Former legislator Dr Kedrick D. Pickering has shared the opinion that the Governor is tasked with serving the interests of two powers. Photo: Facebook

Dr Kedrick D. Pickering has opined that the Governor is the Virgin Islands’ voice in London and also has to represent the United Kingdom’s views in the Virgin Islands. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

The protest action against the controversial decision to revert Acting Commissioner of Police Jacqueline E. Vanterpool to her previous position as Deputy Commissioner of Police and bring in a man with a checkered past to temporarily head the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) will continue throughout the week. Photo: Facebook

He spoke during the ‘Hands off our Commissioner’ protest on Monday, November 10, 2025, where he said the position of Governor has been referred to as a “schizophrenic position”. 

This, he said, means the Governor sits in a position where he has to “dance between two powers”. 

Dr Pickering explained that the Governor is the Virgin Islands’ (VI) voice in London as he is responsible for representing the views of the VI to the United Kingdom (UK) government. 

“Part of the reason we pay the Governor’s salary is so that he can represent our views there. Is it done? That’s a different story.”

The Governor also has a duty to represent the UK’s views in the Virgin Islands.

Dr Pickering said he has witnessed first-hand Governors dancing between two opinions, adding that the Governor is often in a difficult position. 

“That is the reality of what we live in in today’s world.”

We are the ones to decide to rule our destiny

Governor Daniel Pruce’s decision to have Acting Commissioner of Police (CoP) Jacqueline E. Vanterpool return to her role as Deputy Commissioner of Police, in favour of nominating United Kingdom national Richard Ullger for interim CoP, sparked the protest action that will continue throughout the week. 

Dr Pickering said to be fair, he has never attended a meeting where he sensed the UK government wants to “hold us into colonialism”. 

“What I have seen is that they are telling you, ‘As long as you remain under our rule, you will do what we say’. But what that speaks volumes to is that we as a people are the ones who are to make a decision to rule our own destiny.”

Dr Pickering said that since the reinstatement of the legislative council 75 years ago, VI’s history shows steady progress. 

“We have never looked back. Why now people want to turn us back? Why now people want to tell us we must behave in a certain way, when they should be doing what is necessary for us to move forward?”