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 Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) has not responded to the public allegations by the Police Welfare Association (PWA). Photo: VINO/File

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.