Governor extends Matthews’ appointment as Police Commissioner
Top cop Michael Matthews will be serving as Commissioner of Police for another two years.
Governor Augustus Jaspert, who has responsibility for the territory’s constabulary, decided to extend Matthews’ appointment based on the advice of the National Security Council as well as the recommendation of the Virgin Islands Police Service Commission.
The extension took effect on April 20.
Governor Jaspert thanked Matthews for his service since the top cop’s first appointment in 2016.
“I am very grateful for the support of Commissioner Matthews to the territory and to the National Security Council. His leadership has ensured that the territory’s policing is emerging strengthened from the events of 2017. I am grateful for all that he has done and to all the RVIPF officers and staff who work hard to help keep us safe” the Governor said.
He added: “I am pleased with his support to his senior team in developing their capability. This includes building the capability of his senior officers as future leaders.”
Commissioner Matthews who was once awarded the Queens Police Medal in 2013, holds a wealth of experience since the beginning of his career in 1982. He was Chief Constable of the Cyprus Sovereign Base Area Police Force and the Gloucestershire Constabulary prior to being appointed Police Commissioner of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force.
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Congratulations sir!
However, this kind of arrangement and spectacle seem so odd , out of place and just not right in the 21st.
Ever wonder how it wuld feel if two Black men held the highest seats of power in the UK, were the most powerful rulers, leaders and highest paid?
Wonder how would all those Brits feel.
Thirty to forty to fifty thousand of us Afro Caribbean human beings with inalienable rights are being subordinate to two english men representing a colonial owner/ruler.
That is a very strange and aoodd arangement in the 21st.
Time for some historical change.
If you think the governor and the police commissioner are the “most powerful rulers” in the BVI, what do you think the premier does? He doesn’t make any laws? He’s just there for show?
Something to think about. Twice the Monarchy was ruled by black people.Look up the monarchy history.
In the UK we have Sajid Javid as Home Secretary (which is 2nd or 3rd highest ranking role after the PM). Mr Javid is of Pakistani background.
He is shadowed by Diane Abbott in the Labour Party who was elected our first black MP over 30 years ago.
We have Sadiq Khan as Mayor of London (Indian/Pakistani heritage). We have Majid Majid as Mayor of Sheffield (Somali heritage).
POC are significantly under-represented and there is much work to do, but be clear British people are very accustomed to seeing non-White persons in powerful roles.
The anachronism isnt that Mr Jaspert and Mr Mathews are white men, but that they are appointed by the UK. I do not see that the situation would be different if the UK found non-white men to act (or shock horror, a women of colour). The point here is not a racial or ethnic one but a colonial one. The UK is not a white country anymore, those days are over. It is a multi-cultural and multi-faith country where 1 in 5 people is a person of colour.
Congrats COP Matthew, keep up the good work. Hope you already identify the Officer in your Senior ranks who you intent to groom and for that person to under study you to take over at the end of your 2 years contract.
Good for the BVI to have those two guys over you, because you always pulling down your Caribbean people.
Well deserving of this extension of his appointment. I think he is one of the better Commissioners of Police to have come to these shores. I see him out and about at events and appears approachable.
I do have a few differences of opinion and approach to him on specific issues however. His prioritizing arresting these young men who possess small amounts of marijuana, and the question surrounding the arming of the police.
While these issues need redress from the Legislature, the Commissioner of Police certainly can have an impact on their decision making.
At any rate, congrats Commissioner. I think you have tried to do your best during your previous tenure. As a law abiding citizen, I appreciate your efforts.
YES HE IS BEING APPOINTED TWO MORE YEARS BUT WHAT AOBUT CRIME – WHAT IS HE DOING ABOUT THE RISE IN CRIME IN THE BVI – WE ARE READING TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT CRIME IS OVER THE HILL. WHO IS REALLY SUPERVISING THE POLICE OFFICERS IN ALL THE DISTRICTS WITHIN THE BVI. WE NEED TRULY AND REAL CHANGE IN THE CRIME OF THE BVI – GET APPOINTED AGAIN BUT DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE CRIME – CRIME – CRIME – WORK FOR THE PEOPLE RID THE BVI OF THE INCREASING OF CRIME – SPEND TIME DOING SURVEY ON WHO IS CONDUCTING THE CRIME – IF THEY ARE NOT NATIVE OR BELONGERS THEN THEY NEED TO GO BACK TO THEIR HOME AND CONDUCT THIER BAD BEHAVIOR IN THEIER HOME LAND. PUT THEM OUT THEY ARE BRING DOWN THE BVI AND PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE HEARING ALL THE VIOLENCE IN THE BVIK. WE NEED TO GET BACK TO THE SAFE STREETS – SAFE IN ALL BVI TERRITORY. I WANT TO COTINUE PASSING GOOD WORDS ABOUT HOW SAFE IT IS TO VISIT. I WANT TO CONTINUE SHARING THE BVI TO OTHERS AND COME AND SHARE IN THE BEAUTY IS IN STORE FOR THEM WHEN THEY COME AND VISIT.
SO YES GET HIM OPPORTUNITY TO STAY ON FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE HIM RESPONSIBLY IN REDUCING CRIME – CRIME ALL KINDS OUT OF THE TERRITORIES OF THE BVI – PLEASE FOR ME WHO HAVE THE LOVE – LOVE FOR THE HOME LAND OF MY FORTH FATHERS. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO COME HOME AND BE SAFE – HELP KEEP DOWN THE CRIME. IT MAKES ME SAD TO HEAR – HEAR CONSTANTLY IN THE ON-LINE NEWS OF ALL THE CRIME THAT IS BEING CONDUCTED IN A SMALL PLACE LIKE THE BVI- IT WAS ONCE JUST ABOUT BEAUTY – LET US GET BAK – LET US GET BACK TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF BEING SAFE AND SAFTEY IN ALL THE DISTRICTS OF THE BVI. SAFTEY – SAFTEY –
Why are u yelling? Please lower your caps if u want people to read what you wrote. Its hard to read in all caps.
U could have the best commissioner ever but if parents don’t train their children right, if we continue to support and turn a blind eye to crime and if we continue to look outside rather than inside when it comes to crime, then we will never get back to the good old days.
If the People in the village would stand up to idiots creating mischief. And show example of good living. Maybe we may not need to much policing in the neighborhood to be safe.
Oh my people suffer because of lack of wisdom what agenda allegedly do they have . Is it about solving crime.
As we can see violent crime has soared in recent years and the moral in officers continue to drop.
Is it coincidence that every tender waiver the Government has asked for in cabinet they are getting the people continue to suffer and turn a blind eye to truth.
It takes a woman to birth a child and a village to raise it.
When Crime occur and the village does not want to assist the police with the identity of the child who caused it, the resolution of crime will be 0
if each one becomes his brother’s keeper then as one said, there will be little need for policing the village.
I could never understand how people would criticize what they don’t know about.