PREMIER: UK model for hiring Police Commission is a failure
Amid the Governor’s promise to relaunch the search for a new Police Commissioner, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has deemed the UK’s selection process a failure, adding that the BVI would be better off with a local in the top post.
Following the April 8 publication of a new report on crime-fighting agencies in the territory, Governor Daniel Pruce said he will be choosing the territory’s next Police Commissioner based on the recommendations of the report.
But during Tuesday’s debate on the controversial report in the House of Assembly, Premier Wheatley said the UK’s system of selecting an expatriate for the post isn’t working for the BVI.
“This system they have of police commissioners coming from the UK every two to three years, it’s a failure! Every time a new one comes, they start from scratch. Half the time they are here, they use it to try to figure out what’s going on. By the time they figure out what’s going on, it’s time for them to leave. It’s a failure,” the Premier stated.
He added that the top cop post is suitable for a local, who is more likely to understand the cultural and socio-economic factors that affect crime in the society. The Premier said this would be different from past expatriates who’ve held the post and often viewed “everybody as a suspect.”
“I cast no aspersions on any of them but this system is a failure. We have people who have come up through this course, they understand our society, the cultural and the socio-economic context, and those things are important. They know the young man who may have been giving trouble since he was a student and maybe his parents have a history of going to the police station,” the Premier further explained.
Take responsibilities from the governor
The Premier also rejected the report prepared by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, which suggests placing the Customs Department, Financial Investigation Agency, and Immigration Department under the direct control of the Governor — effectively removing them from the elected government’s remit.
Instead of putting more agencies under the Governor, the Premier said he believes responsibilities currently under the Governor should be devolved to the elected government. He and other elected leaders expressed that many areas under the Governor’s remit have been underperforming for years.
“We should actually do the opposite of what is being suggested here. The police, the prison, and internal security should be under the responsibility of the elected government. Colonialism is a failure and doesn’t lead to greater security, it leads to an inferior state of security,” the Premier said.
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our crooked politicians need less power not more
S!0wW@nde need to repeal the greedy bill and let’s see how people respond
You were too anxious to
Lead and agree to all the recommendations sent to you with little consultation from the people.
It is too late now . The Uk has experienced and knowledge in tightening the noose for hundreds of Years
Andrew wanted to hang Myron so he trips
Down to the Governor balling corruption. Myron still standing see where Andrew is ?
Now the Mallet fall down on everbody . Who better to lead than people who understands their own culture?
England will never give independence to a next territory, they will not lessen their Empire not with the current state of world events
Can I suggest the Premier himself takes up the vacancy of Police chief in addition to his many other titles. The job title should be BVI Sheriff’
UK will provide a free horse for local travel and a posse of local young men to assist in law and order
If BVI history is anything to go by, placing a local in charge of the police is like the fox guarding the hen house. No police chief one from here is going to go after relatives, or politicians, so the suggestion really is a way to maintain the place accountability free.
If history is a marker then let’s examined the corruption that happened under the last three comics from the uk. If recent history is what we’re going by then examined the white riots in uk and see how the poor performance. We must stop this belittling of our own and this subservience mentality to everyone and everything from the big island. Let’s see if the editor let this pass. This is not for clicks or clouts.
“We should actually do the opposite of what is being suggested here. The police, the prison, and internal security should be under the responsibility of the elected government. Colonialism is a failure and doesn’t lead to greater security, it leads to an inferior state of security,” the Premier said.
This and he entire article speaks of trut, pure truth, and is agreed with100%
Agree but the way dem hiring in there, it full up wit dem Jamaicans. Wha really going on in there? One nation cyan be deh only hire! Somebody need to look into dat!
need different politicians with the pedigree of Mr. Walwyn. Only then will this nation be spared the coming nightmare of recolonialization by the UK/British.
https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2024/08/06/former-bvi-premier-sentenced-prison-conspiring-import-cocaine-us
He is right on this topic
ALL Natalio got to do is put one of his many overpaid advisors to be the COP then he set
non stop party with police as security for every event private and public.
compensation for police? nah they’ll be aight just stop crime but leave the coco alone thnx
On the present trajectory Wheatley’s legacy is going to be a disaster.
The real failure is you, your Government and previous Governments. Every chance you get you remind us that the Governor is responsible for the police so let him do what he believes must be done to clean up the force since you wash your hands from it.
The like Officer Vanterpool but her exposure is limited and whose fault is that? Where is the evidence of our local Politicians advocating for change and training, etc for our police and its leaders? You are the real failure.
As far as I am concern, you Mr. BOI PREMIER is the wrong influence in the Territory right now. You had need to be the director of cultural entertainment and not minister of finance. Maybe your bruddas needs to advise you better.
This guy sounds like a trump wannabe. Anything he does not like for any reason has no merit. Let’s leave facts and rational thinking out of it seems to be the approach.