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St Lucian Verne Garde tipped to be new HMP Superintendent

- favoured by Hon Myron V. Walwyn over locals
Verne Garde, Director of St. Lucia’s, Bordelais Correctional Facility. Photo: Internet Source
Current prison ‘boss,’ David E. Foot. Photo: VINO/File
Current prison ‘boss,’ David E. Foot. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Verne Garde, Director of St. Lucia’s, Bordelais Correctional Facility (BCF)—where many of the Territory’s prisoners are temporarily housed—has been tipped to be the new Superintendent of Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) at Balsam Ghut, on Tortola.

Word of this came to our newsroom from our senior National Democratic Party (NDP) sources. They also report that Mr Garde has the full backing of Minister for Education and Culture, Honourable Myron V. Walwyn (AL), who met with the BCF Director on a recent trip to St. Lucia. Many have raised concerns about filling another government post with a non-national, as has been the practice of Mr Walwyn since taking Office—displacing locals for expatriates.

History of locals last!
In January of this year, Mr Walwyn allegedly forced out Virgin Islands (VI) School of Technical Studies Principal, Virgin Islander Ms Germaine Scatliffe, for a Jamaican national, Mr Ande Francis.
It is believed Mr Garde will be starting his new job in a couple of weeks and has already announced his pending departure to his staff at BCF in St. Lucia.
It is unclear, if any Virgin Islander applied for the position since there are many qualified to take up the post of Superintendent of Prisons.
Current prison ‘boss,’ David E. Foot’s tenure ends next week, according to a senior source in the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Support me or you must go!
Minister Walwyn is alleged to have also forced many long standing principals of schools, to either retire, or be transferred and has promoted others, who it is alleged support him or the NDP.
Mr Walwyn is himself, currently on a third Acting Chief Education Officer, after reportedly forcing out Ms Beverlie Brathwaite and Ms Jillian Douglas-Phillip.
The second term Minister has said, there are no longer laws that could protect locals—a statement interpreted by many to mean, it’s ‘open-season on local residents for jobs and opportunities in their homeland.’

51 Responses to “St Lucian Verne Garde tipped to be new HMP Superintendent ”

  • Fran (06/06/2018, 18:29) Like (28) Dislike (19) Reply
    Well then, St Lucia Superintendent might make the prison run more efficiently and not allow the inmates to run amuck and bully the staff as it is now. As far as Walwyn statement “there are no laws to protect locals” shows he is ridding every position from us and this cannot be allowed. We must stand firm on this or this will not be a place we call home anymore, it will be Wild Wild West.
    • benefit of the doubt (08/06/2018, 12:12) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      I wonder if the St Lucian had any family members at all in prison in St Lucia and how he dealt with the situation. I am wondering because it seems like "chaos will take place if a local is put there where they can play favourite to their family members who are locked up". We all know that certain police, judges, magistrate, teachers, managers and others show favouritism to their fellow country men, so what will be the difference here.
  • next (06/06/2018, 18:42) Like (64) Dislike (56) Reply
    If this guy is most qualified for the job I don't see an issue.
    • Reply (06/06/2018, 18:54) Like (21) Dislike (19) Reply
      bvi need not apply
    • Perc Ival (07/06/2018, 08:37) Like (11) Dislike (8) Reply
      I totally agree with you. Imagine the chaos that will take place if a local is put there where they can play favourite to their family members who are locked up not to mention how boastful and unprofessional some of them are already. I say if this Verne guy is capable and qualified to do this job,then let him do it! People like to cry about locals getting overlooked but who can step up and prove capable of doing the job?
  • MELEE (06/06/2018, 19:13) Like (27) Dislike (10) Reply
    I sure one of mvw bouys
  • Ques (06/06/2018, 19:43) Like (42) Dislike (11) Reply
    Is this payment for sending our prisoners to ST. LUCIA.? It would seem that was the plan why our prisoners were sent there. Who made the decision? Please tell the people. One for sewerage and one for prison.
  • Jessica Jones (06/06/2018, 20:04) Like (30) Dislike (18) Reply
    It's a damn shame.
  • grinder (06/06/2018, 20:11) Like (14) Dislike (14) Reply
    we all know people consider people to be meat anyway. whoever grinds the best white castle slider here in the
    british territory of the bvi, wins. secret sauce is optional.
  • ausar (06/06/2018, 20:52) Like (36) Dislike (33) Reply
    After so many of our prisoners complained about the paltry meals and unsanitary potable water at the St. Lucian prison facilities, a St. Lucian is going to be tapped to run our facilities here?

    And will he perform similar tactics to prisoners here like he has done in Lucia?

    And we should all trust the judgement of this man-the Minister Walwyn, a man who has done just about everything in his power to alienate indigenous Virgin Islanders from major positions in this country?

