involving 39-year-old Roland Serrano, who died on Monday morning [10 October] while undergoing treatment in Puerto Rico, is now classified as murder.  This decision was made after Ag. Commissioner of Police, Mr. Reynell Frazer met with senior officers on Monday.

Serrano was shot during an armed robbery in Sea Cow’s Bay on September 15, 2005.   Police responded to the scene where Serrano was met lying on the ground in a parking lot. 

Local police along with overseas officers are continuing to work diligently on the Serrano and Penn cases, however no arrests have been made. 

Mr. Frazer continues to urge the public to come forward with any information no matter how miniscule it may seem.  Persons are urged to contact the Special Investigations Unit directly at 468-4915.  All calls will be upheld with the strictest confidence.

Meanwhile on Tuesday Chief Minister Dr. the Hon. D. Orlando Smith updated the House about anti-crime measures and developments. “On behalf of this Government and the people of this Territory, I extend my condolences to the family of Roland Serrano who passed away in a Puerto Rico hospital following an unfortunate and tragic crime committed against him.  Let us keep his family in our prayers.”

“The Police have been instructed to step up surveillance operations of suspected criminals, and to increase routine stops and other on-the-ground tactics that are meant to deter crime. It has been reported that as part of these increased activities, some additional traffic stops have been made, including many innocent, law-abiding citizens. I want to use this opportunity to ask members of the community to be patient with this new and heightened level of security. The plain truth is that the price of peace and security is eternal vigilance. And while we must ensure that the Police act with all due restraint to minimize the inconvenience to all innocent citizens, we must also recognize that by casting a wide net, the Police increase their chances of catching criminals. The bother of a brief stop on the street is surely a small price to pay if it drives the criminals underground and helps keep our streets and neighbourhoods safe,” the Chief Minister told parliamentarians.

“We are moving forward aggressively to develop and introduce new legislation to more stringently regulate firearms in our Territory and to increase the penalties for gun crimes. This process may take some time – we must ensure that the legislation is prepared properly and does not suffer from hasty drafting because this issue could not be more important.

“Madam Speaker: I am a doctor. I have treated victims of gun wounds. And I can tell you from my heart that there are few things more devastating than the impact of a bullet cutting through a person’s body. It is a horror that need not and must not exist in our Territory. By introducing strong legislation we will be doing two critical things: First, we will be creating an iron-clad legal framework for defining and prosecuting gun crimes. That means ensuring that laws already on the books are properly enforced, and that the punishments fit the crimes. Second, this legislation will send a powerful message to every citizen and resident of the BVI: guns will not be tolerated here. This Territory will not allow itself to become another sad corner of the world where thugs walk the streets with a deadly weapon stuck in their belts. That is not who we are. And that is not who we will ever become.”