Review of complaints against CoP Mark Collins ‘underway’- Governor’s Office
Former Governor John J. Rankin, CMG had stated on January 5, 2024, that he asked a senior police officer from another Overseas Territory in the Region to carry out an independent review of the complaints that have been made against Mr Collins.
Mr Rankin then disclosed in an interview with JTV Reporter Cathy O. Richards on January 16, 2024, that the senior police officer was Mr Kurt Walton.
Some of the complaints against Mr Collins stem from leaked emails in which he requested senior ranks of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) to destroy certain evidence relevant to a matter involving a now-retired officer.
The line of complaints was officially handed to Governor Rankin in the form of a petition in late 2023. The petition included 55 allegations against Mr Collins.
Review ‘underway’
Virgin Islands News Online on February 20, 2024, asked the Office of the Governor for an update on the review of Mr Collins. The Governor’s Office responded on February 22, 2024, that “In line with international best practice, former Governor Rankin requested a senior Police Officer from another Overseas Territory within the region to conduct an independent review into the complaints made.
“Cayman Islands Police Commissioner Kurt Walton is conducting the review which is underway. We will provide further updates when we are in position to do so.”
Minister for Communications and Works, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5), Opposition Member Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8), and Talking Points radio show co-host Damion C. Grange are some of the persons who had publicly said the allegations against the Commissioner of Police should be looked into.
‘I am not biased’- Fmr Gov Rankin
Some have also asked why Mr Collins remains on the job when some public officers were not given such discretion.
Mr Rankin had said: “I have illustrated there is no bias on my part in this area and have ordered a review of the complaints … I reject the accusation of any bias.”
Mr Rankin had also said Mr Walton will “look at the evidence as he sees fit, to pursue the evidence as he sees fit, and then come up with findings, and if those findings, where in the area of an offense may have been committed or disciplinary action may need to be taken, at that point the governor would take a decision in relation to whether placing an individual on administrative leave would be required.
“That’s a fair way of treating it and I want to treat the police commissioner in that way as I have treated other public officers.”
Governor Rankin had also said he has not set a timeframe for Mr Walton to complete his review, and he had “given him a free hand on it”.
16 Responses to “Review of complaints against CoP Mark Collins ‘underway’- Governor’s Office”
They scared because you doing a good job
Which part of Mark doing a good job? He is no different from all other UK Commissioners that came here. With a UK agenda and a secret co****tion between them. All UK officers that were brought in and place in the force were giving top brass positions. Huh yeah, let that sink.
Those of us who have read the historical behavior of the Europeans and how deceptive they are would have realized that this is just a perception for us to believe that something is being done. The only solution to all this mess that we are accepting is to get these people off our backs. Britain cannot solve their own problems and they have the temerity to come and discipline us. May I ask what tangible development Britain has contributed to in this Territory for the past thirty years. I cannot think pf any They need to solve their own problems first before coming to lecture to us. They have no moral authority to do so. Very soon they will have another Prime Minister because Rishi Sunak is doing a terrible job. Let them speak about that. Come on people.
still sitting at one of the Stoutts residences, having not been brought to my good and TRUSTWORTHY friend on
Tortola to be sent back to the states. And everything to do with the police matters and private citizen matters that
erupted there in September 2018, which was brought to the attention of the RVIPF, the Premier (more than one),
the Governor (more than one), the British government - well no response to my communications from the states
about what was done to me and my property and my life. Oh, a couple of "we'll get back with you" on the phone,
but then nothing. Crooks. Crooked territory. Thieves. Owned by an over-arching criminal known as England.
Burn in hell.