    And this is supposed to become the new leader of the NDP? Well, it is safe to conclude that if that happens, the VIP will become the leading government of the land!
  • Progressive (06/06/2018, 21:49) Like (25) Dislike (8) Reply
    That is why I can't vote for you in the upcoming elections. You hate to see progress.
  • The Judge. (06/06/2018, 23:20) Like (55) Dislike (42) Reply
    This is our problem here in the BVI. We have a problem when our own Caribbean brothers or sisters that are qualified get a job over our own local. This isint going to advance the country. The man will be on contract. learn as much from the person so that you would next in line. Would make sense to give a local the just because he is from here and can't manage it? Those days are long gone. This is modern time. Our country needs the best and the brightest. It's better we have our Caribbean brother than a white man from England that don't know or understand our culture.The Caribbean people are our family wether you believe it or not..
    • Thank God you ain’t a true Judge (07/06/2018, 10:08) Like (23) Dislike (3) Reply
      This isn’t only a BVI problem. This is an all over the Caribbean issue. Stop talking nonsense. Visit the other Caribbean countries and you’ll know what happens when non-nationals apply or get jobs over locals. The difference is most of those other countries make considering non-national an only if you have to option. This is no secret but some of you like making everything only a BVI problem.
  • Ah boy (07/06/2018, 00:04) Like (39) Dislike (33) Reply
    Myron continues to show that he's not for Virgin Islanders.
  • Not again (07/06/2018, 00:05) Like (43) Dislike (25) Reply
    Here we go again...Myron always pushing to get foreigners in high position over the local people and then pretend like he had nothing to do with it.
  • Outlaw (07/06/2018, 05:04) Like (50) Dislike (46) Reply
    I will like vino to name one local who is set, able, fit and proper to run that prison right now. I am not against locals being employed in our own country but who is the qualified one up there now to take over. We often blame the Superintendent for all kinds of things but we forget that the Superintendent is the administrator and his deputies and assistance Supts are the operations persons they are the one who should be calling the shots and are not doing it. HMP needs a total overhaul. To much corruption, favoritism and friend, friend behavior going on up there
    • Redds (07/06/2018, 13:55) Like (19) Dislike (13) Reply
      Cannot agree with you more. The correction officers taking the inmates to their homes to fix this that and the other. Where in the world this takes place. I’m s BVI lander but it’s time to drop this born here mantility and let people who can do the job do it.
      • Curious (08/06/2018, 12:24) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
        Have you checked the nationalities of the "Correctional officers" who "are taking the inmates to their homes to fix this that and the other"?
      • True (08/06/2018, 23:12) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
        The officers are not from here , them from st.kitts and st.vencent
  • Crazy frog (07/06/2018, 06:28) Like (17) Dislike (10) Reply
    What is this issue with recruiting the best people for the senior roles? Making BVI great again means finding the best people regardless of race or nationality.
    • &crazy frog (07/06/2018, 12:37) Like (15) Dislike (18) Reply
      What make him the best? Best is relative and bias; this one is based on a litimed recruiting tool, based on my-run imagination of our capabilities. Period.
    • @Crazy frog (07/06/2018, 13:02) Like (6) Dislike (5) Reply
      Just asking- Wasn’t the same thing said for the one at the senior position at our public hospital too? What say you? We are destroying our own and we will have no chance in the future, just pay attention to the statistical breakdown of our population. I had my say. Out.
  • old people (07/06/2018, 08:15) Like (15) Dislike (12) Reply
    Do say: Who aint know you call you You. When you have locals and people that you are acquainted with most of the time respect etc go out of the door.It can happen to anyone but let see is there will be a change in the system @ HMP.We need it.we definitely need it. We must also remember no matter what one does to bring order etc someone always break the protocol.
  • the call (07/06/2018, 08:20) Like (27) Dislike (18) Reply
    SOS! Calling on all overseas Qualified VIislanders to come back home to help throw out these set of unscrupulous and incompetent political leaders before we are totally extincted in our own land. We have become an endangered minority and now very close to extinction. Please, Please, Please come home to help we.


