BVI Governor Pruce assures public he is not hand-picking next police commissioner

Daniel Pruce.

British Virgin Islands Governor Daniel Pruce sought to reassure the public yesterday that he is not personally selecting the next Commissioner of Police, amid long-standing suspicions that the Governor’s Office exerts significant control over the territory’s top policing post.

Speaking at a press conference, Pruce emphasized that the recruitment process is entirely managed by the Police Service Commission, with his role limited to the very final stage.

“The process, as you know, was launched some months ago… the selection process itself is managed by the Police Service Commission. My role in this process comes at the very end,” the Governor said. He added that once the Commission completes its recruitment exercise and submits a recommendation to the National Security Council, the NSC will advise him, and only then does he formally make the appointment.

“I know nothing at all about [the process], and again, it’s to ensure that I can exercise my role at the end of the process without any compromise or conflict,” Pruce insisted.

Despite these assurances, many residents remain skeptical. For decades, the post of Commissioner has typically gone to UK nationals, a trend critics say reflects the Governor’s influence. As the Governor is himself a UK citizen, some argue that the practice perpetuates colonial influence over the territory’s most powerful security office.

This longstanding pattern has intensified calls for a local appointee who understands the culture and the issues driving crime in the community.

At the center of these hopes is Acting Commissioner Jacqueline E. Vanterpool, the first Virgin Islander woman to serve in the role. Widely respected within the force and beloved across the territory, Vanterpool has become a symbol of local pride. Community advocates say her permanent appointment would mark a historic shift, breaking decades of UK appointments and restoring public confidence in the force.

For now, the Police Service Commission continues its deliberations, with a recommendation expected later this year. Until then, Governor Pruce maintains that the final decision is out of his hands — though residents remain watchful, eager to see if a truly home-grown Commissioner will be appointed.