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

The 'continued exploitation' of police officers 'will no longer be tolerated'- PWA

- highlights delayed compensation, unresolved salary disparities & prolonged administrative inaction as grievances
The Police Welfare Association (PWA) has said police officers have faithfully served this Territory, often under difficult and demanding circumstances, and they deserve fairness, dignity, transparency, and compensation that reflects their responsibilities and service. Photo: RVIPF/Facebook/File
The Chairman of the Police Welfare Association is Sergeant Sean A. McCall. Photo: Facebook/File
The Chairman of the Police Welfare Association is Sergeant Sean A. McCall. Photo: Facebook/File
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) has not responded to the public allegations by the Police Welfare Association (PWA). Photo: VINO/File
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) has not responded to the public allegations by the Police Welfare Association (PWA). Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- “The continued exploitation of officers through delayed compensation, unresolved salary disparities, and prolonged administrative inaction will no longer be tolerated.” This is according to the Police Welfare Association (PWA) in a statement on June 2, 2026, titled: Police Welfare Association Demands Immediate Action on Pay Inequities, Non-payment of Allowances, Regularising Acting Appointments, and Systemic Administrative Failures.

The PWA said it was compelled to publicly express its grave concern regarding longstanding employment inequities, salary anomalies, and administrative failures affecting the membership of the Association.

“For far too long, our members have endured unfair treatment that has eroded morale, undermined confidence in public administration, and created an unacceptable environment of inequality within the Force. Despite repeated engagement, patience, and good-faith efforts by the Association, these matters remain unresolved.”

Troubling concerns

Among the most troubling concerns, according to the PWA, are serving police constables, receiving significantly lower salaries than newly recruited officers despite performing identical duties and carrying out the same responsibilities; Officers acting in higher ranks for extended periods, in some cases exceeding 2 years, without formal acting appointments or the remuneration attached to those positions; Long-serving Inspectors earning less than newly promoted Inspectors, creating a situation that is both irrational and deeply disrespectful to years of dedicated service; and the continued failure to regularise acting appointments, address salary disparities, and implement transparent and equitable compensation practices.

According to the PWA, these are not isolated administrative oversights. “They represent systemic failures that have persisted for years, and raise serious concerns regarding fairness, accountability, good governance, and equal treatment within the public service.”

PWA said police officers have faithfully served this Territory, often under difficult and demanding circumstances, and they deserve fairness, dignity, transparency, and compensation that reflects their responsibilities and service.

Multi-agency Task Force

“The PWA is therefore calling for the immediate establishment of a multi-agency Task Force comprising representatives of the Deputy Governor's Office, Human Resources, the Ministry of Finance, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, and the Police Welfare Association to urgently review and resolve all outstanding salary, promotion, and acting appointment issues within clearly defined timelines.”

The Association said it remains committed to constructive engagement, effective dialogue, and meaningful resolution. “However, patience has limits. Our members can no longer be expected to bear the burden of persistent systemic administrative failures while continuing to perform their duties with professionalism and dedication.

“The time for acknowledgment has passed. The time for decisive action is now.”

The Chairman of the Police Welfare Association is Sergeant Sean A. McCall.

The RVIPF was contacted by our News Centre for a response to the statement by the PWA. "We have no comment at this time," Police Media Liaison Akia L. Thomas-Nero replied.

