CoP Matthews on vacation 'in the middle of a war'- Skelton-Cline
"I'm getting complaints from some of your officers, telling me that the Commissioner is on vacation," Skelton-Cline said on the Tuesday, September 1, 2020, edition of his 'Honestly Speaking' radio show livestreamed on Facebook and broadcast on ZBVI 780 AM.
"They don't know how the commissioner could be on vacation while we in the middle of a war," Skelton-Cline remarked.
The man of the cloth alleged that with a large number of police officers possibly impacted by COVID-19 and with several police stations having to be closed at the time, "and the leader is on vacation, I find this curious myself," he questioned.
A number of police officers have tested positive for COVID-19 and have been placed in quarantine.
Meanwhile, Mr Matthews confirmed to VINO last week that he was on leave; however, it remains unclear when he will return to the job.
VI @ war with COVID-19 - Skelton-Cline
"We at war, the Generals can't be on vacations while we at war, you know what we would do with Premier Fahie if he takes a vacation right now?" Skelton-Cline said.
He called also on Commissioner Matthews, the RVIPF and other facets of VI law enforcement to do their jobs, gather people facilitating human smuggling and make sure they are prosecuted.
"We at war with a force... it's not a traditional war, we are at war with a demon that you can't see with the naked eyes and this is the time for us to come together," he said.
'Short recharge of batteries not unreasonable'- CoP
Meanwhile, CoP Matthews said his vacation was approved by the National Security Council and that it was a flexible leave.
Further, he said he just started "a short break" as of Monday, August 31, 2020, having not had any break including working virtually every weekend since March.
"I think a short recharge of the batteries is not unreasonable," Mr Matthews told Virgin Islands News Online today, September 2, 2020.
"Of course it had to be agreed with the authority of the National Security Council hence why Alwin James is Acting Commissioner. We also agreed at this unpredictable time that Alwin and I should work apart to ensure command continuity in the face of Covid risk hence Alwin took leave and returned on Monday to take over."
Mr Matthews said he remains in contact with Mr James and Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert and has not left the Territory.
"My absence from the office remains flexible. Not sure what this has to do with Claude and indeed if it is newsworthy at such a time when we all need to be pulling together not looking to be devisive," Mr Matthews added.
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59 Responses to “CoP Matthews on vacation 'in the middle of a war'- Skelton-Cline”
He obviously has his cheerleaders and it hurts as a Caribbean national to see such a lack of accountability being placed on him in the performance of his duties. He's clearly no General. No real military leader will abandon his troops in glorious battle to take a wee nap. These are serious times and whilst "recharging of the batteries" is not a problem, it's seems as if he has been on vacation since his first day on the job.
In my opinion just a pompous Englishman who feels entitled to a position without doing the necessary things to uphold the office of COP and to enhance the RVIPF in general with aplomb.
Ask yourselves what real strides has been made in making the RVIPF a more professional, productive, innovative and effective force in his tenure.
1. Three different scooters with passengers and no mask wearing except for 1 passenger
2. Three men in close proximity facing each other speaking, 1 had a mask below his chin the others were not wearing masks
3. Lady standing by the driver side of a car (no mask on) talking to the driver
This was in the space of 2 minutes.
The Government has informed residents to report any persons/businesses who are breaking the law.
It’s people with your mentality who would watch this country go down the drain and do nothing.
Chief Fire Officer
Chief Immigration
The Sheriff that Bob Marley shot
All these people have deputies that are suppose to be able to run the outfits in the absence of the chief.
Just his way of getting the uk to bring more police officers please stay awake people
And I heard they trying to blackmail the government with his want want want want
One Chap took your tax money to purchase a new vehicle in the mist of our economic struggles: every man mouth shut(if Fahie had done that, most of us will want his head on a silver platter)
One chap hold a very sensitive post within this territory but sees it fitting to run to Mexico on Vacation in the mist of national security challenges
it is standard procedure within his department that under given conditions no vacation leave will be granted
both chaps will simply book a flight out of the territory and that’s their prerogative
Listen:
money is the motive for some residents within the territory and absolutely no “social interest”
some export money via money gram(7%tax)
some export money via wire transfer(0% tax)
Let's make it clear people!!!
We are in a pandemic, 1000's of lives are being lost everyday, a global economic crash possible, the USA are starting a global fight with China because of the Belt and Road Initiative, Beirut has just been blown in to the dark ages coincidentally, the BVI is fighting an enemy it can't see with minimal resources, people have been worried for months and now afraid because of toxic human smuggling, but get that punctuation correct or it will spoil someones morning!... n0 maTter who manY.; goood pointts your make,
The present Commissioner of police has no control of his officers. He leadership style needs some improvement. A weak leader makes a poor organization. Since COP Morris became a part of the organization and put the examination system in place the force has take downward trend because. If you carry news you get promoted. There are officers who just join the organization already reach sergeant and inspector. The real problem is that you pass a written examination but you are unable to supervise some men and make proper decisions. The moral in the force is very low at the moment.
one minute you cant wait to see the back of commissioner of police ..the next minute you complain he.s not here.
isnt it right that you wanted a local in charge of the police.? are you now saying you dont think a local is capable of stepping up to the plate and prooving himself ?
gimme a break.
you will moan about anything just to be heard mr. cline.
your dreams have been answer..a local in charge..what can go wrong now ?
oh wait..a man was murdered yesterday... ( RIP).
Spend your efforts tracking down and bringing to justice the over spending of " the wall"...the over spend of the TPP. ..BVI airways...all forgotten about .
smoke and mirrors is what you are mr. cline...smoke n mirrors.
WAKE UP IF ALL MY BILLS WERE PAID RIGHT DOWN TO MY VEHICLE ,I WOULD VACATION TOOOOOOOOOO