Law enforcement report branded as xenophobic

Junior Minister for Financial Services and Economic Development, Lorna Smith, has condemned the second volume of a UK-commissioned law enforcement review, describing it as “repugnant” and “xenophobic.”

The 289-page report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) recommends transferring control of key agencies—including Customs, Immigration, and the Financial Investigation Agency—from the elected government to the governor.

Smith said the recommendation to place immigration and customs under the governor’s authority ignores the BVI’s capacity to manage its own affairs. “My problem with it is that it does not have to come within the authority of the Governor,” Smith stated on the Talking Points radio programme.

Smith noted that immigration and customs have traditionally been under ministerial control and currently fall under the Premier’s portfolio. “I have always known immigration, both immigration and the customs, to come under the purview of a minister,” she explained.

According to Smith, one of the most controversial aspects of the report was the proposal for a new anti-corruption agency to be headed by a non-BVI islander. “I believe he said that we don’t have the competence to head it… I found that to be repugnant… and to be very rude,” she asserted.

She further raised concerns about the potential racial and cultural implications. “It is very likely not going to be somebody who looks like us,” she said. “It is not going to be a Caribbean person.”

Despite her strong objections, Smith acknowledged that some elements of the report are worth considering. “I don’t think we should throw out the baby with the bath water,” she said. “There were some really good things that the report pointed to.”

However, she questioned the logic behind expanding the governor’s control when crime issues persist under his current remit. “Law and order has always been the responsibility of the governor. And we have for years been having these challenges in terms of crime,” she noted.

Smith encouraged the public to read the full report and suggested taking it to the communities for discussion. “It’s a good and excellent suggestion that we should go to each district and go through the report with members of the public,” she said.