Inadequacies in police bill reminded Walwyn of personal court case
Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn has drawn a connection between his personal court case and his passionate critique of the recently passed Police Act and the Misuse of Computer and Cybercrime Act during debates in the House of Assembly (HOA).
Following his acquittal on a breach of trust charge on January 21, Walwyn shared his perspective on ZBVI, explaining how his legal ordeal influenced his approach to scrutinising the legislation.
“When you look at that happening to me as an attorney, it raises questions about what is happening to other people in the criminal justice system in the BVI,” Walwyn said, highlighting concerns about individuals who may lack the legal resources or knowledge to defend themselves.
Walwyn clarified that his impassioned stance during the debates stemmed not from personal grievance but from a desire to protect those less fortunate.
“Regardless of what I was facing, I felt the travesty and the injustice, and I didn’t want it to happen to anybody else,” Walwyn stated.
Concerns about legislation
Walwyn said he scrutinised the Police Act and Cybercrimes Act with great care to ensure a balance between addressing crime and safeguarding the rights of innocent individuals.
During the debates, Walwyn criticised the Police Act for insufficiently protecting privacy rights and called for additional safeguards and checks. Despite these concerns, the Act was passed, with Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley describing it as a critical step towards modernising law enforcement.
Walwyn also voiced significant concerns about the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime (Amendment) Bill, 2025, calling aspects of it “unlawful.” He highlighted the provision allowing police to compel individuals to provide passwords or electronic keys for their devices, arguing it violated constitutional rights, including protection from self-incrimination.
“A person cannot be compelled to produce evidence which may have the potential to incriminate him,” Walwyn asserted at the time.
Background on Walwyn’s case
Walwyn’s breach of trust charge stemmed from the controversial Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) perimeter wall project, which faced significant cost overruns during his tenure as Education Minister. He was acquitted after Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards ruled that there was no case to answer.
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Who feels it knows it
Congrats to Hon Myron Walwyn and the community at large. May justice continue to exist in the territory. May he choose to walk with God always.
The new legislation contravenes the Constitution of the Virgin Islands as outlined and if acted upon will bankrupt the government.He who alleges must prove. The accused assumes the onus of disproving only when the prosecution has established its case. A man cannot be compelled to furnish evidence against himself.
That is exactly why they do what they do. There are no repercussions for the inefficient investigations that are brought onto people. Hence the blowback with ‘The Peoples’ burden, which is not only a financial burden but it is blatant crime against taxpayers and the future of our nation. The minute people who forgo some of these outrageous charges are held responsible, we will see better: less incompetence, absence of witch hunts and the return of the integrity of the system.
The UK Officers have nothing to lose and their inadequacies will not hinder their homeland, but will influence our own to beg and borrow from when they (UK) came. We also have to take into account some of the officers that are already here and the DPP insufficiencies. Some kind of legislation needs to be in place where a fraction of the cost owed for these bad practices come from the people who were very instrumental creating these problems. Either that, remove them from office or demote them.