20 Responses to “The 'continued exploitation' of police officers 'will no longer be tolerated'- PWA”

  • Law Man (03/06/2026, 16:29) Like (28) Dislike (3) Reply
    First start with the Police HR. You can’t be anti Police and work in the same office as Police. Police can’t be civil servants only when it is convenient. Where payment is concern we are not civil servants. We are governed by character 165 of the police Act, please don’t forget. Not all laws in the Public Service Code will apply to us. Need an HR who understands Policing in its true aspects. Have a lot more to say, but things just start.
    • police (03/06/2026, 20:09) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
      Police is filled with many malicious people.
    • @law man (03/06/2026, 20:31) Like (4) Dislike (5) Reply
      This reads more like an unfocused and undisciplined broadside at Police HR. If you intend to invoke “character” as your governing standard, this message fails to meet even the minimum threshold. You mention having more to say; hopefully the next contribution arrives with greater focus and discipline.
    • CSC (04/06/2026, 05:44) Like (23) Dislike (0) Reply
      The police HR is arrogant and useless .
    • Comment (04/06/2026, 16:01) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Can the Police Welfare Association help us public servants at other departments with our concerns as well? We have been crying just the same and just as loud.
  • Guest (03/06/2026, 16:58) Like (24) Dislike (5) Reply
    The PWA has laid out a worthy catalogue of long festering administrative failures: pay inequities, unregularized acting appointments, and salary anomalies that insult both service and seniority. But the statement tiptoes around one issue that is no longer optional in any credible law enforcement environment and that is “vetting”. Fair compensation and structural reform matter, but they cannot stand alone while the Force continues to operate without a rigorous, transparent integrity screening regime. You cannot demand equity on one hand while ignoring the basic professional standard that ensures officers are fit, proper, and trustworthy on the other. The public deserves a police service that is both fairly treated and properly vetted because without integrity, no amount of back pay or corrected salary scales will restore confidence. If the PWA is serious about systemic reform, then vetting must sit beside compensation, not behind it.
    • Vengeance is mine.. (03/06/2026, 20:20) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
      Those are some strong statements and some forceful demands..We may say great representation, but some of those same people the PWA is so forcefully representing some are snakes, and some are wolves only acting....I like the fact that the PWA doing its job knowing there will be adverse effects, most bosses hate when you speak uo for your rights...
    • Accountability (04/06/2026, 17:40) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
      Vetting is a completely different issue. Seeking to assert that the two issues are related or that both issues go together is disingenuous. This is simple about what is due to those who put on the uniform. The last salary review has made it simple to identify pay disparities as all officers of same rank work for the same pay regardless of years of service. . Yes academic qualifications can add a few dollars for some but the base salary is the base salary across the board. . Then there is the mismanagement of overtime, acting appointments and allowances . This is an issue nore about HR and senior officers mismanagement the force and not about vetting. A lack of accountability by those in positions of power. Throwing vetting shade on these issues seems to suggest an unwillingness to be held accountable.
      • @Accountability (05/06/2026, 10:01) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
        Sidestepping vetting seems to equally suggests an unwillingness to be held accountable.
  • big man (03/06/2026, 19:49) Like (39) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yes you can argue for better payment but you must also want to work for the pay. Many of you joined the organization and don’t want to patrol the streets, always sick, don’t want to be vetted. Are afraid to go to court. The officers of today don’t know their community. They don’t know the criminals. Officers walk about in public improperly atire. Rough sack on back in supermarkets without head gear.
    Policing standards has dropped to how I knew it. Officers don’t show respect by saluting who is entitled to be saluted.
  • LOL (03/06/2026, 19:55) Like (41) Dislike (12) Reply
    More money to do what sit around drive around in tax payers vehicle.. they can't solve not 1 murder up to this day .. they should be a shamed to talk about compensation do sum work for yall money first
  • fact over fiction (03/06/2026, 20:46) Like (22) Dislike (1) Reply
    Senior Police officers with over 16 years of service, are making the same amount of money as ones join 2 years ago and sometimes less, let that make sense, allowance are are not being paid persons being owed. Persons promoted and are not receiving their increased pay. Persons are going above and beyond, and are not being recognized, rewarded, not even a commendation, some persons have no f8nancial issues because of who their associates are. RVIPF is a mess civilian staff in administration dont like police, so they dont give a dam ab9ut their welfare. When one has to be rewarded financially it's a difficult feat, when one has to be financially demoted it happens instantaneously. Persons are owed monies for years. How can an inspector of 24 years service receive less pay that an I spectator of 10 15 years. Women in the force are being placed in department with no experience, all based on who the frolic with. The catch is special department comes with more pay.




  • Make it make sense (04/06/2026, 04:26) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    The RVIPF over the last few year other than education is the only department in the bvi the got massive boost under gasper and pruce the previous and current governors.

    What the RVIPF ask for you all got. New vehicles, yes. More officer's, yes. In fact officer's doing so good now. Majority if them basically own one hill side on the island yet are for while the governor keep pumping funds, rides, falsely attacking people in court, adding officer's every other month.


    Work with the budget given or cut redundant workers or get rid of some of the vehicles.


