Bishop Cline Leads Petition and Protest After
Governor Daniel Pruce announced on Thursday, November 6, that he would remove Acting Police Commissioner Jacqueline E. Vanterpool from the acting post and revert her to Deputy Commissioner, with the change to take effect November 18. A petition and protest organised by Bishop John I. Cline — who on November 13 told VINO the petition is not "pomp and circumstance" and will be sent to UK authorities — demand a public explanation, the rescinding of the governor’s interim nominee Richard Ullger, and Ms Vanterpool’s reinstatement until a new commissioner is appointed.
Governor Daniel Pruce announced on Thursday, November 6, that he had moved to remove Acting Police Commissioner Jacqueline E. Vanterpool from the acting post and revert her to her substantive role as Deputy Commissioner, a change he said would take effect on November 18. In his statement the governor said he acted “in accordance with the Constitution, having sought the advice of the Police Service Commission,” and cited his duty under the Police Act to “ensure the effective administration of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF).” The announcement came as the territory confronts a worrying rise in violent crime; the governor recently acknowledged a more than 50 percent increase in violent incidents since the start of the year.
The governor also proposed former Royal Gibraltar Police Commissioner Richard Ullger, a United Kingdom national, as Interim Acting Commissioner while a search for a permanent commissioner continues, saying an extended period with an acting leader can be challenging for an organisation facing difficult operational pressures.
Local reporting by Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) and BVI News said the Police Service Commission (PSC) had recommended Ms Vanterpool for the permanent post following a formal selection process completed just days before she was informed of the governor’s decision. VINO further reported that the PSC rejected the governor’s recommendation to demote Ms Vanterpool — a sequence that has fuelled public concern about the sudden reversal.
Cline urged residents to gather outside the Governor’s House and “demand answers.” A protest organised by Bishop Cline and others was held on Monday, November 10, beginning at 3:30 PM in the Governor’s Office parking lot; organisers had moved the start time from an earlier advertised 8:00 AM to allow people to attend after work, VINO reported.
Wheatley and Minister for Communications and Works Hon Kye M. Rymer were reported to have voiced support for the people’s decision to protest. On Thursday, November 13, VINO published further comments from Bishop Cline about an online petition circulating widely on Facebook, group chats and through organisations.
Cline told VINO the petition seeks a public report from Governor Pruce explaining his decision, calls for the rescinding of Mr Ullger’s nomination, and requests that Ms Vanterpool be reinstated as Acting Commissioner “until the due process of selecting a new commissioner is completed, which she has applied for.” He described the governor’s action as an “overreach of his powers” that ignored the advice of the PSC and said the petition will also be presented to UK authorities and the Foreign Minister.
Cline stressed the petition is “not pomp and circumstance” but a demand for accountability and said organisers expect concrete results. Some of Bishop Cline’s more specific claims — including suggestions of friction between Ms Vanterpool and the governor, alleged resistance within the force to reporting to a black female commissioner, and an assertion that Mr Ullger has a “checkered past” and is “under investigation in his home country” — have been reported by VINO but have not been independently verified by other outlets.
Governor Pruce has defended his decision as part of his statutory responsibilities and said the process to appoint a permanent commissioner is ongoing. With questions about the PSC’s recommendations, the governor’s rationale, a public petition and a protest underway, BVI residents and media will be watching closely as the November 18 personnel change approaches.
Primary source: BVI News