Do We Have Real Democracy in BVI?
Calls for clarity on democratic governance have intensified after Governor Daniel Pruce used reserve powers under the 2007 Constitution to appoint an interim Acting Commissioner of Police despite reported opposition from the Police Service Commission. Broad concerns about colonial-era powers, public protests and political messaging ahead of the 2027 elections were raised by commentator Claude O. Skelton-Cline on his radio programme.
Questions about the strength of democratic control in the Virgin Islands resurfaced this week after a constitutional intervention by Governor Daniel Pruce and public commentary from local commentator Claude O. Governor Pruce, in a statement issued on November 7, said Acting Commissioner of Police Sharleen Vanterpool would return to her substantive post as Deputy Commissioner effective November 18.
The statement follows a governor-led decision to remove Vanterpool as Acting Commissioner and to nominate former Gibraltar Commissioner Richard Ullger as interim Acting Commissioner of Police. The governor has said Ullger’s appointment, if confirmed, would be temporary and not a permanent nomination.
Reports indicate the Police Service Commission (PoSC) opposed Vanterpool’s removal, information that has fuelled public unease. Under the 2007 Constitution, the governor retains certain reserve powers — rooted in the territory’s constitutional relationship with the United Kingdom — that allow interventions in public appointments.
Those powers, and their use, are frequently a flashpoint in debates over local autonomy. Speaking on his BVI 780 AM programme Honestly Speaking on November 18, during a segment titled "National Labour Pains," Claude O. Skelton-Cline framed last week’s protests and related activity as part of a larger debate about democracy in the Virgin Islands. "Acting Commissioner Vanterpool’s situation just gave an occasion for us to deal with the bigger picture, which is democracy," Skelton-Cline said, adding that the events raise legitimate questions about whether colonial-era authority still exerts practical control despite constitutional arrangements.
Skelton-Cline also addressed political messaging around the protest actions, noting that Opposition Leader Hon Myron V. Walwyn’s criticism of the government on the same day as a march may have divided public attention. He urged a focused effort to engage the UK on democratic concerns and reminded listeners that the ballot box in mid-2027 offers a formal avenue for citizens to register their views.
The episode has underscored longstanding tensions between local institutions such as the PoSC, the elected government, and the governor’s constitutional powers. For residents, the unfolding situation raises immediate questions about transparency in police leadership appointments and longer-term questions about the balance of authority between local decision-makers and the governor acting under constitutional reserve powers.
Officials have yet to provide a detailed timetable for any confirmation process for the interim appointment. Community groups and political figures say they will continue to monitor developments and press for dialogue on the constitutional and democratic issues the episode has highlighted.
Primary source: VINO