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Top Cop recommends moving life-serving prisoners out of VI

-as part of a review of Her Majesty’s Prison system
Commissioner of Police at the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) Mr Mark Collins said as part of his new tenure, an immediate review of the local Her Majesty's Prison (HMP) in Balsam Ghut has been recommended. Photo: VINO/File
Commissioner Marc Collins made the announcements during an address to members of the Rotary Club of Tortola on July 8, 2021. Photo: Internet Source
Commissioner Marc Collins made the announcements during an address to members of the Rotary Club of Tortola on July 8, 2021. Photo: Internet Source
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Commissioner of Police at the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) Mr Mark Collins said as part of his new tenure, an immediate review of Her Majesty's Prison (HMP) in Balsam Ghut, Tortola, has been recommended.

The Commissioner made the announcements during an address to members of the Rotary Club of Tortola on July 8, 2021.

During a video presentation, Mr Collins said, “As part of National Security Council we recommended an immediate review of the prison and also a longer-term review of what's going on there because, clearly, things aren't right,” he said.

While Mr Collins did not go into the details about what specific factors led to the recommendation, he hinted that coming of the review could be radical new policies.

“Just to give you a flavour of some of the things I'm thinking about are… you know when we've got life-serving prisoners do they need to be held on the island?” he questioned.

“Can we not move them to other islands other jurisdictions and have a sort of reciprocal arrangement?,” the Commissioner said.

Under the constitutional watch of the Governor, the prison has had several stabbings, prison breaks and murder.

Following the hurricanes of 2017, prisoners, including those in for murder, were on the loose and no one has yet been held culpable.

In May 2021, a fatal stabbing rocked the confined walls of the prison. The victim was Jamaica national Nickail Chambers, 29. Several persons were injured in the incident.

Meanwhile, after nearly 8 years a local, Guy M. Hill, was this month appointed Superintendent of Prisons.

52 Responses to “Top Cop recommends moving life-serving prisoners out of VI”

  • Yes ! (16/07/2021, 14:04) Like (29) Dislike (7) Reply
    Send them away especially them ones from jamaica send back jamaica , cause they wont eat that much of tax payers $ as they did here in bvi, Rip
  • Yes ! (16/07/2021, 14:04) Like (10) Dislike (6) Reply
    Send them away especially them ones from jamaica send back jamaica , cause they wont eat that much of tax payers $ as they did here in bvi, Rip
  • Yes ! (16/07/2021, 14:04) Like (12) Dislike (4) Reply
    Send them away especially them ones from jamaica send back jamaica , cause they wont eat that much of tax payers $ as they did here in bvi, Rip
  • Local (16/07/2021, 14:09) Like (33) Dislike (13) Reply
    Your remanded prisoners is who causing havoc in the jail Mr Top Cop the police are responsible for all remanded prisoners you should think of housing your own prisoners before you think about sending children fathers and mothers away from them. I’ve never herd of a murder convict harming in any one in that jail. A remanded prisoner somehow found his way on a sentence wing and killed a sentence prisoner. Why dont your send the outsiders to do time in their country instead of spending our tax paying money to feed them then deport them when the time is up. Them Jamaican bin mucking up that jail for over 15yrs send non locals to their country to do their time.
    • Check this (17/07/2021, 09:26) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      If you didn't commit a crime in your home country why would you want the culprit to do the time back home.
      That could create another scenario, for he could be freed in his homeland and later whine up here again legally.. that would call for some serious legislation..
      Right now we have spaniards who slip through to the US, and when they commit offences and are deported to their homeland , they return here as if nothing had ever happened , and we do not do any follow ups..
      • Mrs Tubman (18/07/2021, 16:16) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        ,"Whine," up here? Not if diligence is employed in our borders and immigration. Lifers should do time in the UK pridon
        My opinion is that anyone sentenced at least 10 years should do the Tomlin their homecountry . It our cost saving and more humane.Their relatives could visit more frequently. They would be more culturally comfortable
        It would be polite if thir home countries would offer to house them as a gesture of good will since the BVIaffordsso msny of them a rise from poverty and upward mobility
        The VI prison population is dominated by Caribbean expats and/ or offsprings where one or both parents are expats.
        Prison in the VI is not a deterrent to them . Prison stay in their c ountry would more likely be a deterrent. The thought of returning to their country for most of the Caribbean expats illicit severe panic and anxiety. Home is not where their heart lies.
    • You all too impartial (17/07/2021, 13:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      What happen to these people why your brain is so shallow stop thinking one way god judgment is not partial do you see what is happening around us STOP.
  • Amazing (16/07/2021, 15:04) Like (7) Dislike (10) Reply
    wow
    the commissioner of police can freely make certain decisions but how come the same commissioner is not held accountable for the drug money in the custody of his department

    divide and conquer
    so you born here you will be sent to another Jurisdiction so family & friends won’t be seeing you for many years

