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Willock says RVIPF needs auditing & assessment on handling crime

-with millions of dollars going into force over the years
Former Speaker of the Virgin Islands (VI) House of Assembly (HoA) Julian Willock says as it relates to crime in the VI million continues to go into the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) and as such, an assessment needs to be done of the force. Photo: GIS/File
Mr Willock’s comments echoed similar sentiments raised by Opposition Legislator Hon Stacy M. Mather (AL), that the RVIPF has received millions to secure the VI, but yet, results are lacking. Photo: VINO/Facebook
Mr Willock’s comments echoed similar sentiments raised by Opposition Legislator Hon Stacy M. Mather (AL), that the RVIPF has received millions to secure the VI, but yet, results are lacking. Photo: VINO/Facebook
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI – Former Speaker of the Virgin Islands (VI) House of Assembly (HoA) Julian Willock says, as it relates to crime in the VI, millions of dollars continues to go into the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) and, as such, an assessment of the force needs to be conducted.

Mr Willock was at the time appearing as a guest on the Talking Points radio show on ZBVI 780 AM on March 25, 2024.

“The Government, to their credit, I think that they are doing their best… remember crime and security is a responsibility of His Excellency The Governor and the Commissioner of Police, and the Minister of Finance has spent close to 8-9 million over the last 3-5 years, putting resources for the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force.”

Willock added, “If you’re pouring money into something and you’re not seeing any result then somebody needs to take a look, somebody needs to do an assessment, somebody needs to do an audit of that organisation.”

Hon Mather raised similar concerns 

Mr Willock’s comments echoed similar sentiments raised by Opposition Legislator Hon Stacy M. Mather (AL), that the RVIPF has received millions to secure the VI, but yet, results are lacking.

“We’ve sat in the House of Assembly since I have been elected, and we have allocated money to the RVIPF... We have allocated funds for them to the tune of millions of dollars… I think the RVIPF have resources… but the approach needs to be different,” he said at an Opposition Press Conference on March 19, 2024.

Meanwhile, as it relates to crime, Mr Willock said there needs to be all hands on deck in the VI to start the fight.  He called on churches, the government, teachers, parents and other young people to be influencers of good.

“We live in a capitalist society and we need to change ways, were we can change the values of getting rich quick… most of us work long and hard for what we have and we have to find ways through the home, church, schools, NGOs to instil the sort of values to our young people, that those things don’t come overnight and that we have to work hard and that will go a far way in reducing crime,” he said.

20 Responses to “Willock says RVIPF needs auditing & assessment on handling crime”

  • Hum (28/03/2024, 12:11) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
    I think with all the drug seized they doing pretty good.
  • pat (28/03/2024, 12:13) Like (3) Dislike (23) Reply
    The esteemed is right
  • ma yute (28/03/2024, 12:36) Like (2) Dislike (16) Reply
    too busy giving people ticket for dark tint
    • @ma yute (28/03/2024, 13:23) Like (15) Dislike (3) Reply
      You mean the same tint that criminals, gun man and robbers use before performing a shooting or stick up?

      damn that's crazy
  • jack@$$ (28/03/2024, 13:27) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
    Seriously we've lost our social values as a community. And differently than that everyone here is frustrated and angry, many are resentful. On top of that there are many idle hands and idle minds. I think it's unfair to expect the police to stop crime but we have a serious need to solve crimes. Here we forget really fast and the outrage of murders and robberies passes until the next one happens, festival time and xmas time there is always a crime spike. There was a child killed some yrs back that was never solved, as a matter of fact 90% of the murders go unsolved here. We just carry on with our lives after the shock passes. We get used to not seeing our folks around and new ppl take their place. How many gun deaths have been resolved? This is what needs to be improved. When we had capital punishment that was a deterrent but now the criminals know that if it's planned well enough they'll get away. How many killed east of town in the last few yrs, then count in town, then count west. 90% unsolved. That is the issue. Where are the results from forensics and the convictions from the DPP?
  • Not just RVIPF (28/03/2024, 13:52) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    It seems that it is one thing to catch criminals, but another to get them convicted in court. If the results are lacking, the whole process needs to be reviewed including all departments involved.
  • Audit? (28/03/2024, 14:08) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    The RVIPF has only recently been audited by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Police. When the report is published I think you will find that the main recommendation is more funding required from the BVI Government.
  • 2024 (28/03/2024, 14:22) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    yes sir
    where does the drugs ends up
    where does the drug money end up
    where is an update on unsolved cases
    where is the C.O.I upon the RVIP

