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Gov Pruce dismisses security concerns over Law Enforcement Review Report

- said very step was taken to ensure security was not compromised in Report
Governor of the Virgin Islands Daniel Pruce has said 'every step was taken' to ensure that information released in the published version of the ‘The British Virgin Islands: Volume One- A review of law enforcement and criminal justice bodies in the British Virgin Islands’ would not compromise the security of the people or law enforcement’s ability to operate effectively. Photo: GIS/File
Governor Daniel Pruce, second from right, who has been on the job as Governor in the Virgin Islands since January 2024, made his first Talking Points appearance on Monday, July 17, 2024, on ZBVI 780 AM. Photo: Facebook
Governor Daniel Pruce, second from right, who has been on the job as Governor in the Virgin Islands since January 2024, made his first Talking Points appearance on Monday, July 17, 2024, on ZBVI 780 AM. Photo: Facebook
Opposition member in the Virgin Islands (VI) House of Assembly (HoA), Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) has called for more information in a new report of a review of law enforcement in the Virgin Islands (VI) to be redacted as a matter of national security. Photo: VINO/File
Opposition member in the Virgin Islands (VI) House of Assembly (HoA), Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) has called for more information in a new report of a review of law enforcement in the Virgin Islands (VI) to be redacted as a matter of national security. Photo: VINO/File
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI- Governor of the Virgin Islands Daniel Pruce has said “every step was taken” to ensure that information released in the published version of the ‘The British Virgin Islands: Volume One- A review of law enforcement and criminal justice bodies in the British Virgin Islands’ would not compromise the security of the people or law enforcement’s ability to operate effectively.

Governor Pruce, who has been on the job as Governor in the Virgin Islands since January 2024, made his first Talking Points appearance on Monday, July 17, 2024, on ZBVI 780 AM where co-host Damion C. Grange brought up the concerns regarding the Police Review Report.

The report was made public in the House of Assembly during the Twelfth Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly in the Virgin Islands (VI) on June 25, 2024, and referenced some 138 recommendations for mostly the law enforcement sector.

Concerns

Following the report’s release, Opposition Member in the Virgin Islands (VI) House of Assembly (HoA), Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) called for more information in the new report of a review of law enforcement in the Virgin Islands (VI) to be redacted as a matter of national security.

His views were also shared by Opposition Leader Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL).

However, during Monday’s Talking Points, Governor Pruce said, “We went through a very careful process of consultation of all the agencies that were involved in the compilation of the review to ensure that nothing contained in the published version would compromise their ability to operate…we do not want to create any risk to any activity or to any personnel.”

‘Standard practice’

According to Governor Pruce, it is “standard practice” for reports of this kind conducted by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) to be published as HMIC’s core principle in its reviews is that they are made public. “So we wanted to be consistent with that principle with the review that they conducted for us,” the Governor said.   

Governor Pruce further stated, “I can say hand on heart that everyone involved in this process has been very diligent and very conscientious in seeking to ensure that nothing is released publicly which will benefit people who seek to engage in unlawful activity”.

Acknowledging concerns, Governor Pruce assured that “every step was taken to ensure that nothing was released that would comprise people’s security or the ability of the law enforcement agencies to operate successfully”.

His Majesty’s Chief Inspector and former police officer in the United Kingdom, Andy J. Cooke delivered a scathing review of law enforcement and criminal justice bodies in the Virgin Islands in his report. Mr Cooke alleged that serious failings in law enforcement and criminal justice bodies were found. He said in some cases, these were so serious as to endanger the lives of staff and the public.

See related article below:

Crimefighting plans in latest law enforcement review must be redacted- Hon Penn

6 Responses to “Gov Pruce dismisses security concerns over Law Enforcement Review Report”

  • Do disrespect (17/07/2024, 12:52) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    SIR Governor. You and your UK workers can not be trusted. You at us for currupt politicians but yet you guys have many

    You do not want to pass medical marijuana bill but yet have yours. Your COI was an attack on our people and still doing such.


    You say you care but when you really dont. So forget you and your words. There was a point i believe in you guys. But truly many of you act like we living on the slavery years still.
  • Gov on point (17/07/2024, 13:08) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    VI people want transparency, law and order!
  • ... (17/07/2024, 13:18) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    White supremacists
  • police officers (17/07/2024, 14:14) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    When he going fire mark Collins ?
  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands (17/07/2024, 14:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    July 17, 2024.

    Hon. Governor Pruce, others and I should have no bumping with you or the UK'S policies, if all actions by everyone that violate the Law Enforcement Review Report and it's intending goal are treated evenly.
    Time and action will truly tell the story.
  • ... (17/07/2024, 14:43) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I agree the report should be made public as criminals are human and capable of seeing those weaknesses on their own.

    This governor is new & has not done anything racist by character in my opinion.

    The problem is no matter which governor comes or which local politician gets in nothing really changes. Security increase & police funding is regurgitated, politics the same. The public is not made aware of bills, no education. Public assistance bill sounds good but what does that mean?

    When the bills are discussed the bill is not passed or written correctly. The greed! The cannabis bill was perfect except government hogging cultivation at paraquita bay for themselves and chosen few.

    No part in this says persons are allowed to plant a few or that rastafari were given recognition as politically promised.

    https://bvi.gov.vg/sites/default/files/resources/bill_-_cannabis_licensing_act_2020.pdf

    To point out this being 2020 means they wasted time & money essentially on a stalled bill with no value provided.

    Legalizing & decriminalizing the public would cause the biggest positive shift in law enforcement, rather than squeezing the public further and criminals race to keep up as usual.


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