    • robocop (16/07/2021, 17:41) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      Tough sh1t. Don’t do the crime.
      • Wrong is wrong is wrong (17/07/2021, 09:34) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
        When you send away a prisoner and due to unforeseen circumstances , something goes wrong and he or she be killed while serving time how do you deal with the children or the familes of the deceased.
        That family would build up an anger and great hostility for the system and there could be serious reprisals with long lasting devious effects to the community and persons..
    • Mabel (18/07/2021, 19:10) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Yes. That’s what they deserve. If you want to be among friends and family stay to hell out if prison.
  • Ready again (16/07/2021, 15:20) Like (12) Dislike (7) Reply
    Do you these prisoners who serving life have family and love ones that visits them every week faithfully especially their kids
    • You sure? (16/07/2021, 16:54) Like (13) Dislike (2) Reply
      Then the prisoner should have thought about them before committing the crime. You don't think so? Maybe sending them away will deter the crime rate because as of lately it seems to be getting out of hand.
    • Local (16/07/2021, 17:57) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Ready again if they behave and respect authority and remember that its prison with rules , some of them needs to be hang
    • @ready again (16/07/2021, 21:57) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
      I guess you need to familiarize yourself of how the real prison world works. If they wanted to be with their family and children they would do what is right.

      In the states, family drive for hours to see their love ones. This is only if you are on their approved visitors list. The prisoners here have been running a racket. Its time the see what real prison life is about. Then they will think twice.
  • omg (16/07/2021, 15:21) Like (3) Dislike (7) Reply
    He told the Rotary Club, is that club an extension of vip?
    • 1st District (16/07/2021, 21:29) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      No, Rotary Club is the recruiting ground for the club in Johnson gut
  • Yes (16/07/2021, 15:49) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    Don’t forget them brothers from St Kitts!
  • um (16/07/2021, 15:53) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Send them UK not a next island let them see a real system or just lock them down 24/7 since they heartless already
    • Send (17/07/2021, 10:05) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
      You will be the first to go. You can’t hide much longer
    • trust (17/07/2021, 14:13) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
      U ever see a criminal from uk come down here in the bvi and go jail tha make sense
      Tell me
  • local boy (16/07/2021, 15:56) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I will also recommend a separate facility for remands prisoners.
  • long overdue (16/07/2021, 15:58) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    This was recommended by concerned residents, long time ago.
  • Feeling others pain (16/07/2021, 16:32) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    To local you are not in the kitchen so you're not feeling the heat. Yes you are right with one thing the police need to fined place to house their remanaded prisoners but also these lifers need to feel how a real prison feel they living to much good life here as for the jamaicans who in the prison going on like it belong to them and you have to get them blessing to plant crops and make money like them . It need to stop.
    • Weak up time (17/07/2021, 23:44) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
      It's only jamaican in the prison?jamaican eat something. for you all everything jamaican, jamaican this is gods land some of you don't even know how y'all fore parent reach here stop behaving as if you all buy tola out y'all pocket,before y'all humble yourself you still hating an other people come an this is not the time god worth is upon us people sometimes when you take aim at people because people do what you all can't do if it's a woman jamaican take you man and if its a man jamaican take your woman get over its please
  • Reconsider (16/07/2021, 16:55) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Good thought but I think it may serve us better if identified trouble makers be the ones sent overseas to serve their sentences rather than life-serving inmates. Reason being that I am confident that not all life-serving inmates are a bother to the prison system. But there is a bigger opportunity with this arrangement. Surely any person who considers committing a violent crime ,whether or not carrying a life sentence, would have to take the possibility of overseas incarceration into consideration. Hopefully this will cause violent crime to decrease. But...but are we prepared to accept a reciprocal arrangement?
  • about time (16/07/2021, 16:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Let them feel what hard life and hard time is all about.
  • Aves Island (16/07/2021, 17:11) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Send the lifers to this little island in the middle of the Caribbean. Venezuela built a steel platform there years ago but it's abandoned now. It would be a survival of the fittest type prison because there is no food or water.
  • @ready again (16/07/2021, 17:54) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    They should've known that before they did what they did...... while I understand they're still human jus like us , they knew they had Kids and family while they were doing the dumb s..t they did....the point of jail is exactly that u have to suffer with whatever the consequence may be
  • vi (16/07/2021, 18:19) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    VINO why u look blame gem man, no man responsible for Irma, she a jumbie, prison get smash and all kinda ting going round these islands, man me pray Guy da man fix deez tings not the white man who nothing about this place
  • Stay in your lane (16/07/2021, 18:19) Like (5) Dislike (5) Reply
    So he want to be Police Commissioner and Superintendent of Prison as well. Strupes
  • Ot Prison (16/07/2021, 18:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Let the OTs have a maximum facility prison in may Montserrat, where it might be more cost effective. We can work together with our police, fire etc.
  • YES SIR (16/07/2021, 18:45) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Send them back to Saint Lucia please
  • Yep (16/07/2021, 19:08) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    They saw from the blogs this place is fighting against each other and say the best time to take over is now while they trying kill each other.
  • Rudolph (16/07/2021, 19:45) Like (5) Dislike (4) Reply
    It is highly inappropriate for the police comm. to be offering policy comments about the corrections dept. given the fact that a new commissioner/commander (Mr. Hill) was just assigned such responsibilities. It is the height of disrespect.
    • Query (17/07/2021, 15:23) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      Who is paying Hill's salary and the millions for the thousand man imported police force.

