‘Voices need to be heard’ in petition against CoP Collins – Hon Rymer
Hon Rymer was at the time speaking during the Budget Debates of December 19, 2023, at the Sixth Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly.
According to the Minister, “Mr. Speaker, I don't know what is happening with this petition against the Chief of Police… I haven't heard anything, but Mr. Speaker I think those voices need to be heard.”
55 allegations against CoP in Petition
On December 12, 2023, Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) received a copy of an 11-page petition addressed to the Governor, where some 30 consignees of the petition not only called for the removal of the Commissioner of Police Mr Collins, but for independent investigations to be launched into allegations of misconduct in public office and abuse of office by the Top Cop.
“As you are aware in the last few weeks, an email dated October 5th, 2021, from the Commissioner of Police Mark Collins has made the rounds publicly in the British Virgin Islands. It is our view that the intent and the instruction of the email were to interfere with the arms of justice, with the deceitfulness, dishonesty, and unlawful behavior that lacks credibility on behalf of the Commissioner of Police,” the petition details.
The leaked email in question was reportedly by the Commissioner concerned the arrest and charging of an Inspector and Mr Collins was updating Mr St Clair Amory on the case. The CoP said that he had a discussion with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the arrest matter had been discontinued.
HoA needs update on direction - Hon Rymer
While there have been no word of a formal investigation launched by Governor John J. Rankin CMG, into the matter, Hon Rymer said the HoA “needs to hear what is the direction for the force in terms of the petition.”
The Minister also used to opportunity to put the spotlight on local crime which he said is something that also needs attention and more needs to be done.
“Mr. Speaker, crime is something that we definitely need to address within our community. We all should lend our voice to that and you know... hope to curb crime in our beautiful Virgin Islands,” Hon Rymer said.
49 Responses to “‘Voices need to be heard’ in petition against CoP Collins – Hon Rymer ”
for years and even a school child and all of you are Quiet like lambs / and all of a
sudden we jumping on the commissioner just like when he released the video on the brutal cold blooded execution style murder in fish bay of a human being / and nothing was heard from any of you holy men called politicians / what happened to infrastructure
And then they charge Wade for a charge they clearly should feel ashamed of. If you can’t charge a man for a crime leave him alone don’t charge him for taking a candy from a shop u think he that stupid so he’s a manager and have to beg permission to use the boat make that make sense it’s best who charge him do the job then
While you're on that, I heard that ****is going around threatening the young officers who signed the petition asking them for duty report. **** even asking them if they forget that they is the one who gave them the job. This is so pathetic to say the least. Those officers are now forced to go to police headquarters to give statement indicating that they were mislead into signing the petition. We are now left to assume that these officers were not fully trained nor have the mental capacity to understand basic english. What a sad day
The guy to efficient
What happened to that guy who was head of complaints. The one that had his last two promotions from the court!!!
The force is filled with criminals even though A***** gone. He was the mastermind for all of them and some of them still in there. The RVIPF has been stink from the head for years and some of those same officers were around and still in the force seeing the corruption among some of their cronies but they shadow them. The BVI nor the force dont need a petition to remove Collins. He is not the problem for the force. The problems are bigger than him. Jacque vanterpool ain’t the problem either. She needs to get out now for she herself is not love in there. You will hear some saying she is trying but she don’t get no support. I believe they need to really bring in UK full coverage in that force. But we will wait and see what the new governor brings.
Let’s assume that if either former Black local CoP Reynell Fraser or Vernon Malone had scores of officers signed a letter of concern about scores of concerns, would Rankin just would File 13 it ( trash can) the complaint???I don’t think so. Conduct the investigation and let the chips fall where they may. Is Rankin trying to run out the clock, solving the problem by procrastination, using a Napoleonic move, dumping the problem in Pruce’s lap as controversial former Guv Gus Jaspert did to him with the CoI? Looking back that COI only investigated functions under the purview of local leaders. Anything under the Guv, the king, eas exempted, ie, RVIPF , etc. The rule of law means nothing if it only applies to one race of people.