VIRGIN ISLANDS NEWS ONLINE ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- With the fact that Virgin Islanders are a minority in their homeland, it appears now that this is also reflected in every vital institution in the territory. Word from David Morris, the United Kingdom-appointed white Commissioner of Police in a black dominated population, is that a mere 20% of Virgin Islanders make up the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF). Mr Morris, who critics say have not done much as Police Commissioner to fight crime and manage the force, was at the time testifying before the House of Assembly Standing Finance Committee last year to examine the draft estimates for the year 2015. The Police boss was at the time responding to a question from Eighth District Representative Honourable Marlon A. Penn as to the current demographics of the police force. To this question, Mr Morris told lawmakers that the Police Force is comprised of 20% Virgin Islanders and the remainder 80% was from other islands. However, Mr Morris did not provide the Committee with a breakdown as to race, nationality of the expat officers, those from the United Kingdom, and civilian workers. Locals can’t pass exam Morris caused controversy about two years ago when he claimed that locals can’t pass the police entrance exam. Many regarded his utterance as an insult to residents and a way to justify the systematic lock out of locals from the Police Force. The controversial Morris went as far as inviting Members of the House of Assembly to take the exam. Morris told a public meeting in April of 2013 that it seems that young people are having difficulties with the general knowledge aspects of the exam and that young people do not know who the Premier is, the Governor or the Commissioner of Police. No room for locals in RVPF- racism? Local police officers have long complained that they have been pushed around, forced to retire, denied promotion and marginalised since Morris took office. Black officers have also claimed that there is racism in the RVIPF and have also alleged that white UK Officers are paid more than they are, do less work, and is a source of harassment for black police officers. The constabulary has been rocked with a long list of lawsuits against Morris over violation of police officers rights, and issues of fairness and not following the law when dealing with both police officers and the public. In the meantime, crime in the Virgin Islands has sky rocketed with some three homicides for 2014 in a small population with less than 30 thousand persons. Morris and the National Democratic Party (NDP) continue to claim that crime is down.
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 20:39:21 +0000
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