Now Acting Commissioner of Police David Morris wants a permanent police present at the ELmore Stoutt High School but told the SFC he is unable due to staffing constraints.

David Morris (left) told the Standing Finance Committee that funding for some remaining 16 vacant posts were submitted last year in the budget and was taken out and not funded. In responding, FS Neil Smith said there must have been a misunderstanding somewhere, as the Ministry of Finance does everything to fund any request that comes from the Police Force.

The Minister for Education and Culture Myron V. Walwyn stated that it was surprising the number of persons that have degrees and could not find work, and asked if the Police was aware of the Youth Unemployment Job Fair and extended an invitation to the Commissioner of Police and Deputy to be at the fair.

However, Mr. Morris told the SFC, even if the RVIPF was to participate in the job fair and ask persons to apply, they would be unable to hire without the positions first being funded. The DCOP stated that in the immediate future the RVIPF needed to recruit ten Constables, two Sergeants and three Auxiliary Officers.

Confusion looms over police funding, who removed from draft budget?

The Member for the Third district Julian Fraser RA, stated that in 2011 permission and funding was given to hire 16 police officers and enquired, if those were the same 16 positions the DCOP was referring to from last year.

The DCOP told the SFC that in 2011 there were approximately 25 vacancies of which ten were filled and it was hoped that the remaining 16 would be filled this year but the funding had not been provided for the 16 officers. The member for the third district stated that he was puzzled and did not understand why the funding was not provided because approval came with the full understanding that it would be funded. The former Communications and Works Minister stated that “never has the police wanted something and did not get it” and he wanted to know “why it was not funded”.

In response to the member’s concerns, Mr. Morris told the Committee that “the draft budget was submitted and the vacancies were taken out of the draft funding allocation…..the funding was not there.”

The Member for the third district expressed that he was still confused and wondered why he was only hearing such information then, when he had been inquiring all along how things were progressing and was being told that things were moving along as expected only to find out differently. The seasoned politician solicited the input of the Financial Secretary (FS) Neil Smith.

The FS stated that there must have been a misunderstanding somewhere and explained that the Ministry of Finance does everything in its power to fund any request that comes from the Police Force. Mr. Smith claimed that he suspected that wires were crossed somewhere and further stated when it came to funding for the RVIPF, there was not an issue.

Senior police post abolished & request for permanent police officer at ESHS

Virgin Islands News Online understands from its sources inside the RVIPF that a few years ago following the controversy of the claim of not having no one in the RVIPF to become the Deputy Commissioner of Police, hence the need for an expat UK officer, the post of Assistant Commissioner of Police (no. 3 in racking) was created so a local could understudy and be groomed for upward mobility.

Territorial Member Archibald C. Christian enquired if the Assistant Commissioner’s position was filled. The Commissioner of Police then Reynell Frazer responded that the position of Assistant Commissioner was abolished. The Member for the eight district Marlon Penn asked why the position was abolished. The Commissioner reported that the decision to abolish the position was made at the National Security level. However, Mr. Frazer did not tell the SFC who made the recommendation to the National Security Council.

Meanwhile, DCOP Morris in defending the performance of the RVIPF told the SFC that the Police Force was working proactively which was evident in the recent seizures of drugs and money entering the Territory, arrest and upcoming extradition hearings.

He further stated that officers had been working in schools through the DARE programme. Mr. Morris would like to see an increase in the number of police in schools, but unable to do so due to staffing constraints. The DCOP stated that he “would like to have a permanent policing officer in the secondary school, Elmore Stoutt High School…it was their ambition”.