Pwa: Police Exploitation Will Not Stand
The Police Welfare Association (PWA) has issued a forceful call for urgent government action over longstanding salary disparities, unresolved acting appointments, unpaid allowances and other administrative failures affecting Royal Virgin Islands Police Force officers. New reporting strengthens the Association’s language, warns that officers’ patience is exhausted, and calls for a multi-agency Task Force to resolve matters within clear timelines.
The Police Welfare Association (PWA) this week issued a strong public rebuke of what it describes as persistent employment inequities and administrative failures affecting members of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF). The statement, first reported by VINO and BVI News and further detailed by Guavaberry, said officers have endured years of unfair treatment that has eroded morale and undermined confidence in public administration.
The PWA listed several specific concerns. Serving Police Constables in some cases earn substantially less than newly recruited officers despite performing identical duties, the Association said (PWA statement as reported by BVI News and VINO). The group also highlighted officers acting in higher ranks for extended periods — sometimes more than two years — without formal acting appointments or the additional remuneration those roles should attract (VINO).
Guavaberry’s reporting added further detail and sharper language, noting the PWA’s claim that unpaid allowances remain outstanding and that some long-serving Inspectors are earning less than newly promoted Inspectors. The Association described these patterns as “irrational” and “deeply disrespectful” to officers who have dedicated years of service (Guavaberry; PWA statement).
The PWA characterised the problems as systemic rather than isolated administrative oversights. "These are not isolated administrative oversights," the Association said. "They represent systemic failures that have persisted for years and raise serious concerns regarding fairness, accountability, good governance, and equal treatment within the public service" (PWA statement as reported by Guavaberry).
McCall, named as PWA chairman in the release, warned that while members have engaged in good-faith dialogue and shown patience, "patience has limits." The group said officers can no longer be expected to continue shouldering the consequences of persistent administrative failures while carrying out demanding frontline duties (VINO).
To resolve what it calls urgent and long-standing issues, the PWA is calling for the immediate establishment of a multi-agency Task Force comprising representatives from the Deputy Governor’s Office, Human Resources, the Ministry of Finance, the RVIPF and the PWA itself. That Task Force, the Association said, should urgently review and resolve outstanding salary, promotion, allowance and acting-appointment matters within clearly defined timelines (PWA statement).
Guavaberry’s update intensified the tone: the PWA warned that the "continued exploitation of officers through delayed compensation, unresolved salary disparities, and prolonged administrative inaction will no longer be tolerated" and said it "reserves all rights available to it and its members" to pursue lawful avenues (Guavaberry).
As of publication, no arm of government — including the Deputy Governor’s Office, the Ministry of Finance or RVIPF administration — had issued a public response to the PWA’s concerns. When earlier contacted, Police Media Liaison Akia L. Thomas-Nero told VINO: "We have no comment at this time" (VINO).
For residents of the British Virgin Islands, the dispute touches on fairness in pay and promotion, police morale and retention, and the quality of frontline policing. The PWA says it remains open to constructive engagement, but has made clear the time for decisive, transparent and time-bound solutions is now (PWA statement; reports by VINO, BVI News and Guavaberry).
Primary source: VINO