Enough with the Acting; Confirm Jacqueline E. Vanterpool- Hon Turnbull
“Premier, if you and your government don’t move with haste to ensure that the people that are in these positions — acting and acting and acting — are not confirmed, I am weary and fearful that these positions will be filled yet again by persons that do not understand or care to understand the BVI.”
He cited as example, the current Acting Commissioner of Police, Ms Jacqueline E. Vanterpool, commending her community-based leadership style.
Intended Constitutional Advances
Hon Turnbull gave his assessment and candid remarks during a spirited contribution to the debate on the Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Bill 2025 on March 31, 2025.
“In six months… people are getting arrested and there’s a level of confidence… because she’s coming out in the community and having discussions, and meeting with the people, and trusting her officers to do their job.”
Despite these successes, Hon Turnbull expressed concern about outside narratives dominating the reform process, and quipped, “...rather than continuing to beat me over the head and tell me what’s wrong, what needs to be fixed… help me.”
He also, questioning the legislative timeline, queried, “I was trying to find out... if before this, any amendments would have been done recently or prior to — not prior to, but post — 2007, 2021.”
This, since drawing members attention to the Virgin Islands Constitutional Order of 2007, he noted it, sought to secure greater ministerial responsibility for elected officials.
Noting the apparent continuation of provisions that place the Governor in charge of merchant shipping — rather than the Premier or a Minister — he too, voiced concern about what he suggested was a failure to fully implement the constitutional advances intended in 2007.
I will continue to Bellow!
“We moved towards further securing our advancement with ministerial responsibilities… I’m hoping… that we will do now (in this Bill), which is make the change from Governor to Minister, even if it includes Minister in Cabinet.”
Hon Turnbull was equally vociferous about what he perceives as an undercurrent of colonial retrenchment, telling colleagues, “The undercurrent of what continues to show its ugly head in our territory… are being walked back — or suggested to be walked back — in legislation, in publications, in CoI (Commission of Inquiry) recommendations.”
Referencing directly, the COI reports and the recent Law Enforcement Review, Parts I and II, which he characterised as undermining local capability and governance, said, “The narrative is that we are not good enough.”
He insisted nonetheless, “I will continue to bellow from wherever I could be heard and say that we are in fact good enough, and we as the Virgin Islands people are more than enough.”
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19 Responses to “Enough with the Acting; Confirm Jacqueline E. Vanterpool- Hon Turnbull”
I am going to apply for the post because I am entitled, born here. I donot have to be quality. Just that I born right here.
I was checking the government website for the advertisement but it's not there. Where???
But seriously, please for God in heaven sake, Ms. Jackie can't handle it