BVI News

Not true! BVITB was not consulted about ‘Police in Paradise’ video

Director of Tourism Clive McCoy

Director of Tourism Clive McCoy has refuted claims that producers of the controversial ‘Police in Paradise’ video had consulted the BVI Tourist Board & Film Commission (BVITB) before it commenced filming.

Governor Rankin was the one who made those claims, suggesting during a press conference last Friday that the BVITB had sanctioned filming the video.

However, in a written statement released afterwards, McCoy said the BVITB first became aware of the video when it went viral in local chat rooms and on social media last week.

“We are not aware of when the footage for this production was shot, as there is no record of permission being sought. Furthermore, the BVITB did not issue a film permit to allow the filmed content from the video to be captured in the territory. I can confirm that the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) did consult with the BVITB four years ago in 2018, about a similar project. However, no approval was granted and we were not in favour of the proposed project,” McCoy stated.

“The BVITB does not have any record of consultation being made regarding the filming of the ‘Police in Paradise‘ video which has been recently circulated. In fact, the BVITB first became aware of the project when along with the entire community, we saw the video being shared in WhatsApp messages and social media platforms. I would like to reiterate that we are not in support of this video as it negatively portrays the territory,” the Director of Tourism added.

McCoy had previously condemned the video and highlighted that the Tourist Board is prepared to do damage control for any fallout that might occur because of the negative portrayal of the territory in the video.

Junior Minister for Tourism Alvera Maduro-Caines also expressed her dissatisfaction with the video, while many local political commentators have called for the resignation of the Police Commissioner.

The video depicts in graphic visuals some of the crimes that have occurred in the BVI in recent years and features Police Commissioner Mark Collins and several other prominent members of the police force.

The Commissioner has since apologised, explaining that it was meant to be a recruiting tool.

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39 Comments

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  1. vi says:

    This governor is to damn l**, he well know everything about the video

    Like 12
    Dislike 13
  2. Trevor says:

    This dude a waste, cannot even hold his pants up, forget the position he is meant to hold.
    Did nothing during covid, did nothing since, still doing nothing but chatting stupidnesses

    Like 7
    Dislike 17
    • Roots says:

      REFERENCED ARTICLE: “The Commissioner has since apologized, explaining that it was meant to be a recruiting tool”.

      Do you, as a person with common sense, believe what was said by the Commissioner in the referenced article? Why would you believe someone like this over the TB director?

      Like 6
      Dislike 6
  3. Salty Fish says:

    Who to believe? My God!

    The bottom line is that the more you guys talk and talk about this, and the more the media reports it, the brighter the fire burns and greater the attention this matter will receive. How about you resolve this matter between yourselves?

    Not only is the video troubling from a PR point of view, but the endless bickering only adds icing to the already baked ‘cake of ineptitude’ that is suffocating this Country!

    Like 34
    Dislike 1
  4. The TRUTH says:

    These people have an agenda.

    Like 11
    Dislike 5
  5. Shameful says:

    This is very troubling to say the least. If the governor and the commissioner could misrepresent on things like this what else are they misrepresenting the facts on. The commissioner has the responsibility for law enforcement but seemingly have an issue with the truth. The Lord is exposing these bad people for who they really are. More to come.
    They British appointed bloggers could now press dislike a million times. We are on to you all.

    Like 19
    Dislike 14
    • LOL says:

      What is not true featured in that video. Just because you want to bury your head in the sand does not make the truth go away.

      Like 13
      Dislike 6
  6. Can't trust them says:

    His Excellency l**ng Rankin

    Like 10
    Dislike 10
  7. Sue says:

    The family of the victim who was murdered, are they going to sue the RVIPF for releasing that heinous footage?

    Like 9
    Dislike 17
    • Sue for says:

      Say that incident happened 3:15 pm by 3:16 pm the whole island had cellphone footage of the bullet riddled jimny and the bullet riddled body

      Like 14
      Dislike 1
      • Sue says:

        So the release of a photo of a house by a private person through private social media is a crime but the very public and very international release of a video by a police commissioner of a person being killed is not? Sue!

        Like 6
        Dislike 4
    • Fact says:

      When did the RVIPF release the footage?
      …the fact is as we all know, the videoin its unedited and incompleted state was not released by the owner,RVIP. That fact is purposefully being overlooked in an attempt to cast blame where we know it does not belong.
      The culprit a popular female non BVislander is not denying the obvious but her fellow rabblerousers and other non VIslanders continue there singular effort in discrediting these Islands,their breadbasket, by any means necessary. Go Figure!

      Like 7
      Dislike 1
  8. @ the truth ? says:

    WHICH ONE ❓/ NOW THERE ARE 2 SIDES TO EVERY THING , IS IT THE PEOPLE WHO WANTS TO HIDE THE EVIDENCE AND THOSE WHO EXPOSES IT , LOOK IN THE MIRROR , AND TRY AGAIN ?

    Like 2
    Dislike 2
  9. Typical says:

    inept TB.
    1) Ignore inter government communication then claim they never received the communication.
    2) Guv’s office will issue the date and time the communication was sent to the TB.
    3) TB will deny receiving the communication.
    4) Guv’s office will publicize the communication sent to the TB with the date and time.
    5) TB will shift the blame to a TB staff member.

    Just another tempest in a teapot. No one wins but this tiny drama is good for the news websites!

    Like 17
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    • @typical says:

      Yes, attack the tourist board for calling out the governor on his untruths. This is very typical of fools.

      Like 13
      Dislike 10
      • Salty Fish says:

        I believe there ate special fools on both sides!