    who bodyguards against the bodyguards
    you mostly see a gathering of police after the crime was committed
  • He is right! (28/03/2024, 16:15) Like (4) Dislike (5) Reply
    Watch. the lunatics disagree even though theyknow he is right.
  • hmm (28/03/2024, 17:04) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    8 to 9 million over 3 to 5 years is hardly any kind of money to fund a Police Force for the Territory. That’s anywhere from 1.8 to 3 million dollars per year. This to cover salaries, equipment, supplies, fuel etc. He may have inadvertently stumbled onto the exact problem that the Force faces. Underfunding.
  • 9 million (28/03/2024, 17:32) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    Still less than the HOA Members have spent on travel and parties. What returns have we got from them?
  • Socrates (28/03/2024, 18:41) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    1. What is the size of the RVIPF relative to the population??
    2. What is the size of the force relative to other OTs, and similarly size forces ?
    3. How does the VI crime ( violent and property) rate in contrast and comparison to other OTs and similarly sized locales (geography and population) ?
    4. Is the RVIPF adequately resourced to do the job effectively??
    5. Is the problem resources or leadership and management?
    6. Why did the RVIPF didn’t get greater attention during the CoI conducted by Sir Gary Hickenbottom? Was the lack of attention deliberate?
    7. Should the internal audit be conducted by an independent agency? Is the force too socially connected/socially cohesive for the audit to be conducted by in-house forces?
    8. Should the internal audit strive for transparency, high level of confidence, independence, professionalism, etc?
    • Manjack (29/03/2024, 07:32) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      The RVIPF is too inbred/innate to conduct a self-audit. The situation requires an agency which is totally, altogether, independent to conduct the audit. An organization often rots from the head down. For example, if the current CoP were of African descent or other person of ‘color’, the UK-appointed Governor, any of them, would have ‘canned’ him long, long, time ago, The CoP Colins endorsed a video castigating the BVI as supposedly as a crime ridden cesspool. Did this action signify a precursor to future action by the UK? What did former Governor John Rankin, CMG, pardoned Collins for? A pardon is usually given after a person admit to committing a wrong? Whatever happened to the issues raised by some members of the RVIPF? IMO Rankin seemed to have brush aside the issues, failing to move with deliberate speed, with alacrity, to address the concerns. On the way out the door, he appointed the CoP of Cayman Islands, to conduct a review of the complaints, seemingly pretending to do something. Is throwing money the panacea for fixing policing and crime in the BVI? Is effective planning , organizing, directing, controlling, coupled with strong leadership and management, needed?
    • Bourgeoisie Professor (29/03/2024, 09:31) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Like the original Greek philosopher Socrates who became best known as a questioner of everything and everyone, you are playing a similar role, asking the tough probing questions which no one wants to answer, hoping they would roll of the board quickly. Some may say let sleeping dogs lie; nevertheless, they are questions that needs to be answered. The independent audit should also include a review of internal management controls, organizational structure, vulnerability assessment, etc.
  • Talking nonsense (28/03/2024, 19:15) Like (4) Dislike (5) Reply
    Another individual who has no understanding of how policing operates or what the costs are. If you’re going to comment do so from an informed perspective please Wiggy!
  • Corrupt (29/03/2024, 13:36) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    With officers getting their hands dirty with criminals to staff members slapping off people. Right K?
  • From the inside (29/03/2024, 15:36) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    The majority of us come to work and do a good job because we care about our Territory and our families and crime rates.
    It’s time that we are properly resourced, trained and equip to do the job.
  • Anonymous (29/03/2024, 20:30) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Mr Willock has turned out to be a champion for the vulnerable and a selfless servant, something I knew all along
  • Maria Louisa Varlack (31/03/2024, 10:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    since 1968 look what is going on in the bvi for the past 56 years ago. drugs, crime, guns, police corruption, political corruption. homeless, jobless and penniless. poor and needy and downtrodden. there is nothing but mental, emotional, psychological and psychiatric illness and nervous breakdown in the bvi.


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