RVIPF vacancies: Local officers allege being sidelined for UK officers
Local officers being sidelined?
The RVIPF, under Commissioner and UK national Mr Michael B. Matthews, recently advertised vacancies for Detective Sergeant, Mentor/Office Manager; Detective Constable, Mentor and CCTV Manager; Detective Constable, Mentor and Exhibits Officer; Detective Constable, Mentor and Interview Advisor; Detective Constable, Surveillance Officer; and Detective Constable, Technical Officer.
Reports reaching Virgin Islands News Online (VINO); however, are that local officers believe that the qualifications set out, such as Professionalising the Investigation Process (PIP), are deliberate attempts to sideline local officers, knowing they would not be able to make those qualifications although, they are reportedly capable of carry out the jobs being advertised based on experienced and even training.
They have also argued PIP is a standard not a qualification.
Salaries a ‘burden’ on VI purse
Further, it is alleged that the salaries being offered for the advertised posts are huge and would be a burden on the public’s purse and that it would serve the treasury better, if a fraction of that money was spent on facilitating training for local officers to take up the advertised posts.
For the Detective Sergeant/Office Manager position, the salary range is $31,523.00 to $50,086.00 annually, plus allowances of US$ 13,800.00.
For the positions requiring Detective Constables, the salary range is $28,134.00 to $42,091.00 annually, plus allowances of US$13,200.00.
Local officers supervising UK officers?
The matter has allegedly been taken up by the Police Welfare Association (PWA), which has allegedly penned a letter to the Office of the Premier.
According to information reaching VINO, the PWA believes that “for too long our local sergeant and inspectors have to supervise and manage UK based constables who are earning substantively higher income than their line supervisor and managers. We are subjecting our line managers and supervisors to a state of inferiority."
“We strongly advocate for equality and we find the present practice is bordering on the perimeter of discrimination that must be addressed.”
Immediate training required/Save $$- PWA
The PWA has also called for immediate efforts to train and certify local officers to fill the existing specialist vacancies in the RVIPF. This it argues, will save the Government a huge amount of money.
Commissioner Matthews was asked why there was no training offered to the local officers to fill some of the specialist positions instead of having to spend on recruitment in these challenging times.
Skills ‘not all available locally’- CoP Matthews
“The decision to recruit for these specific specialists has been agreed with the National Security Council and the Minister of Finance himself - suggest you ask him about any ‘burden’ on the public purse,” Mr Matthews stated.
He also said the positions are open to local officers, local persons as well as external applicants, “If you want your police force to function effectively, then certain skill sets are required and it’s a fact of life they are not all available locally. Certainly the Ministry recognises this even if a handful of disgruntled officers do not!” Mr Matthews responded.
Meanwhile, Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) had not responded to our queries up to time of publication.
A repeat of history?
The issues being raised in the RVIPF bring back memories of a decade ago.
In May 9, 2011, an article entitled ‘Who is in charge of the RVIPF? Is the Deputy too powerful?’ say some officers alleging there was subtle discrimination in the RVIPF. In a few meetings, the then Deputy Commissioner and UK national, David Morris, had allegedly said he needed the United Kingdom officers as the local police officers did not “have the skills and capabilities like his UK officers”.
One officer had further told Virgin Islands News Online that Morris was allegedly always pushing a Nigel Nivens, a UK officer, a then Senior Investigative Officer, and telling the other local officers of Nivens’ alleged police skills, that no other local officers possess, in order to investigate crime.
However, another police officer had told this news site in the same article mentioned above, that when crime occurs at night ‘we never see Nigel but he is the SIO”.
Following the Virgin Islands News Online article, the then Deputy Commissioner made an attempt to censor this news site by shutting us out of all press conferences held by the RVIPF, removing our name from press release circulars including the reporters personal E-mail addresses and disallowing any senior officer from speaking to this news site on matters of public information.
Morris’ unprofessional, illegal and unconstitutional act was met with outrage from most in the legal and professional class; however, he subsequently lifted the ban without this news site having to seek remedy and intervention in the courts.
