Police on St. Thomas cleaned up two areas Thursday to address quality of life issues in neighborhoods.
One cleanup in Kirwan Terrace housing community helped to revitalize recreational facilities, while pre-Carnival cleanups continued in Frenchtown.
The cleanup near Estate Honduras in Frenchtown, conducted in partnership with the Department of Public Works, was concentrated near the old reservoir. Deputy Chief Dwayne DeGraff, who led the cleanup, said the spot was a popular hangout for people selling and using drugs. Chairs and rubber pallets used for the comfort of loiterers were disposed of and bushes were cleared, giving visibility to the area.
DeGraff said area residents have complained about criminal activity there but as police clear these areas, criminal activity decreases, the deputy chief said.
The Abandoned Vehicle Task Force tagged two vehicles for removal and a resident was told to remove two other abandoned vehicles from his property. Abandoned vehicles are a neighborhood health hazard, according to the police, a haven for roaches, rats, mosquitoes and other pests which could affect the health of neighbors, especially children and the elderly.
Earlier in the day VIPD Housing Community Liaison Gaston Tuckett, along with the Virgin Islands Housing Authority, Department of Housing Parks and Recreation and inmates from the Bureau of Corrections, began clearing the fence line surrounding the ball field in the Michael J. Kerwin Terrace. Once the cleanup is completed the fence will be removed and replaced, Tuckett said, adding that the work may take two weeks to complete before the area can again be used by the residents for recreational purposes.
