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An anti-corruption unit needed in the VI?

- Acting COP David Morris thinks so!
Acting COP David Morris says he comes from an environment where anti corruption units are formed to tackle corruption.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force will not tolerate corruption in any shape or form, declared the Territory’s acting Commissioner of Police, and has suggested that an anti-corruption unit be established to tackle such an issue.

In an exclusive interview with this news agency, David Morris stated that corruption is an abuse of position and a breach of trust in a public office.

However, the first priority in the Force’s strategic plan, according to the acting COP, is to develop the trust and confidence in the police force, and to do that “we must ensure that we do not have corruption, abuse, prejudice or discrimination.”

“If any officer here caught for corruption [he or she] will face criminal charges and if convicted will be dismissed. If they don’t face criminal charges, they will certainly face disciplinary charges and that applies to any public agencies in the BVI,” he emphasised.

And in an effort to maintain the integrity and transparency of investigating a corrupt officer or public official, the seasoned police officer stated that an anti-corruption unit could be an option.

“What I would say is that we need to think about a department in Government on how do we respond to allegations of corruption. At the moment such allegations are reported to the police and we investigate it...and of course we investigate ourselves. We should be thinking if there is a need for an anti-corruption unit where such allegations about officers, public figures, public servants can be referred to and investigated, that is independent, seems to be fair and hold those reports in confidence,” Morris said.

According to him, he comes from an environment where such units exist. When asked if any officer was dismissed for corruption, the acting COP replied, “None that I know of.”

However, several Customs Officers have been charged and are before the courts for breach of trust, while one Immigration Officer is in the mix.

15 Responses to “An anti-corruption unit needed in the VI?”

  • heads up (25/06/2012, 07:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hope he fights this not in the police force only but up the chain above him who whoever he reports too because corruption is corruption!!!
  • Not2Sure (25/06/2012, 08:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yes, but who would control the anit-corruption unit?
  • Crooks (25/06/2012, 08:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This will have some a dem political crooks shivering- Cookie Monster- and FAT BUMMER - TIME UP
    • ooooo (25/06/2012, 09:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      how you aint mention those from the other side who's involved in that stamp duty saga?
  • ABC (25/06/2012, 09:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    All this guy doing from time he in the big job is talk talk talk while crime remains on the rise!!!!
    • johnnyboy (25/06/2012, 10:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      This is the first commissioner who blah blah blah so much. Mr. Morris why dont know fight crime and make people in the Virgin Islands feel safe. That was why you were appointed in the first place.
  • Confucius (25/06/2012, 09:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I think an anti-corruption unit is a very solid idea. We all know that corruption exists within the police force and other areas of the public service. It is also not unheard of to have corruption among the ranks of our politicians, but nobody seems willing to bring charges against them. I would support such an initiative wholeheartedly. We need to get a BIG broom to clean up our police force, public service and to help keep our politicians on the up and up. Hopefully, there are enough politicians with little or nothing to hide who will allocate funds for this department to be set up.
  • critic (25/06/2012, 09:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    this same unit will be corrupted too...wanna bet?
  • wow (25/06/2012, 10:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wow, here this guy goes again. Is he here to deceive the people of the BVI. Every day he is the newspaper like some politician. We did not bring him here for that. Governor, what are you doing about this. Let the man do hios job and stop posing for the newspaper. He is not cool.
    • ccc (25/06/2012, 11:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Hell no the governor will not do a thing about Morris they are pals… they hang out together, they go sailing toghter…and they are form the UK…need I say more?? They are tight!!!
  • sTRUPES (25/06/2012, 14:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Since Morris took over, everything is needed in these Virgin Islands - forensic lab, anti-corruption unit, this that. Well, he is not needed because we functioned adequately without them for decades. He likes to compare here with the UK. Well, plain and straight, we are not the UK. We are the Virgin Islands. This man needs to go quick or he will ruin our self-esteem.
  • cat walk (25/06/2012, 16:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Davis Morris just in the BVI for show and tell..another one on vacation..shame on the BVI government..give Mr. Stoutt the commissioner of police work
    • taxpayer (26/06/2012, 21:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Give me a break, Stoutt can't fight his way out of a brown paper bag. Let's not make a joke of this thing. I am no fan of Morris but Stoutt is out of the question.
  • laughable (27/06/2012, 00:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    corruption, abuse, prejudice or discrimination LOL. You chat some big chat but these are what you are about. When corrupt people start spouting words of corruption even the devil get scared. You can hide behind big words but why should the Rat guard the cheese. If such a department should come onstream it should be separate from the Police and have all authority to investigate all and sundry.


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