Pruce Backs DPP Amid Case Losses
Governor Daniel Pruce told reporters he has full confidence in Director of Public Prosecutions Tiffany Scatliffe, rejecting media calls to criticise the office over recent high‑profile case outcomes. He said it would be inappropriate to comment on specific matters while they may still be under consideration and highlighted increased 2026 funding for law enforcement, including just over $800,000 for the DPP.
Governor Daniel Pruce has expressed full confidence in Director of Public Prosecutions Tiffany Scatliffe, declining to criticise the office despite questions about a number of recent high‑profile cases that were lost. Speaking at his first press conference of 2026 at Government House, Pruce faced media questions on whether the apparent rate of unsuccessful prosecutions could damage the reputation of the United Kingdom and the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force.
He refused to engage in that line of commentary, saying: "I work closely with the DPP. I have every confidence in the work that she’s doing." He added that he would not judge the DPP’s performance by the metrics suggested by some reports. Pruce also stressed the importance of not commenting on specific cases that may still be under consideration. "It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to comment on particular cases which are perhaps still under consideration," he said, underscoring the separation of roles between the Governor and prosecutorial decision‑making.
The remarks came as part of a wider briefing that focused on security matters, including updates on the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, plans for prison reform and progress on implementing recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry. The Governor described the 2026 security budget as one of the most generous in many years and said it aimed to remedy an "historic period of underfunding" across key justice and law‑enforcement agencies.
Among the budget items Pruce highlighted was just over $800,000 allocated to the Office of the DPP. That allocation comes amid ongoing public debate about the DPP’s resources and capacity. Bishop John Cline last year accused the DPP of wasting public funds on failed prosecutions and appeals, while the DPP has long warned that underfunding, recruitment delays and salary constraints have caused staff shortages and hampered the office’s ability to handle complex cases.
Scatliffe has argued that insufficient resourcing undermines the territory’s ability to meet global financial compliance obligations, including the investigation and prosecution of money‑laundering and financial crime — matters of particular importance to the BVI’s financial services sector and investor confidence.
Pruce reiterated a commitment to strengthening the justice and security framework across agencies, with particular emphasis on "stronger investigations," "higher quality case management," and "improved support for victims." He said the government will continue to work with the DPP, police and other partners to improve outcomes and public confidence while respecting the independence of prosecutorial decisions.
Primary source: BVI News