‘I've been very impressed with the work’ of Acting CoP Vanterpool- Premier Wheatley
Addressing a press engagement to provide an update on the implementation of the reforms of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on May 9, 2025, Premier Wheatley disclosed that he could not comment on the petition by a group of concerned citizens lobbying for Ms Vanterpool's appointment as substantive Commissioner of Police.
The Premier explained that the matter will be an agenda item for the National Security Council, “so I can't pre-empt any decision that we would have to make on that particular level.”
He was, nonetheless, in support of Ms Vanterpool's performance thus far, telling media operatives, “Let me just say, I've been very impressed with the work that Acting Commissioner Vanterpool has done since she took the helm.”
We need to focus
Qualifying his position further, he noted, “There have been a number of recoveries of weapons. You've seen a greater presence of police on the streets. I was very impressed in terms of how she dealt with the cruise ships that came in and all of the police presence that was needed there. Some of the mass gatherings that took place there. And she's figured out some results. I've been pleased with her engagement with the public.”
As such, Premier Wheatley used the opportunity to reiterate a longstanding position on the need to develop local leadership within the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and other law enforcement bodies, rather than continually relying on foreign appointees.
“I've made it very clear in the House of Assembly that I don't think it's an effective strategy to always have persons come from the outside, they spend a short period of time in the Virgin Islands and then they leave. You have persons who come to the Virgin Islands, they get lots of training opportunities, and then they leave and they take all of that training to their next job.”
As such, he implored that the Virgin Islands needs “a strategy for the law enforcement, where we build capacity here; That all of those persons who are coming up through the ranks can see themselves one day being a Commissioner of Police; I don't think we've done an effective job of succession planning. We haven't done a good job of building capacity in the past, and that's something that I believe that we need to focus on.”
Vanterpool doing ‘a fantastic job’- Governor
There have been concerns that the Governor is looking to recruit another UK national for the job instead of hiring a Virgin Islander like Vanterpool.
Governor Pruce has said he is confident in the Acting Commissioner of Police but stopped short of saying whether or not she is being eyed for the position permanently.
While a guest on Talking Points on Monday, January 27, 2025, on ZBVI 780 AM, Governor Pruce said he was working closely with Vanterpool, who he thinks is doing a “fantastic job”.
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3 Responses to “‘I've been very impressed with the work’ of Acting CoP Vanterpool- Premier Wheatley”
just need to get the illegal tint off those car windows (and find out what corruption is going on to get therm through the DMV tests) and get scooters off he roads and guns out of glove compartments and we will be on the way.
Then customs need to get out on the water and do routine stops and have a prescence on our entry routes, once we have cleared out the bad apples fascilitating that business.
Same at Ports. Best not give Oleanvine her job back.