Former top cop recalls how mistrust divided police force
Former Police Commissioner Michael Matthews has revealed that he identified mistrust among officers within the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) and said it was a major pitfall he had to battle when he was top cop.
Like all other industries in the BVI, the RVIPF has a large number of expatriates from across the Caribbean mainly because local recruiters are unable to fill all the posts from within the local community.
Matthews said he was shocked when he first arrived and discovered that there was mistrust among officers from the various Caribbean countries that are represented in the force.
“I think it was probably the first meeting I held with the force where I spoke about my shock — not understanding Caribbean culture. Because I thought coming in as the ‘white UK guy’, I was going to be the odd person, I was going to be the one that would have no friends in the organisation. But what I came to realize is there’s mistrust between different countries around the Caribbean. For example, if you’re from Jamaica and you’re from Saint Vincent…” Mathews explained.
He added that he worked hard to reduce the resentment among the nationalities in the force as he knew it would only worsen the challenges they were already facing with policing the community. However, Matthews said he isn’t sure if he accomplished his goal of reducing the resentment and mistrust.
“I’m not sure I won but what I tried to say to officers and staff was: we’re all wearing the same badge, we’re all in the same uniform and we’re all entrusted by the public to keep them safe. The only way we can do this is if we cooperate with each other. The last thing I wanted was a situation where an officer was in need of assistance and another officer wasn’t prepared to help them out because culturally, they are from different places,” Matthews explained.
He continued: “That was a major pitfall in terms of; if I couldn’t overcome that, then I got a force that was divided and not delivering to the public. I can’t obviously speak for now whether those issues still exist but that certainly existed in 2016 when I arrived.”
Matthews also admitted that he sensed that members of the public distrusted him because he was an outsider.
“I think, to begin with, there was mistrust when I arrived. There was a degree of resentment about the fact that I’m not from here,” Matthews stated.
Matthews demitted the top cop post in 2021 and is now a board member of the BVI Ports Authority.
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Who trusted that guy?
He was moving large why he wasn’t trusted. Ting to talk,
“He worked hard to reduce the resentment among the nationalities in the force” I smell BS
It is the lies and deception of the commissioners that cause the mistrust.
All the victims deserve justice,but with the current state of the force and the lack of interest into unsolved murders, it makes you wonder. As the years go by, the police continue to forget cases and victims. It has been 5 YEARS since a child was gunned down and still nothing has changed.
Why this man was not investigated? What job they promise him now?
The problem is not at the top of the police force, it is at the top of the DPPs office. We need change there quickly.
it is time to investigate the office off the dpp for that false arrest on the police sgt
Its all true..you know it I know it.
Denial is real
Too much division in this little place:
Blacks versus whites
Locals versus people from “dung island “
Locals versus locals.
Look at the latest discussion surrounding who is a BVIlander – more division to contend with. Sigh.
WELL everything has to come to light , and the evilness / hypocrisy and ignorance is being in this 21st century (shamefully integrity seems to be a thing of the past ?
The ex-COP is doing what the British are masters at – gas lighting.
Matthews comments are highly irresponsible. At a time when the police need public confidence, Matthews is telling them that the police service is in disarray and suffering from mistrust internally.
Next, by telling officers that colleagues from some countries do not trust officers from other countries will fuel distrust.
UK only good to divide and rule.
These disgraceful comments are the measure of the man, meanwhile accepting a cushy stipend from the taxpayer for a board position that he has no qualification for and looks like a reward for turning a blind eye
This cop need to return the tax payers ? he is ÷ing the force and very soon they will fight among them self
Very sad comments from a former COP, who does not know if he succeeded in transforming a body he was hired to superintend. Why is he benefitting from taxpayers moneys? BVI people know good police when they see them or one. They prefer their own like any other nationality, but they will give jack his jacket and cooperate for the good of their territory. I think it is high time that The Police Service Commission have a strong say in selecting the territory’s COP.
Only 1 nationality is not trusted in RVIPF and it ain’t them from SVG, SKB, Barbados, Guyana, Grenada, Trinidad, or St Lucia !!!
Only 1 nationality is not trusted in RVIPF and it ain’t them from SVG, SKB, Barbados, Guyana, Grenada, Trinidad, or St Lucia !!!