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31 Responses to “RVIPF vacancies: Local officers allege being sidelined for UK officers”
Its not record science being a Detective
AS we all do it when we suspect something and we follow it through
The UK has training for detective and investigators. You should be asking why aren't these courses provided to locals
Stop your *&#@ bring them from the us the locals like to be in the rings
This COP is now leaving and hopefully all the positions are filled with people who can do there jobs, no matter who they are and where they are from.
Same goes for government contracts over the years going to family, friends who have no knowledge, tools, business sense to complete and then we wonder where all the government Funds have gone and unfinished contracts that are left.
They are not ALL Bright
But they are British regardless of colour and they will wine and dine the rich and upper class BVI females
There is specialist training that is only provided by the service for their personnel but for the academic aspect, officers need to educate themselves. Mr Matthews has lost the plot a long time now and I can't understand how he actually wasn't fired a long while ago. Imagine he said on news recently that the BVI has a "big drug problem". That's since before his tenure right? So he's now the COP but didn't eradicate the problem, who's to blame? Gun crimes occur in the BVI but yet most officers are unarmed. I pray that an unarmed officer never has to encounter a perp with an illegal firearm.
In my opinion there is a clear and present bias towards non Caucasians in the force but that being said a lot of Afro locals and Caribbean nationals that comprise the RVIPF have contributed to their own sorry situation because of their poor work ethic and failure to enhance their skill sets. Nothing is entitled to anyone. Don't get the job and rest on your laurels, thinking that you have achieved something. Many times the RVIPF have been found wanting in the execution of their duties.
For example:
1. Two men were shot a stones throw away from RT police station and the officers there responded poorly. If it were a terrorist attack, they could've been all killed. It was like a wait till the shots ended then go investigate.
2. Trinity and Mr Penn murdered since 2017. Nobody brought to justice for the murders.
3. People going missing but life goes on as usual.
4. Robberies, burglary, shootings occurring but no resolve.
Don't blame the white man for your problems. A lot of officers have proven themselves as incompetent and lazy. That being said, there are officers who are very eager, educated, disciplined and highly motivated to serve God and country but are stymied in their efforts by the corrupt few. Time to stand up you lot and uplift the RVIPF to its proper place so that the public would regain their trust in them. Also, deal with the unruly civilians swiftly and justly, where they're from heh or not.
We do not need UK officers because there is full of unsolved crimes there also. At the highest levels train the officers currently serving in the RVIPF and force multiply. Simple.
By God I sincerely hope that new leaders are chosen to head the RVIPF and build towards a brighter future. May the new COP be a God fearing person, local or Caribbean who would lead by example.
They can better work objectively.
"Indigenous" Vilanders for the most part are not the polic I ng type and have little interest in policing others.
Policemen and men,in general, from other Caribbean Islands are saddled with adverse reputations of dishonesty, cruelty and poor manners.
It all comes back to training. They don't train local Officers for specialist appointments
I wonder how many foreigners are in charge of your Intelligence and Fraud Sections
There should be ongoing training for all police officers
The UK is in charge
What is the current Commissioner of Police doing? Has he identified a replacement? Has he provided training to his senior management team? Has he provided specialized training to local officers?
If he hasn't then he ?????
Cases were not solved and material evidence often disappeared. Many of those on staff are totally lacking in integrity. If a complaint is called in they are unwilling to go to the home where the incident occurred, you must go to their office. You must do their work for them. They are grossly lazy and takes forever to complete a simple report. Many of them became police so that they could obtain Belonger Status, they lack interests and have no desire to become skilled. What should be done is to hire trained policeman on contract, bring them in on a four year contract, pay them well based on performance, return them back to their own countries at the end of their contract and repeat the process. By doing so, officers will not become complacent.
Those officers that are found to be corrupt and lacking in integrity and honesty, need to be removed.
Since the UK police are here there seems to be more success in solving some crimes.
Locals must also take responsibility for their failure to assist the Police in solving crimes. Those of you who have information and says nothing, you are a major part of why crimes go unsolved. The police are not God. They also need the community assistance if crimes are to be solved. UK police, thank you for your presence here.