De Castro Condemns Vanterpool Removal
Community leader Sharia de Castro has published an open letter sharply criticizing Governor Daniel Pruce’s decision to replace Acting Police Commissioner Jacqueline Vanterpool with a recommended interim head from abroad. De Castro framed the move as a setback for local leadership, gender equity and the territory’s progress toward self-governance as the BVI marks 75 years of representative government.
Sharia de Castro, founder of Imagination Academy VI, has published an open letter condemning the removal of Acting Police Commissioner Jacqueline Vanterpool, calling the decision “a rejection of what this milestone stands for.” The letter, titled "An Open Letter to the People of the Virgin Islands," was published over the weekend and has drawn widespread attention across social media.
De Castro’s letter responds to Governor Daniel Pruce’s announcement that former Royal Gibraltar Police Commissioner Richard Ullger has been recommended to serve as interim head of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF). Vanterpool, who served as acting commissioner for more than a year, is expected to return to her role as deputy commissioner.
Framing the change as more than a personnel move, De Castro said the decision undermines progress toward self-governance as the Virgin Islands marks 75 years of representative government. She praised Vanterpool for “bridg[ing] the gap between the police and the people with presence, trust, and understanding,” and questioned why a qualified local officer would be replaced by an external candidate.
Citing the Labour Code of the Virgin Islands, De Castro argued that qualified Virgin Islanders should be given priority for leadership roles and that any need for training could have been met with support rather than demotion. She also raised concerns about gender equity, describing the decision as feeling “unfair, discriminatory, and dismissive of the women who fight daily for respect and recognition.” De Castro concluded with a call for solidarity, urging residents to view the episode as a test of the territory’s right to shape its own future.
Governor Pruce, in a statement issued Nov. 6, said the recommendation of Ullger was intended to ensure “continuity and stability” within the RVIPF and noted Ullger’s “extensive senior policing experience in the context of the UK’s Overseas Territories.” The Governor also thanked Vanterpool for her service as acting commissioner over the past twelve months.
Under the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007, the Governor retains authority over senior police appointments and removals, normally acting on advice from the Police Service Commission and the National Security Council. The constitution also allows the Governor to act otherwise than in accordance with that advice if compliance would “prejudice Her Majesty’s service.” Governor Pruce has not yet publicly responded to De Castro’s open letter.
The episode has reignited local debate about leadership, community trust in policing, and the balance between external advice and priority for Virgin Islanders in public service roles.
Primary source: JTV