    • BVI Lander Abroad (08/06/2018, 17:02) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
      If only this was true! The welcome given to qualified bvi landers returning home is NOT a GOOD ONE. How dare you come back here with your new ideas and ways of doing things. "we have aways done it this way"! I is not a nice situation to live through. Trust me on that. Been there, done that, have told my cousins to really think about repatriation and if it is indeed something they want to navigate, as , it is a hard thing!
  • Welsah... (07/06/2018, 08:21) Like (17) Dislike (19) Reply
    We’ve been hijacked.
  • Those (07/06/2018, 08:31) Like (17) Dislike (15) Reply
    BVIslanders abroad really need to come back to take up these important positions here in their country before it’s too late; this is getting out of hand now. Where is the love for country?
    • Catch22 (08/06/2018, 12:15) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Good question Where is love for country? Why are they don't join the Police Force? Why Foreigners have to defend us? Where is love for Country? Is it when the big jobs available we ask that question?
  • H20 (07/06/2018, 08:52) Like (21) Dislike (6) Reply
    Marvin Forbes is one local who can do that job. Was he even considered? He is a local and has been in the US penal system working....
    • And there are more (07/06/2018, 15:08) Like (20) Dislike (12) Reply
      to H20. There is Mr. Charles Hodge, living in Florida at the moment, family from the west; he is highly qualified for this job, and I'm sure if he was offered the appropriate incentives, like what we do for foreigners, he will be willing to come back home. We must do a much better job of expanding our reach and exhausting all options for these top jobs in our country; only then we can rest our case and agree for someone outside of that.
  • NezRez (07/06/2018, 09:24) Like (13) Dislike (8) Reply
    How has this happened? How does someone from not from here or the UK get that position? What are the laws pertaining to qualifications for these jobs? If Walwyn is a detriment to our country, vote him OUT! He will then have no power to oust BVI landers from their positions the way he has been. How does the Minister of education have anything to do with the government prison system? We all deserve answers.
  • CTS21 (07/06/2018, 10:04) Like (9) Dislike (19) Reply
    They should choose a local for the job. Things will go back to normal.
  • A wing (07/06/2018, 11:31) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    Percival is the biggest down fall for the prison and for the superintendent failures he needs to be removed immediately before Mr Foot leaves and a new superintendent comes there is a lot of evidence of miss management fail protocols corruption against him
  • Yet (07/06/2018, 11:40) Like (12) Dislike (12) Reply
    another form of genocide on the Virgin Islanders, by any means necessary. Pe’o Wickness.
  • hey (07/06/2018, 11:57) Like (15) Dislike (2) Reply
    The money that is being squandered can be used to train personnel for these positions. The people of these islands are being kept down, so that friends from other places can be given the jobs. That is how the money from this country is being drained. We get we. X with UK and cry out and marched. But we are doing worse in a different way.
  • The NDP (07/06/2018, 12:38) Like (14) Dislike (7) Reply
    Gang don’t care bout we.
  • My say (07/06/2018, 12:41) Like (15) Dislike (13) Reply
    We are getting very close to a revolution in this place, and it will not be pretty.
  • Mehson (07/06/2018, 12:48) Like (21) Dislike (23) Reply
    NDP really got to go- For Real.
  • LetGo (07/06/2018, 17:47) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply
    Locals are busy tearing down one anther and putting stumbling blocks in each other path, that's why non locals can move into positions with ease.
  • Observer (07/06/2018, 22:04) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    Seems like it was a set up to me.
  • Amy W (07/06/2018, 22:21) Like (4) Dislike (8) Reply
    Come on bvilanders get qualified get experience. Stop thinking that all you need is your BH degree. It’s really sad that you can’t find locals fill critical jobs. My heart goes out to you. All the best Mr Guard!!!
    • Papus (08/06/2018, 07:12) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
      Even with PHds and experience we getting kicked around, so what’s your point?
      • Attitude (08/06/2018, 15:15) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
        Then it must be attitude and work ethic.
        • @Attitude (09/06/2018, 11:47) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
          Some people hire persons they could intimidate to do what they want. I for one will not stand for that. If something is wrong I'm not with it. I will speak up and they don't like that. Talk that.
  • Hmm (08/06/2018, 08:51) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
    Foot came with similar accolades, and he was one of the biggest FAILURES to the prison system to date!!
    I do hope this St. Lucian is not BOUGHT OUT and truly runs the prison with integrity and fairness and most importantly LAW AND ORDER!
    This free for all thing we have going on up there must cease as soon as possible!
    • Insane (09/06/2018, 20:38) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over yet expecting a different result. Get it?
  • Elated (09/06/2018, 15:18) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    you NA SAYERS. TAKE IT FROM ME.THAT PRISON NEEDS SOME ONE TO BEND IT, MOLD IT AND PUT HIS/HER FOOT PRINTS ON IT. IT HAS BEEN RUNNING ON AUTOPILOT FOR SO LONG. It IS only a matter of time before disaster strikes.(BLOOD BATHE) I am HAPPY that someone of his status will be willing to take ON the task. IT IS BAD, BAD, BAD. THE MINSTER HAS ARIGHT IN THIS INSANT TO TRY SOME THING NEW. DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER IS INSANITY.
    I APPLAUDE YOU (MINISTER). AS FOR PERIVAL, MR SUPERINTENDENT BEWARE. HE WILL BRING YOU DOWN WITH YOUR EYES WIDE OPEN. a DEADLY SNAKE.
  • Elated (09/06/2018, 15:38) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    PEOPLE WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? How much officers up there are BVIslanders? Those who received ( bELONGER sTATUS) via application, did IT for the benefits that it affords a BVIslander. They don't care whether London bridge fall . (Is all about the money) People, If you don't have relevant information., please shut up. IT MAKE YOU LOOK STUPID.
  • Right is Right (09/06/2018, 21:11) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    How could Myron do such a thing... what happen to our own ppl...and that same man down there threaten the our local inmates about obeah.. he will make walk on there heads dont mess around with him etc... when u see that happen they proberly couldnt pay st lucia to house the bvi inmates.. so they give that man the job...as a payment im piss offf.... that man is wicked man.....he believe in wrong...this government is sickennnnn.......


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