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‘Let’s find a local Police Chief! – Edmund G. Maduro

-said the withdrawal of UK national Robin Smith is an opportunity to give the post to a trained & qualified local person
Television talk show host Edmund G. Maduro in reacting to the news that UK national Robin Smith will no longer be taking up the post of Police Commissioner of the territory said it is an opportunity to give the post to a local. Photo: Provided
"I've already said that we have got to get our own Governor and our own Police Chief," he said. "I don't know why we have to be pulled down like this all the time," he said. "We have people who are qualified here to hold these positions," Maduro said. Photo: VINO/File
Chairperson of the Police Service Commission Fiona T. Forbes. Photo: GIS
Chairperson of the Police Service Commission Fiona T. Forbes. Photo: GIS
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Television talk show host Edmund G. Maduro in reacting to the news that UK national Robin Smith will no longer be taking up the post of Police Commissioner of the territory said it is an opportunity to give the post to a local.

According to Maduro there are persons from the territory who are trained and are qualified for the post.

In a surprise twist, United Kingdom national Robin Smith has reportedly withdrawn from the post of Commissioner of Police in the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF).

Virgin Islands News Online was first to report on August 12, 2015 that the man to replace Mr David Morris was likely to be Mr Smith who has served as the Assistant Chief Constable of Sussex Police Department in the United Kingdom.

Mr Smith's appointment was subsequently announced to the media on September 4, 2015 via a press release from the Governor's Office. He was expected to take up office in November.

However Maduro continues to be opposed to the idea of a foreigner, more so from the UK, coming to be in charge of the local.

"I've already said that we have got to get our own Governor and our own Police Chief," he said. "I don't know why we have to be pulled down like this all the time," he said. "We have people who are qualified here to hold these positions," Maduro said.

He said while he doesn't know Mr Alwyn James in person the government should have ensured that someone locally was positioned.

"We're being knocked about and kicked about. We're not being treated any better than when Author Hodge was alive," he said.

"And it's our own people doing this to us, because by now our elected representatives should be saying that they don't want any more of these people here," he said.

According to a press release yesterday, October 14, 2015, from Policy Officer in the Governor’s Office, Ms Sue Cotton, Mr
Smith will no longer head the RVIPF.

“RVIPF Commissioner designate Robin Smith has informed the Governor of his decision to withdraw from the post for personal and professional reasons,” Ms Cotton said in a very brief announcement.

She also said the post will now be re-advertised and Acting Commissioner Alwyn James will continue as head of the RVIPF until further notice.

When contacted for a comment, Chairperson of the Police Service Commission Fiona T. Forbes said that we should direct our queries to the Human Resources Department and that she was in no position to address questions on the issue. Attempts to elicit a comment from this Department proved futile.

20 Responses to “‘Let’s find a local Police Chief! – Edmund G. Maduro”

  • qc (15/10/2015, 08:31) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    well sah
  • Great Idea (15/10/2015, 08:34) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is a great idea, but how many policeman here are belongers?
    • Seriously (15/10/2015, 09:25) Like (15) Dislike (4) Reply
      Listening to Edmund you can understand why the man changed his mind about coming here. More people actually think all of us are idiots simply because of what they read from Edmund and de Castro. We sit back and think it is a joke but too late shall be the cry. Watch this space...
    • HMMM (15/10/2015, 11:03) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
      it is not so much about belongers its also about person who been in the force pass 20years and with qualifications and also private or puplic members of our society such as lawyers judes for example Guy Hill is qualify the acting deputy COP is qaulify its not a born here job
  • The Patriot (15/10/2015, 08:36) Like (8) Dislike (7) Reply
    Lets attract more locals to jooin the Force. Dont you know that we are crying that our young people are crying that they cant find owrk but yet the Government is hiring and paying foreign young people thousands of dollars per month to work as Police Officers? This will certainly solve the problems of the infighting we have with the differents nationalities within the Force. We should stop and think why Mr Smith refused the post. And for those of us parents who for over 40 plus years who have threatened to disown our children if they join "them" (Police) we have contributed to this problem. It is time that we as a people take the reigns of our country and stop depending on foreign help to solve our problem.
    • one ah we (15/10/2015, 09:20) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
      I am a local and i approved this message.
      • Scary Mary (15/10/2015, 11:07) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
        Then apply if you approve. The problem is that everyone always says, "hire a local" but then no locals apply for the available jobs! The young peole haven't exactly been beating down the door to get a job as a police officer!
    • hellboy (15/10/2015, 11:36) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
      HAVING TOO much LOCAL Police will be a Disaster in the making !!
      A local Commissioner will be Mayhem !!!!!!!!!!!!
  • long look me come from (15/10/2015, 08:39) Like (1) Dislike (7) Reply
    Give it to a local
  • wize up (15/10/2015, 08:59) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    if the truth be told and lets speak factually and not emotionally; somewhere along the journey our elected leaders dropped the ball: how can we as a developing society go from having 2- locals as head of the police department (just asking)
  • lmao (15/10/2015, 09:23) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Let's find one? Just like that? lmao!!!!!
  • afraid (15/10/2015, 09:55) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    People you all have missed the point with all that is surrounding the police force internally and externally when they are briefed about the horrors neither black white UK national or local is going to want that job. The force is at an all-time low.
  • Barryweb (15/10/2015, 10:11) Like (8) Dislike (13) Reply
    Why we need white police chiefs here for anyway? Can't you see, they want to make Lashing Dogs Song become a reality, "the hand of the slave master is upon us." The Gobernor in everything he shouldn't be in. We need to ban together and say what we need in our country. They can't find a Commissioner of Police from other Caribbean islands? Why UK? They are so far out of touch with us here, 'still sipping 'tay' in the afternoons in this blessed hot place.
    Remember Mr. Samuels -
    Remember Mr. Warren
    Remember the others. We survived. We will survive again. Bring back one who looks like us and understands us.
    • hellboy (15/10/2015, 12:23) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
      1 Black People in-slave Them Self.
      2 Black People Don't Like each Other.
      3 Black People Will Never Unite.
      4 Black People Don't Want To Be Black.
      5 Black People killing each Other.


      • wize up (15/10/2015, 15:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        @ hell boy: A+ all the way and I am one of the blackest humans you will find in this territory...
  • xpat (15/10/2015, 10:59) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    the locals are too corrupt, they cant be trusted, there are alot of locals in the force who are criminals, they need to be weed out, they associate with criminals, they beg the criminals money and all sort of foolishness, they know them self, senior management also know who they are, my advise is, set up more entrapment so you can catch these corrupt officer, dismiss them then send them to prison, it is sad i might get cuss but corruption is part of the bvi culture, take a good look. i will be writing a letter to the FCO, the UK needs to come inn and run the affairs of this country.
  • social commentator (15/10/2015, 12:28) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    I nominate Edmund Maduro. Failing that Donald Castro.
  • @LOL (15/10/2015, 12:36) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    No, give it to the other referee not Neil Thomas
  • Wendy (17/10/2015, 19:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    A police force dominated by foreigners and crimes dominated by foreigners should have a non local
    police Chief .Ideally it should be an indivdual from London who has a broader scope of policing. He/she would be better equipped to deal with reforms of the prison system and policing and would have a greater impact in pleading our case for reform. Such as sending long term crimnals oversees for their incarceration.
    Policing to locals is a relatively new concept. Tolians are not the policng type .It is not in their personality and they have little respect for the profession.
    "Robo Cop" was the exception. He alone was as effective as the whole police force.


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