Governor’s actions undermine ‘public trust’- Premier Wheatley
In a move that many in the Territory have described as sad, sexist, and a step backwards in the Virgin Islands’ development, the UK-appointed governor went against the wishes of the Police Service Commission and reverted the Acting Commissioner of Police Jacqueline E. Vanterpool to Deputy Commissioner of Police and has assigned a controversial retired police officer in the name of Richard Ullger, a UK national, to be the Acting Commissioner.
Eroding public trust
According to Premier Wheatley, speaking at a press conference today, November 7, 2025, while the Governor may be acting within the constitution, his actions are undermining public trust.
The Premier said that his representative on the Police Service Commission has informed him that the recommendation for a new police commissioner is imminent, and if indeed Ms Vanterpool is the successful candidate, it will be highly disruptive to bring someone from across the globe as an interim police commissioner only to be replaced by Ms Vanterpool.
“This casts doubt as to whether Jackie Vanterpool has a full opportunity to win the job despite what the Police Service Commission’s recommendation may be, Premier Wheatley said.
Further, explaining his reason for disagreeing with the governor, Premier Wheatley said while the VI is a jurisdiction of relatively low crime, it is currently experiencing an upsurge in certain types of crime and shaking up the leadership of the RVIPF now is in poor timing.
“We also have a manhunt underway with two dangerous escapees. This is not the right time to disrupt the leadership of the force.”
Dr Wheatley continued that he is concerned with the process of appointing an interim acting commissioner when, to his knowledge, no formal application process was made.
“The actions of the governor may be constitutional, but they undermine public trust,” Premier Wheatley said.
There should be ‘no glass ceiling’ for VI’s daughters- Premier
Noting that the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) has performed well under the leadership of Ms Vanderpool, Premier Wheatley said the public also recognised the results she was getting at the helm of the police force.
“We must also send the message to the public, including our Virgin Islands’ daughters, [that] there's no glass ceiling for you. If you work hard and do the right thing, you have the opportunity to rise to the highest offices of our society.”
Premier Wheatley also said it has been the trend to bring in white males from the UK to do stints as Police Commissioner, but his preference is for capacity building and succession planning at home.
“We must create training opportunities and upward mobility for talented members of the force.”
There have been calls for the public to march against the governor, and reports indicate that there will be a public demonstration on Monday, November 10.
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18 Responses to “Governor’s actions undermine ‘public trust’- Premier Wheatley”
London have the authority to do as They feel in the "British Overseas Territory"
Those of us over 60 years, born and grew up in this Land had no crucial issues with London
I was made to understand that the B.V.I was not your birth place, unlike many others and I.
Base on what I have read of this topic, you seems to care more for confrontation with the UK rather than working in partnership with our governor, Daniel Pruce, to help fight violent crimes, but preferred, and criticized the governor authority of choice.
Hon. Premier, Natalio Sajuande Wheatley, you knew that Jakie Vanterpool was now qualified to deal with the levil of raisin crimes that are ongoing in the B.V.I, especially for the past two years or more. Stop see people through the lens of skin, and place when it doesn't suit you naratives.
Stop this my-way-or-no-way dictatorial attitude. The same that you are accusing the UK of, you are proving no different.
Please, Hon. Premier, Natalio Sajuande Wheatley, focus on you job, and do it well. Let governor Daniel Pruce do his without trying to brand him a rasist. Stop this black is right, and white is as black as the darkest night stupidness.
You Focus on your Job, and do it right. Let governor Daniel Pruce focus on his, being the leader of the defense force in the B.V.I with you support to do his right. Violent crimes are against us all. Human lives and their welbeing are more valuable than, Jakie Vanterpool, born in the B.V.I lost her job. Governor, Daniel Pruce, born in the UK demoted her, and appointed a white skin CoP, born in the UK over a local. Let's more forward, Premier.
Look at our country promoted on tourists' social media platforms, the place looks like a garbage dump, outside of showing some beaches! The rise in crimes stems from you and your team's lack of ingenuity to create forward-thinking mechanisms that can captivate your human resources to be utilized efficiently, while sparking revenue turnover. Mrs. Vanterpool was never appointed to her position. I am sure there were interviews, and the best of the best was selected! But I am asking why the fight for her and so many others were bumped out of their acting posts, and there was no fight! Oh! I see, it's an opportunity to make it about colonialism, so let's get in on this wave to prove to the people why we should aim for independence!
You and all your constituents, including the opposition, kept silent and collected a ridiculous salary and then, you my lost friend rubbed it in our faces, to let us know, you can acquire a job any where, becuase you are now content that you have reigned for two terms, and if you are kicked out, it doesnt really matter because the greedy bill and your salary increase has you set for life.
You are so steadfast in campaigning for independence! What about the independence are you so passionate about conquering? Is it to have the privilege to freely mishandle taxpayers' money, without an official report being broadcast about bad spending or misappropriating funds? Is it to have us ranked so low as a nation that we have to rely on Barbados and others for help? (Let me stick a pin here, I don't have a problem with any Caribbean country) Keep in mind, these nations themselves are in deep crisis, and they would not share the intricacies of their ills with you! Is it to have our relationship wth the United States Virgin Islands take a back seat, so we can give up the American dollar and our waiver and have your people crawling back to Barbados to get a VISA to travel. Those who go through this process knows the money tactics attached to it!
Your passionate mission sounds like it will definitely create pathways for our Caribbean friends to loin their pockets, but what is the BIG PLAN for the Virgin Islands to sustain itself? Please share with us in detail the BIG PLANS, and stop telling us how bad the United Kingdom is to us! Share the plan in detail! revenue, passport, national security, health maintenance, education, policies, development plans, where our food will come from, and so much more!
People, please take the time to read the ills the Caricom countries are battling with for yourselves! Weigh the pros and cons! Be really frank about the Virgin Islands! We don't have oil, we don't have mass production of anything! We can barely take care of ourselves! This is not a racist thing and not even a colonial thing! It is our own BVislanders against our own selves!
You, Mr. Premier, do not love your country! You have lost your way!
I am very disappointed in you as a leader!
ATTACKS ARE NOT NECESSARY VI PEOPLE SAND UP AGAINST TIS UNFAIR AND RACIST ACTION
It is your kind of mentality that is responsible for the crisis that presently exists. Your well done colonized mind makes you a danger to yourself and your people get the f&?k off the blogs you have nothing to offer. I am ashamed to be ranked in the same category as people like you. Forward never backward ever. Spineless brown nose obstacle.