Walwyn slams ‘damning’ law enforcement report
Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has called the parliamentary debate on the UK-led Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Review as “an exercise in futility,” warning that the report lays the groundwork for a systematic power grab by the United Kingdom through the Governor’s Office.
The second volume of the review, tied to Recommendations 38 and 41 of the Commission of Inquiry (COI), sets out a 10-year roadmap of sweeping reforms to the Virgin Islands’ law enforcement and justice systems. It includes proposals to strip several key functions from the local government and place them under the direct control of the Governor.
“This is a power grab,” Walwyn told the House of Assembly during a recent debate. “All the power resides elsewhere.”
‘Why the rush?’
The Opposition Leader criticised the timing of the debate, noting that lawmakers were given insufficient time to properly review the more than 280-page report.
“We got this report last week. Last week? A week before? A report that has 280-something pages that none of us can honestly say, none of us can honestly say, that we had the chance to read this report in its entirety,” Walwyn argued.
He also questioned the motive behind the accelerated timeline, suggesting it was driven by UK priorities rather than local democratic processes. “Oh, they want to read the report in the UK? That could be a reason for a democratically elected government and legislature to not have the time to read through such a damning report that, by the way, is under embargo, which means that you could not even have a discussion with your constituents.”
“And now you come to rush us with this report because the UK wants to lay it? Well, who are we representing really? The UK or are we representing the people of the BVI?” he asked.
Walwyn said that despite the serious nature of the recommendations, the debate ultimately held no real power, as the report reflects reforms already accepted under the COI framework. “The reality of the matter is our utterances would make absolutely no difference because the report is done pursuant to recommendations that we have already accepted. So what we’re doing here today is an exercise in futility as far as I’m concerned.”
Major changes and financial questions
Among the recommendations in the review are proposals to merge Customs and Immigration into a unified Border Agency, establish a new Anti-Corruption Agency, and form a Maritime Law Enforcement Agency—all to be placed under the Governor’s remit. It also calls for the revocation of customs and immigration operations at the Virgin Gorda and Anegada airports.
Walwyn raised concerns about how these reforms would be funded, given the territory’s tight budget. “Where is this money going to come from to pay all these new agencies and people?” he asked, pointing out that the 2025 budget projects $410 million in revenue and $411 million in expenditure.
He warned that the recommendations undermine the spirit of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007, which promotes self-governance and political advancement. “Taking that power back… is not, in my view, the right way to operate. The right way to do things,” he said.
Walwyn argued that implementing the review in its current form would disenfranchise Virgin Islanders and weaken the authority of the elected government. “It’s a power grab. All the power resides elsewhere.”
He ended his remarks with a call for unity: “This country has to come together. Let us lock hands together to improve our home.”
Copyright 2025 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Time for BVI to cleaned up and stop the corruption
He is a symbol of Co***ption with the school wall and his arrest and charges
It is the choice made by these VI and its elected Government.
Face the consequences!
He should have stopped there, I think that’s the crux of the report in a nutshell and the reason to remove powers from obviously an corrupt administration and return it to the honest and fair minded for the good of the public and its purse.
By honest and fair minded you mean WHITE? Because they do no wrong?
Hasn’t the police been under the Governor from inceptions… And that is failing or has issues so why should we give him more things to be in control over???
We look MAD or What?>
The take over these our “Black People Virgin Island by the UK has been an effort in view for years.
They (the UK, have nor respect,) and is blinded by their zeal for power, economics fulfillment.
Such is fuelled and empowered by outdated colonial thoughts, practices and desires, and gross hatred for the Black man, the VI’s Black man of the offspring of their former slave holdings.
They arehated especially because they have have shown relilence in the face of utter hardships and neglect by said UK colonial officials.
They, today, now find themselves creating and utilizing sneaky political guns legislation to come and reclaim what the bird santuary people have pain stakingly put together by their own sweat, labor and tears over the decades.
What kind of mind would even think such? But actually act upon it is even more insane and diabolical!
Indeed, we the people, country and future have but two or more alternative to rid ourselves of the inevitable, and they are 1) breakaway fromhe colonialist completely or 2)seek some sort autonomous political relationship with the free nations of the world.
It must be noted here, we al must be very gladdened by thefact thatwe have a knowledgable defender and activist in the name of Hon. Mr. Walwyn, Myron who is capable of doing the lifting intellectual and legal work for us the country.
These are the kinds of minds the Lord have sent to us to guide us through. Therefore, we mutembrace and support the mind, or. we will all perish at the hands of our former and current enemy, colonialism as ued by the UK. We had beter wake upsoon.
This mindset on the distant past is not good for mental health, its an obsession with a lot of people who cannot find anything else to rant about. The fact is, it was the white UK politician and other humanitarians who fought for the abolition of slavery, and England was the first European nation to willingly give up the slave trade.
Nobody is disputing the atrocities of that historical regime, but it’s time to move on, don’t you think?
you cant take the time to stop power grabbing and arguing amongst yourselves and read 280 pages that are critical to the BVI? This is why we need a guiding hand that has the time…
Is forty pages a day too much to ask?
The professional knowledge ,and common sense Myron has in his little toe, Natalio and his team do not possess in their brains .
Natalio, seek Myron advice on things you and your tram has no experience or clue about.
Instead of Locals fighting amongst themselves and ganging up
after to fight with Belongers then those with work permits
stand unified to
Protect the Rights of the people in the BVI … Self determination and that doesn’t mean independence
Myron is by noMeans perfect , who is ? but HE loves his country and has demonstrated time and time again genuine love for all people of the BVI .
I wish I could like this comment 10,000 times. Let’s see what the so-call indigenous have to show for themselves. There are capable people here who love the country and are being treated like dirt. It is bad behavior.
Hon. Walwyn loves what BVI? Maybe, but he loves himself more and his brain and the thought of power is orgasmic for him. I think if he gets to be Premier of this country that ball head will explode. He is an over, over, over achiever and will mow down who ever is in his way to get what he wants. He does not care who he has to li* to and lead astray. Hon. Turnbull and Hon. Mather better think country in all their dealings. They need to. He doesn’t. It seems to be all about him. God says in Phillipians 2:3: Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit but with humility count others more significant thatn yourselves.
He deals with people who does not. He always pulls them down a couple of pegs and soe he drops on their heads. Hon. Fahie found out the hard way.
The Bible also says he that is humble will be exalted. All three members of the Alliance are impressive, but there is a time for everything under the sun and this move was totally unnecessary at this time and only for individual gain and self serving. Power, at all costs. If new blood are not elected they will have to work together so why destroy relations and trust? Ronnie always seem to be in the way of their blind ambition. The two Ms wants him out of the way. But they should know that God is always in control and what he wants is what will happen and that is our prayer. For Country is more important that power.
The alliance are way ahead of their time, I call the the “I-3’s” just like Peter tosh, Bunny wailer,Bob Marley was the I-3’s