        Like 2
        Dislike 2
      • Reminder says:

        The former Gov Jaspert,seems just like yesterday,was vilified ,mocked, and labelled a liar and racist many times over.
        He has been proven and continues to be exonerated with the assist of the Divine.
        The liar in this current debate will be revealed in the same manner.
        Pay attention.
        Rain comin’!

        Like 5
        Dislike 1
        • @reminder says:

          Poor you. You are so deep in the wilderness of deception, lies and distortion that it makes no sense even trying to save you. I will utter not a word on your naivety. The British loves people like you. Fool!

          Like 3
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    • ?? says:

      If that is so then they still did not receive permission.

      Like 2
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      • Connection says:

        Hmmm not surprise that the
        Tourist
        Board would deny deny.. Typical BVI business as usual response, Never an acknowledgement of error and always attempts to shift all of the
        responsibility. The truth will be revealed sooner or later as Karma is currently on a roll
        in these parts.One thing for certajn…the purveyor of the video is an unemployed former employee of the said tourist board.

        Like 10
        Dislike 9
        • Reminder says:

          The former Gov Jaspert,seems just like yesterday,was vilified ,mocked, and labelled a liar and racist many times over.
          He has been proven and continues to be exonerated with the assist of the Divine.
          The liar in this current debate will be revealed in the same manner.
          Pay attention.
          Rain comin’!

    • @Typical says:

      That sounds about right.

  10. Well says:

    Rant all you want. The video presented the truth. Deal with it. It’s not all unicorn farts and pixie dust (or is that Fahie powder) in the BVI.

    Like 11
    Dislike 7
    • well then says:

      You think the police commissioners job is to put together a video of the worst crimes and share it in a group chat (begging for it to be leaked)?

      I think they messed up. That video was probably meant to be completed but the commissioner probably screwed up ahead of plan.

      Now as a result of the non local heads of government having blundered we see all kinds of lying to cover up the why such a video was made and released.

  11. Big Richard says:

    So ?

  12. Why? says:

    Why did the governor lie? Can that question be put forward for answering?

    Like 2
    Dislike 5
  13. Connection says:

    Hmmm not surprise that the
    Tourist
    Board would deny deny.. Typical BVI business as usual response, Never an acknowledgement of error and always attempts to shift all of the
    responsibility. The truth will be revealed sooner or later as Karma is currently on a roll
    in these parts.One thing for certajn…the purveyor of the video is an unemployed former employee of the said tourist board.

    Like 4
    Dislike 2
  14. Rubber Duck says:

    Why is this guy the head of the tourist board? Does he have vast experience or is he just one of the ruling elite and their cronies?

    Like 5
    Dislike 8
  15. which one is the liar? says:

    This is not open to interpretation. One of them is lying…..that simple. Not a good look.

    Like 3
    Dislike 1
  16. GTFOH says:

    Who were the ones that bragged about the record breaking drug bust to the international community and the Uk media in a press conference? The former governor and police. They never held another conference to announce that it was their very own who were caught. Who were the ones that bragged about the COI to the world before alerting the locals of their intentions the former governor. Let the blind stay blind, it is obvious that there is a smear campaign against the BVI by the UK.

    It’s is one thing to try to fix our problems but this approach is mind boggling. When trying to recruit people to a job you highlight the positives. It’s what every employer does they dont tell you about the bad or they try to make it seem less bad than it is. I’ve had the chance to meet people from all over the world who have settled in the BVI to work including UK, Switzerland, Guernsey, Cyprus, USA, South Africa to name a few and low crime is one of the things that they love about the BVI. The biggest problem was access to things they used to have and the cost to an extent. They talk about how it is odd that strangers would say good morning and good afternoon etc. as it is not common where they are from. They are not impressed by our infrastructure and thinks that we are far behind but when they tell their friends and family about the BVI they never ever tell them that crime is a big problem in the BVI because that’s not what the statistics show and that is not our reality.

    Less than a year ago Governor Rankin said that the “the British Virgin Islands remain one of the safest places in the region” In one of the former Police commissioner’s final press conferences on March 2021 he stated “There is something exceptional about the way of life in the Territory. You enjoy a luxury of the comfort that living in a safe place can only bring. Many relocate to these shores because of it.” Did crime somehow explode in the past months that change how safe the BVI is or is there now an agenda that must be marketed to the world.

    Like 10
    Dislike 6
  17. What? says:

    Bunch of kids, you are all a bunch of kids
    This island getting ridiculous.
    Look around what,s going on in other contry
    And you complaining about a f..video

    Like 5
    Dislike 4
  18. @ GTFOH says:

    first U are entitled to your own \ are you saying other people from outside outside of the BVI don’t have manners \ ❓

    Like 1
    Dislike 4
  19. Ta ta says:

    Ranking ra**st a** must go!!!

  20. BS says:

    This would not be news if the commissioner of police was a local.

    You want to complain about negative impacts to tourism? Say something about customs and immigration.

    It is or was a police training/ recruitment video. Tourists are just as able to read the news and see that we have gang and drug problems here. Police don’t need your approval to make such a video. It’s none of your damn business.

    The tourist board either doesn’t know or doesn’t care about of tourism in the BVI. The businesses that are here to serve tourism are largely ignored by the TB. The department is a joke. Its services are poor at best.

    Stop trying to make something out of nothing.

    Like 4
    Dislike 4
  21. Thoughts... says:

    Truth or not, the Commissioner should be asked to resign. That video was tactless and portrayed the BVI very negatively. It can be viewed as being prepared and sanctioned by someone trying to destabilize the Territory and its reputation.

    Like 2
    Dislike 2
  22. Big Richard says:

    BVTB has “no record” Their’s no record of anything the government has done.

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