Ahead of Carnival, in an effort to head off more violence, V.I. government agencies and police have made unannounced visits recently to several St. Thomas neighborhoods notorious for crime, arriving with weed cutters, tow trucks and dumpsters in lieu of blunt force.
The theory, they say, is that cleaning out the overgrowth, eliminating the garbage and increasing visibility in these areas will deter crime, expose criminals and return a sense of pride to neglected neighborhoods.
“The objective to clean Simmonds Alley is to cut down on some of the shots fired in the area that we have on a regular basis,” said St. Thomas Deputy Police Chief Dwayne DeGraff in a statement issued by the VIPD Friday.
Neighborhoods such as Savan, Hospital Ground and “Jah Yard” have also been treated to this spring time sprucing up.
On Wednesday, Gov. John deJongh Jr. inspected some of the work himself, walking through Ulke Gade on lower Kronprindsens Gade – more notoriously known as Simmonds Alley – where he met with police, neighbors and crews to commend the work.
An overgrown and neglected haven for vagrants and drug deals, the well-known path between busy parts of town is a bane to police, who often respond to gunshots and other calls, including the Feb. 17 blasts that killed 43-year-old Delano Dowe.
Since March 22, Public Works and Water and Power Authority crews have been cutting down trees, repairing downed power lines and removing junked vehicles and trash there. Fire Services and St. Thomas Rescue were also involved.
“We want residents of the area and those who traverse this alley to know that it is once again safe and clean for the entire neighborhood,” DeJongh said in a statement Friday.
On his tour, deJongh met longtime resident George “Pope” Farrell, 74, who told him he was glad for the work that would “make this neighborhood feel like home again,” deJongh said in a statement, quoting Farrell.
Workers will continue demolishing abandoned and derelict structures, the governor said, and Fire Service and Public Works will make sure the work is completed and the improvements are maintained.
“We are trying to address some of the crime issues in the island, and this is I feel, the best way to start off,” Deputy Chief DeGraff said in Friday’s statement.
Other St. Thomas neighborhoods are also slated for cleanup, police said.
“We are trying to keep up on top of the situation from now, through Carnival and the end of the year,” DeGraff said. “For the community, we have to let you know the Virgin Islands Police Department is doing everything possible and we will be here 365 days a year.”