Director of a popular establishment in the West End area of Tortola is clearing her name from a number of recently circulated untrue allegations following an abrupt police operation which occurred on the property of the business on the morning of Tuesday December 7.
Known to many as Odila, our news team spoke to the First District businesswoman following the incident.
She said that after the event which disrupted the normal operations of her business, several persons flooded her phone with an image of herself and her partner, alleging among many other things, that it was her and her partner who were apprehended in a major operation that yielded the discovery of guns and drugs.
Odila said all the allegations being spewed on social media is untrue, adding that it just unfortunately happened to be her place of business where the police decided to apprehend the individual who they were after.
She said a similar occurrence likewise could have taken place at any other business in the territory.
“Yesterday something horrible transpired right at the establishment which had nothing to do with me and which could have happened anywhere else. It was just the correct opportunity I guess for the operation. After this my picture and my other half photo has been circulating with a caption stating that we’ve been raided,” she stated.
“I’m here just to clear the air in terms of letting my loyal clients and people on a whole know that I’m good, I’m not in no trouble, and have never been in any trouble. The police had to do what they had to do, they did what they had to do and apart from that all is good on my end… My business is up and running, nothing has affected it and nothing should affect it because it has nothing to do with me. It was a government operation,” she further said.
False accusations of setting up the operation
Odila also put to rest other allegations which alleged that she had some involvement with assisting the police in the whereabouts of the male who was arrested.
She made it clear that she had nothing to do with the police investigations, adding that she was really upset that the police chose to conduct an operation at her business.
“I am actually hearing that I was part of the operation in terms of I helped them nib the guy. But to be quite honest with you I am not part of the police investigation, I never worked with the police before and I just want to clear that air. The police did what they had to do without informing me and that is one of the reasons I am a bit upset with them for having my establishment involved in what is going on at the moment,” Odila stated.
She added, “Again, I have nothing to do with it, I was not part of the operation, I gave no information on my end or none of my staff gave any information about the gentleman. I don’t even know the gentleman. It was just a regular client and that’s the only information I have on the individual. So there is no way I could have given the police any further information on him and I was not contacted by the police prior to the investigations. I just want to make that part very very clear.”
I am not involved in anything illegal
Odila also reiterated that she is a law-abiding citizen and is not involved in anything that is illegal. She prides herself on working extremely hard for everything she wants and has.
She said, “There’s a lot of haters out there, there’s a lot of people who do not wish well for anybody, there’s a lot of negativity out there, but again with me and my clients knowing me and my loyal people who I have been serving for over 18 years in the British Virgin Islands know who I am. And I believe in me and they believe in me also, so I don’t have much to say but just letting the public know that we’re not involved in anything illegal. I work hard seven days a week, 365 days a year and thanks to the pandemic that’s the only way I could have gotten a break throughout the years.”
Listen to the true story and stop entertaining rumors
The First District businesswoman also pleaded with the public to stop entertaining rumors and to wait on the facts before placing judgment.
She said all should prevail when the police decide to report the information of the operation to the public.
“I want the public to know and we all should know that with the life we’re living right now with social media and just one photo, everybody owns a phone. You know, people love spreading rumors and we out there should be aware of that and know that it’s nothing but a rumor and you cannot prevent nobody from grabbing their phone to remove a picture and put a caption and a title under it, but again, put yourself in my place and don’t judge. Listen to the true story when it comes out from the operation that was put together,” she explained.