  • annudda2cents (16/07/2021, 19:45) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    i am not in agreement with that plan at all. there are a few persons serving life that are little to no threat to the remaining inmates at Balsam's Ghut. i think it should be handled on case by case basis where if the inmate is a threat, regardless of the crime he/she has been incarcerated for, then you move accordingly. but it has to be a system. not just pick and choose at random. you give the offender a warning or two, and then you make a move to send them away. not only will that deter some inmates from misbehaving within the facilities, but it will show everyone a properly functioning system. at the end of the day, this is not a matter that the Top Cop should even be commenting on. I am bit concerned that the Top Cop has started to spoke out of turn early. This should be coming from the Prison Head, The Governor, or the Minister under whose ministry this facility falls under.
    • Keep your change (17/07/2021, 08:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      am bit concerned that the Top Cop has started to spoke out of turn early.
      If the prison head said it you still would of have a problem
      If the governor said it you would of still have a problem
      The minister over prisons wouldn’t say it because that would affect votes in next elections
  • loool (17/07/2021, 06:28) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Y’all under here talking because none of these people as your family , I’m 100% sure if u guys were related to anyone of them u would of had nth to say and you would not have been commenting “send them back uk” send them back st.lucia.
    Y’all very heartless if the tables were turn y’all would have never thought about commenting those stuff
  • Nice (17/07/2021, 06:52) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Prison reform needs to hold everyone at the prison responsible for what happens in the prison. All the contraband doesn’t just walk into the prison. Guards must be involved in bringing/allowing it to enter and remain. Hold them accountable as well.

    Secondly, agree with not sending all murderers away. This penalty should be reserved for all prisoners that pose a threat to guards and other inmates.
  • EVILNESS OF THE MIND (17/07/2021, 07:05) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    LOOK IDIOTS , ITS NOT WHO OR WHAT COLOR / ITS IF THE COMMENTS MADE IS WHAT IS NEEDED OR CAN WORK / HE NEVER SAID HE WANTED TO CONTROL ( GUY ) AM SURE ( MR GUY ) HAS HIS OWN OPINION AND WOULD RECOMEND THEM TO THOSE IN CHARGE OF HIM SO KEEP YOUR DIRTY MINDS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
  • Chief Of police Job Description (17/07/2021, 09:08) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Chiefs of police oversee the planning, assigning, and management of activities of the patrol unit. Chiefs of police coordinate patrol, crime prevention, and detective operations. Our new COP is speaking out of tongue. These words should be coming from Head of prison.
  • driver (17/07/2021, 10:08) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    Top Cop you need to learn the environment of the prison before making comments and proposed recommendations. Speaking out of turn is definitely not a good beginning, Sir! Stay in your lane and clean up your business, before you attempt to clean mines.
    Things for you to think about:
    Uneducated police
    Underpaid police
    Rotten police
    Unsolved murders
    Mystery of missing drugs and valuable items, etc.
    Please Sir, start there. Then when you find out who causing problems in the prison, and the Super. Ain’t get it together, feel free to give him some valuable advice.
  • about time (17/07/2021, 16:55) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Send them. No regards for people’s life. This will make people think before them do something stupid again. If you don’t want to be sent UK then keep out of trouble
  • well sahh (17/07/2021, 22:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why send away the prisoners when is the officers that's lacking and doing the dirty work, how about changing the officers .. Peter always have to pay for Paul


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