    But another increase in pay.


    Noooooooooooo


    You police do not live a dangerous live in the bvi it us rare.


    Infact you all often late or never around when major crimes happens.

    And with all that police men on staff too.


    Go in town midday not a police in sight
  • External (04/06/2026, 08:50) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    so because police have internal conflict the public don't get service unless it's to raise funds? how about upholding all virgin islands law that you were hired to do? you have reckless scooters all over the place half of which is likely unlicensed and uninsured on top of that Marijana is smoked in plain view of police, some police even get close enough to enjoy a contact high, and now the high school is rife with the same drug and nothing is being done by way of the school the police the honorable member of the sector, the parents or the premier. even when you call the police for a matter they just brush you off. most of them hardly know the laws. at this point its a clear indication that the Governor and his hired Simpson cast are failing with flying colors. Gelded and spinles screw ups.
  • Shawn Mac (04/06/2026, 10:23) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    MORE POLICE OFFICERS, MORE POLICE VEHICLES= LESS POLICE PATROLLING, MORE CAMERAS,LESS CRIME PREVENTION MEASURES, LESS CRIME SOLVING, LESS SUCCESS IN COURT MATTERS, THE CLOSURE OF THE WEST END, CANE GARDEN BAY AND EAST END LONG LOOK POLICE STATIONS RESPECTIVELY.
  • WOW (04/06/2026, 13:31) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Senior Police officers with over 16 years of service, are making the same amount of money as ones join 2 years ago and sometimes less, let that make sense, allowance are are not being paid persons being owed. Persons promoted and are not receiving their increased pay. Persons are going above and beyond, and are not being recognized, rewarded, not even a commendation, some persons have no f8nancial issues because of who their associates are. RVIPF is a mess civilian staff in administration dont like police, so they dont give a dam ab9ut their welfare. When one has to be rewarded financially it's a difficult feat, when one has to be financially demoted it happens instantaneously. Persons are owed monies for years. How can an inspector of 24 years service receive less pay that an I spectator of 10 15 years. Women in the force are being placed in department with no experience, all based on who the frolic with. The catch is special department comes with more pay.

    Wow, real Talk, this person knows what he is talking bout. Wow.
  • attention (04/06/2026, 15:31) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    As far as I am concerned nothing is wrong with the PWA attempting to vouche for its officers. But, before these vast demands are made I honestly feel that the Chairman should have had an internal meeting with the officers and address many of the vexing issues that displeases the public. Actually, as it relates to unfair practices as is suggested by the chairman, the first ones he should have mentioned are the vetting process of officers (of which they are all afraid of), the integrity of the officers, the dedication and commitment to their job, their relationship with the public, and I can go on and on and on. Unless the basic issues are addressed within the RVIPF nothing will change and no amount of money given for salaries increase will solve the problems. The issues lie deep within the force and many unhealthy cultures of beating the system have festered throughout the ranks. The first enforcement by ALL the stakeholders involved should be to STOP the illegal practices of
  • Totally Unfair (04/06/2026, 15:52) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    In my opinion nothing is wrong with the Chairman of the PWA looking out for the welfare of the officers . But at the same time it is very disturbing to me to have him speaking about unfair practices when they themselves are guilty of the same. Instead of making demands, the first thing that should be done is to put a stop to ALL the officers who are contradicting their police duties by working two and three side jobs at the private establishments. They are not just violating the laws of the land but they are also depriving someone else from making a living. And the end result is that they can’t perform their regular duties because they are tired and burnt out. This must be addressed.
  • Take out merchants (04/06/2026, 16:58) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Only if these members of the police force can have the same zeal when it comes to solving crime. It's a shame that the organisation is being used for some members personal means, they are a set of take out merchants.

    No wonder crime is on the rise and pier park is robbed on a frequent basis. They should know months leading up to festivals in the VI there is always a lot of crime, so they should have been proactive, but no they only want money, status, and crouch. But no to work, the governor and UK commissioner is also complicit as well.
  • Really (05/06/2026, 06:58) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Police just barely get several vehicles after years of begging. Imagine first responders driving an old vehicle nearly 20 years old that always breaking down en route to an incident...but u here talking about they get new vehicles. Shut the hell up !!


Create a comment


Create a 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.