The controversial Police (Amendment) Bill 2025 was passed—with amendments—in the House of Assembly (HoA) on January 9, 2025, following a heated debate and a contentious process that bypassed the traditional public consultation period between the second and third readings. Photo: VINO/File

Sponsor of the Virgin Islands Police (Amendment) Bill 2025, Premier Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) said the bill was important for not only addressing the Virgin Islands' crime challenges but improving global perceptions of governance and law enforcement in the Territory. Photo: YouTube

Successfully piloted by Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), he mounted a vigorous defence of the bill during his rebuttal on the evening of January 8, 2025, stressing its importance in not only addressing the Virgin Islands' crime challenges but improving global perceptions of governance and law enforcement in the Territory.

Human Cost

According to Premier Wheatley, “It’s important for us to be very reflective; The Virgin Islands, following the release of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report, was being characterised internationally as a place where law and order doesn’t exist. I’ve worked hard, and all of us have worked hard, to reverse that perception.”

Further justifying the necessity of the proposed legislation, he deemed it a significant step in addressing the territory’s crime rates and strengthening its reputation globally.

“We have to put mechanisms in place to confront, obstruct, prevent, and arrest illicit activity in our community,” he said, adding that this responsibility is one he takes “very seriously.”

According to the Premier, “I’ve lost several family members to violent crime over the past few years; There’s a real human cost to the illicit activity taking place; We have to confront this issue in a very real way and put politics aside.”

Rejecting accusations that the government was “selling out” the people or failing to protect their interests, Premier Wheatley was adamant, “...we are taking a responsible approach to this issue; The approach taken in the past is partly why we are in the situation we are in now.”

Distrust & Oversight

Additionally, Premier Wheatley in acknowledging public distrust in the police—particularly given their oversight by the Governor and the United Kingdom—also used the occasion to call for measures to bridge the gap between the police and the community.

“Let’s be real, there is a distrust that exists, but a mature approach is acknowledging this and working to fix it.”

According to the Premier, “While we want to give the police the powers necessary to deal with serious problems, we must ensure protections and oversight bodies are in place to prevent abuse of authority.”