Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

Robin Smith out! Alwyn James still In! As Smith snubs VI CoP job

- cites personal & professional reasons, says Governor’s Office
In a surprise twist, United Kingdom national Robin Smith has reportedly withdrawn from the post of Commissioner of Police in the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF). Photo: GIS/File
Deputy Commissioner of Police Alwyn James will continue to act as the Commissioner until someone is named to the post. Photo: VINO/File
Deputy Commissioner of Police Alwyn James will continue to act as the Commissioner until someone is named to the post. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- In a surprise twist, United Kingdom national Robin Smith has reportedly withdrawn from the post of Commissioner of Police in the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF).

Virgin Islands News Online was first to report on August 12, 2015 that the man to replace Mr David Morris was likely to be Mr Smith who has served as the Assistant Chief Constable of Sussex Police Department in the United Kingdom.

Mr Smith's appointment was subsequently announced to the media on September 4, 2015 via a press release from the Governor's Office. He was expected to take up office in November.

According to a press release today, October 14, 2015, from Policy Officer in the Governor’s Office, Ms Sue Cotton, Mr Smith will no longer head the RVIPF.

“RVIPF Commissioner designate Robin Smith has informed the Governor of his decision to withdraw from the post for personal and professional reasons,” Ms Cotton said in a very brief announcement.

She also said the post will now be re-advertised and Acting Commissioner Alwyn James will continue as head of the RVIPF until further notice.

The announcement came as a surprise as Mr Smith had seemed set on joining the RVIPF, even stating that it would have been the highlight of his career as a law enforcement officer.

"It is an enormous honour to be appointed Commissioner of Police and to lead the men and women of the RVIPF - it will be a highlight of my 30 year police career.

"I am looking forward to using my experience to support my new colleagues, and to working with the Governor, members of government, partners and stakeholders and most of all the communities for whom we have a duty to serve and keep safe," a press release from the Governor’s Office on September 4, 2015 had stated.

26 Responses to “Robin Smith out! Alwyn James still In! As Smith snubs VI CoP job”

  • LMAOOOOOOOOOO (14/10/2015, 11:05) Like (32) Dislike (0) Reply
    Anybody reading this blogs will come here to live or help with anything? Think again. lol
    • cop (14/10/2015, 13:47) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
      Mr. Robin Smith may have been properly brief by Ex-COP Morris. There is one way out of this, retire the current head in the interest of the public. Save the RVIPF.
  • vex (14/10/2015, 11:05) Like (22) Dislike (10) Reply
    No one wants to work under the ndp and ducan too much bull
  • cay (14/10/2015, 11:11) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Oh my
  • crazy (14/10/2015, 11:12) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Must be more in the morta
  • l'm not impressed (14/10/2015, 11:14) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    The sad thing about it we the lil people will never find out the real reason why he withdrew
    • facts man (14/10/2015, 11:48) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
      it will come out the place is small and everyone talks
    • Yes (14/10/2015, 15:04) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
      @ I'm Not Impressed

      He figured out that it wasn't going to be the vacation he thought and also found out that you mofo's crazy in BVI!
    • facts for you (14/10/2015, 22:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

      Was he satisfied with his pay? think its some where between 120 150 K a year.... the governor may never give the truthful reason as to why. 

  • tretretrete (14/10/2015, 11:47) Like (9) Dislike (6) Reply
    Apparently Mr. Smith is not a Freemason as one would have expected to believe. A freemason most fill the post.
  • fat cat (14/10/2015, 12:08) Like (2) Dislike (29) Reply
    We did not need him here in the first place!!! with a 99% black force why do we need a white man from England? Give the job to Mr. George from FIA or Brown the x chief in Antigua…I am sure mvw will support his fellow Antiguan
    • wize up (14/10/2015, 12:57) Like (0) Dislike (12) Reply
      @ fat cat: great, I love it( we don't need another slave master): George from FIA should be given the job:
  • wize up (14/10/2015, 12:23) Like (31) Dislike (1) Reply
    smart white boy; after chatting with morris he made a very good decision; because to deal with the current rash of criminal activity in the territory smith will have to do some serious racial-profiling: most of the crimes are committed by our own people......but smith missed a dam good opportunity to learn how to sail, dive, have fun on the beach, consume some good Caribbean rum and then move to the state of Florida
    • Hmm (14/10/2015, 13:35) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
      You could not of said it better my friend, i was looking forward to meeting up with him at Mulligans on Friday happy hour. Cheers!
  • Ohhhh.. (14/10/2015, 12:35) Like (6) Dislike (10) Reply
    Well best they just confirmed Mr. James and done. Like Mr.Smith dont want to be caught in the RVIPF corruption act.
  • son of the soil (14/10/2015, 12:44) Like (5) Dislike (29) Reply
    Give the job to our trained homeboy Roy Stoutt.
    • mary j (14/10/2015, 13:47) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
      Lawd have mercy give the job to who? He has not retired yet? i thought they retired all locals....
    • Ghost (15/10/2015, 04:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I thought he retired to the bench in the east end. Always see him there .
  • dude (14/10/2015, 15:10) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    I imagine that he was debriefed and interviewed some internal affairs and looked at his salary then decided it's just not worth it. LOL If you can't promote from within then there's no leadership or development. Governor General it's not looking good for you office.
  • Mobo (14/10/2015, 16:15) Like (9) Dislike (3) Reply
    Morris and other ex-pats who work and have worked in Tola talk and blog and tell their story globally on the net. It is there for all to see. Professional help will be hard to find in the future, result of the right of passage attitude of government and the way they treat ex-pats. Only way forward for the country is down unless attitudes change dramatically. Just look at the shape of things now!
    • wize up (14/10/2015, 18:21) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
      @ Mobo; you talking about the shape of things now; things cant be that bad because "U" still here...lots of you guys have nothing good to say about this territory but some-how we can not you guys to leave this place(that US-Dollars)
  • english man (14/10/2015, 18:16) Like (7) Dislike (17) Reply
    a message to the bvi bloggers, (virginislandnewsonline) is available world wide, we can see all the stories post, and all your blogs, we check these things when we search for our next vacation spot, keep that in mind.
    • wize up (14/10/2015, 20:42) Like (19) Dislike (2) Reply
      @ English man: my country do not a fraction of the crimes that happen throughout the world: I am submitting to you and your friends that this territory is one of the safest places on God's world....where have more crime than England (just saying)
  • @ english man (15/10/2015, 00:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who cares if you see the comments worldwide???? Go home or stay where you are
  • Mobo (15/10/2015, 03:26) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    @wize up: How you know I "still here"? I could be anywhere in the world! Typifies insular attitude, you should wize up cos its a global plantation now, not just a Tolian. Thats what I'm saying.
    • wize up (15/10/2015, 07:47) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
      @ mobo: you right here in BVI somewhere sharing a little one-bed room apartment with 8 other people(you need to be honest with your self...OK)


Create a comment


Submit comment

Create a comment

Submit comment
Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.