‘Concerned Citizen’ asks Governor to investigate CoP Collins
The email by the Commissioner concerned the arrest and charging of an Inspector and Mr Collins was updating Mr St Clair Amory on the case. The CoP said that he had a discussion with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the arrest matter had been discontinued.
In his email, he noted that there were “some issues with the arrest and process” and there “maybe video footage of the incident which would not have been used in evidence and should be destroyed”.
According to law, it’s a crime to destroy evidence.
However, it’s our newsroom’s understanding that the case has not been discontinued and the officer, now retired, was in court last month.
Mr Collins, during a press conference on October 12, 2023, had said the evidence was not related to a particular case. “It was between two individual officers, one who threatened to release something about another officer, and I told him not to do it and if he did do it there would be an investigation."
‘Only a court of law’ can order destruction of evidence- ‘Concerned Citizen’
In the letter to the Governor by a ‘Concerned Citizen’ dated November 2, 2023, and seen by our newsroom, the writer argued that an email of such magnitude should not have come from the office of the Commissioner of Police and that the publication of the email has brought the Force into “disrepute” and discredits the RVIPF.
The ‘Concerned Citizen’ also stated there is no statutory law authorising the Commissioner of Police to destroy any evidence in criminal proceedings.
“The Commissioner has no statutory authority to give instructions to any subordinate Police officers as to the destruction of evidence in any criminal or disciplinary proceedings. Therefore, evidence can only be destroyed by an order made by a court of law,” the writer stated.
‘Conduct an investigation’
For those very same reasons, ‘Concerned Citizen’ stated he is of the opinion and “have been supported by the statutory law” that the Commissioner of Police should be interdicted or removed from office to have a fair and transparent investigation into this matter.
“I am quite confident that this is not what you want from members of His Majesty’s Royal Virgin [Islands] Police Force. So, I am calling on you to conduct an investigation into the allegations independent of the Commissioner Mr Mark Collins, Deputy Commissioner Mr St Clair Amory and Ms Jacquelyn Vanterpool,” the writer stated.
No comments from Governor & CoP
Governor Rankin was asked if he had received such a letter and whether he would give the contents any consideration.
The Governor’s Office replied: “It is not the practice of the Governor’s Office to comment on personal correspondence received.”
CoP Collins, through Acting Information Officer Akia L. Thomas-Nero, said he had no comments to offer and referred us to the Governor’s Office.
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28 Responses to “‘Concerned Citizen’ asks Governor to investigate CoP Collins”
The Governor’s Office replied: “It is not the practice of the Governor’s Office to comment on personal correspondence received.”
The above are the Governor's word. This seem like hypocrisy and turning a blind eye to revealed acts that may be blatant corruption. The Governor is on record saying in public what all cases he turn over to the DPP and police for investigation from the COI. So how come all of a sudden he has a hands off approach on this issue of blatant questionable actions dealing with his UK Commissioner of Police. These are the high handed actions that are destabilizing, dividing, & destroying the BVI but this may be his goal. This issue needs investigating and the Governor needs to be investigated if he fails to have it investigated. We will be watching and waiting.
Oh, it's according to who that makes up the management team or who is involved in the matter at hand, ok then.
Because here it is that the Commissioner Mark Collins has committed an offence ( Perverting the Course of Justice) and the first comment is " I wonder who is this concern citizen".
Also ,VINO i had the opportunity to read the document before I read your published article and you did not do justice to it.
Commissioner Mark Collins is the worse Commissioner that the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force has ever had in its over 50 years of existance.
He doesn't respect the laws, human rights, and he lies too much. Yes he doesn't know what is the truth.
So if we are afraid to address the truth how do we expect to be on different platforms asking for the Governor and Commissioner to step down but is hiding to address the truth when it is provided.
We do not want anything more to prove that Commissioner Mark Collins is incapable of running the Police Force.
He lied about closing the Police Stations, about Policing in Paradise now about this present matter when he said that it involves two officers when he knows that is a blatent lie.
He has committed the offence that he arrested and charge an officer for. The officer was taken before the court for the offence of "Perverting the course of Justice" even though the high cout said that he did not commit the offence.
The National Security Council knows the truth and is hiding but again who is the head of the National Security Council, "the Governor ". He is supporting the Commissioner in every wrong that he commits.
Vino come on please help the place that you call home. Please please help. I am begging you.
He is a waste of nine months , with his Top Heavy nonsense…
Now you scared because they getting close to you
Disunity, complacency, contentment, ‘ I got mine mentality and mindset among many Virgin Islanders is emboldening Mount Olympus to do as it wants, how it wants, when it wants , where and to whom it wants. In the 1940s, administrator John Augustus Cockburn Cruikshank was acting in an absolutist manner. Nonetheless, the unity and group effort among Virgin Islanders led by Anegadian fisherman Theodolph Faulkner through peaceful agitation, protests, etc effected change, ie, reinstating the legislature, attaining a modern constitution, adult suffrage, locals direct voting, etc. That Virgin Islanders fight and rugged individualism have been lost, leading to a reawakening of colonialism.