Nationality of next police commissioner ‘inconsistent’ says governor

TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands (BVI) – The British overseas territory’s governor, Daniel Pruce, says the nationality of the next police commissioner is irrelevant.

Pruce, speaking during a recent interview, said his main concern is appointing a candidate with the skills and experience to address the territory’s evolving crime landscape.

Pruce also addressed the ongoing recruitment process for a new police commissioner.

He noted that the initial search, launched in May, was halted to reassess the desired qualifications for the role. This decision followed insights from the first volume of a law enforcement review, highlighting areas within the police force that require significant leadership and transformation.

Addressing concerns about the background of potential candidates, Pruce said – “To me, this has nothing to do with the background of the successful candidate. What I want to make sure is that we have a candidate that meets the personal specifications. And honestly, it doesn’t make any difference to me where I come from.”

Meanwhile, the governor indicated that his decision to halt the recruitment process is in line with his commitment to transparency and fairness.

“After the launch of this process, we took over the first volume of the law enforcement analysis. This has already illustrated several areas in the police as well as the other law enforcement agencies that needed attention and particularly needed a big leader,” he said.

Pruce said he anticipates the second volume of the review early next year, expecting it to contain “far-reaching recommendations for the law enforcement community, again, including the police.”

The governor said he plans to restart recruiting early in the new year, with hopes of appointing the new commissioner by late summer or early fall.

The latest development comes amid increased scrutiny of the leadership of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force.

The Governor’s Office recently extended Assistant Commissioner Pamela Trevillion’s term by six months.