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.
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Is she talking about the report or is she referring to Ronnie?
The report wasn’t branded Xenophobic, it was Skelton. Who writes for this rag news outlet. You need some hearing aids or help reading?
Immigration and Customs are enforced by the Federal USA government NOT the elected politicians. So what’s the problem? This border security system is much more competent when enforced by the mother country so changing to that system in the BVI should be no problem!
Ms Hon Smith, un k ess I am mistaken ,you are of sound mind and reside in these VIwhere Each and every daily living condition is solely the result of the actions, performance and behaviour of those who ” look like us”…
Lack of a daily dependable water supply
A failed academic system for our children
A crime record breaking infested population with an overcrowded prison.
A police force recruited from foreign lands due to insufficiency of same,locally
A criminal and dominant in numbers population that “looks like us”knowingly and systematically imported and installed by those who look like us .
A hospital and medical services with inadequacies across the board guaranteeing our untimely death and sufferjng.
Hon Smith, Us is a *rig to us as we all know.
The UK has given the BVI government all kinds of slack but they still won’t change their corruption ways doing what they want like they own the BVI and the people’s money, I think it was time to stop the government. The UK should go a little further than and give the governor the powered to run the country. The white man or the UK is not the down fall of the BVI it’s our own people.
Any Honest, Sensible Person would agree with much of the Contents of this report. After being witnesses to what happened Before, During and After the First COL ever in the territory of the Virgin Islands one would think that Most people in These Virgin islands would agree that this Territory is Riddled with Corruption and Crimes on the highest level. The fact that a good majority is still claiming that this territory is Not Corrupt speaks Volumes to the Cynical mentality in this Territory. Only Time will tell. I Pray for future Generations as stated in
God’s Words.