Second law review report was unnecessary — Vanterpool
Acting Police Commissioner Jacqueline Vanterpool has said the second volume of the law enforcement and criminal justice review report for the Virgin Islands was unnecessary, as many of its recommendations had already been implemented locally.
“In reference to the Law Review Report No. 2, I’ll be quite candid with you. It was unnecessary,” Vanterpool stated during an interview on the Talking Points radio show.
The report, officially titled A Review of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Bodies in the British Virgin Islands: Volume 2 – A Road Map for 2025 to 2035, was published on 8 April 2025 by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS). It contains 375 recommendations, including restructuring government departments, establishing new security agencies, and implementing long-term reforms through 2035.
Vanterpool explained that, as head of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), she had already developed internal strategies before the report’s release. “The first thing I did, I developed a strategic plan. I put a number of objectives in place and priorities, and this is what I delegate down to my superintendents,” she stated.
Her position reflects concerns raised by some lawmakers in the House of Assembly earlier this year, who questioned the cost and relevance of implementing all the recommendations in Volume Two. Some members argued that while reforms are necessary, the BVI’s unique context requires tailored rather than imported solutions.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley acknowledged that while the report included useful recommendations, some conclusions were not supported. “There are good recommendations in the report. There are recommendations that will help to keep us safe, but there are a number of recommendations that we don’t agree with,” he asserted.
Dr Wheatley added the report did not reflect the views of either the local government or the United Kingdom. “It’s an independent report. It came from an independent agency. It doesn’t represent the Virgin Islands government’s views, and it doesn’t represent the United Kingdom government’s views,” he explained.
The HMICFRS report itself acknowledges local efforts already underway, noting that the scale of recommended change did not necessitate further inspections or reviews of the territory’s criminal justice or law enforcement agencies in the next 10 years.
The first volume of the law review report, published in May 2024, had focused on immediate concerns, and Vanterpool indicated that the RVIPF welcomed that earlier assessment.
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What’s the point of massive amounts of new legislation, and weeks of expensive policing of that said legislation if the AG & DPP prosecutors appear to have little interest , political motivation or indeed enough talent capable of turning these cases into warnings, fines or jail time for those seemingly obviously guilty .
“…the second volume of the law enforcement and criminal justice review report for the Virgin Islands was unnecessary, as many of its recommendations had already been implemented locally”
Haha – what a joke!
This is why she shouldn’t be the commissioner. The report wasn’t there to hurt her feelings. It was there to objectively identify problems and solutions. That is the commissioner’s job. If she can’t see that, she isn’t fit for the role.
Sadly this shows why she would fail terribly if appointed to the role. She lacks the experience to even understand how these inspectorate reports are put together and why. It’s sad, but you don’t have it lady.
What a stupid statement – showing she is not fit even to act! The leader should be embracing recommendations and looking for constant improvement. Please find somebody who can do that!
The Ag Commissioner has made a bold statement about the published report not being required as she had already solved the issues. Three things, 1. I ask her publicly, please back up your comments with proof that you have done all of the work in the first report as well as set up the work to be done in the second report. 2. Was it her or the UK officers that did the work? 3. Has the Governor as her boss seen the evidence and said that its all done?
the local and UK hatchets are out in rage on this one.
Wowwww, look at them!!!