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Crime/Police

Allegations of Evidence Tampering within RVIPF Spark Concerns

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Concerned Citizen Advocates for Police Commissioner’s Removal, Urging Independent Investigation

British Virgin Islands Governor John Rankin has received a letter from a concerned citizen for the removal of Police Commissioner Mark Collins to facilitate an impartial and independent investigation into serious allegations, including the tampering of evidence, against the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF).

The November 2 letter, penned by the concerned citizen stated that “concerns were initially raised in 2023 when allegations were made of an email from the office of the Commissioner of Police of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) which was sent to St. Clair Amory, O’Neal Bakker and Cc: to Jacquelyn Vanterpool circulating within the Virgin Islands and the international world. As it relates to a discussion surrounding the arrest and charge of a police officer the matter was discussed by the Commissioner of Police with the DPP and stated that: “The matter has been discontinued by the DPP”. The Commissioner gave certain instructions and various decisions were made by the Commissioner of Police for the evidence to be destroyed and should the video footage be released in the public domain there will be a PSD investigation.”

The leaked email not only raised questions about the internal workings of the RVIPF but also created a public relations crisis. Commissioner Collins when questioned about the email during a recent press conference did not deny its authenticity.

This raised further concerns about the credibility of the RVIPF and its leadership. The concerned citizen points to several other key issues, including the discrepancies in the treatment of officers and joint criminal conspiracy.

“Allegations are made against subordinate Police officers for committing disciplinary or criminal offences and they are being interdicted and removed from office by the Commissioner of Police, during which period of interdiction an investigation is being conducted, and if there is sufficient evidence to substantiate the allegation, then criminal charges will be brought against the officers.”

The correspondence added: “Similarly, the same principle applied to those officers should apply to the Commissioner of Police and those other gazetted officers whose names were mentioned in the email and the office of the DPP, in accordance with equality before the law; they should be afforded the same opportunity to face justice under the criminal justice system.”

The letter stressed that the Commissioner of Police does not possess any legal authority to eliminate evidence in criminal proceedings, as there is no statutory law granting such power.

“There is no statutory law authorising the Commissioner of Police to destroy any evidence in criminal proceedings. The Commissioner has no statutory authority to give instructions to any subordinate Police officers as to the destruction of evidence in any criminal or disciplinary proceedings. Therefore, evidence can only be destroyed by an order made by a court of law.”

“For those very same reasons stated I am of the opinion and have been supported by the statutory law that the Commissioner of Police should be interdicted or removed from office to have a fair and transparent investigation into this matter.”

“I am quite confident that this is not what you want from members of His Majesty’s Royal Virgin Police Force. So I am calling on you to conduct an investigation into the allegations independent of the Commissioner Mr Mark Collin, Deputy Commissioner Mr. St. Clair Amory and Ms. Jacquelyn Vanterpool.”

Collins attended the press conference on Thursday, October 12, 2023, initiated by Governor John J. Rankin, CMG, and Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7). During the conference, Collins asserted that the situation was deemed “an internal matter” by the authorities, emphasizing that he had “nothing to hide.” He clarified that the issue revolved around a conflict between two officers and a leaked email he was aware of.

“I will be very clear; it was not evidence related to a particular case. It was between two individual officers, one who threatened to release something about another officer, and I told him not to do it and if he did do it there would be an investigation.”

Crime/Police

BVI Police Make Strides in Robbery and Property Crime Investigations

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A crackdown on violent crime in the British Virgin Islands has led to multiple arrests and the seizure of illegal firearms and ammunition, authorities announced Friday, March 28.

In a series of targeted search operations, police recovered a semi-automatic handgun and dozens of rounds of ammunition, marking a significant step in the fight against armed robberies and property crimes across the territory.

As part of the ongoing investigations, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) conducted a series of search operations on March 25 at five properties linked to suspects in recent armed robberies. Officers recovered a 9mm Glock semi-automatic pistol and 41 rounds of assorted ammunition.

Authorities detained eight individuals in connection with the raids. Three were released after questioning, while five have been formally charged.

Ernest Jacobs, 59, Prynce Jacobs, 19, and a 16-year-old male, all of Josiah’s Bay, have been charged with keeping an unlicensed firearm and two counts of unlawful possession of explosives. A 14-year-old male of Purcell Estate has been charged with two counts of robbery. Ravie Joseph, 43, of Josiah’s Bay, has been charged with overstaying a landing permit.

The charges stem from separate robbery incidents on Tortola on March 3. Police had previously charged and remanded another minor in connection with the same crimes.

Acting Commissioner of Police Jacqueline Vanterpool lauded officers for their work and underscored the importance of removing illegal weapons from the streets.

“The removal of illegal firearms and ammunition from our communities is a critical step in reducing the threat of violence and protecting innocent lives,” Vanterpool said in a statement. “To date, a total of nine illegal firearms and more than 300 rounds of ammunition have been recovered as part of our intensified operations. We remain resolute in our mission to disrupt criminal networks and bring offenders to justice.”

Authorities continue to urge residents to come forward with any information that may aid ongoing investigations. Tips can be submitted to the RVIPF Intelligence Unit at 368-9339 or anonymously via Crime Stoppers at 800-8477, or internationally at (284) 800-8477.

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Crime/Police

Drew Farrell Charged With Manslaughter in Virgin Gorda Stabbing

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The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF)  have charged Drew Farrell, 42, of The Valley, Virgin Gorda, in connection with a fatal stabbing that claimed the life of Rasheel Thomas Alexander.

Farrell who remains in police custody is expected to appear before the Magistrate’s Court in the coming days.

The charge follows an ongoing investigation into the stabbing incident, which has drawn significant public attention. Police have not yet disclosed details surrounding the circumstances of the attack.

Authorities are urging anyone with information related to the case to come forward. Tips can be provided to the RVIPF Intelligence Unit at 368-9339, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 800-8477. International callers can reach Crime Stoppers at (284) 800-8477.

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Crime/Police

Oleanvine Maynard Released from U.S. Federal Custody After Serving Less Than Two Years

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Oleanvine Maynard, the former director of the British Virgin Islands Ports Authority, was released from federal custody in the United States on Friday, having served just under two years of her nine-year sentence for drug-related offences.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) confirmed that she is no longer listed as “In Custody” but provided no explanation for the March 21 early release.

Maynard, 63, had been serving her sentence at the Baltimore Residential Reentry Management Centre (RRM) following her conviction in June 2023 for her involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy orchestrated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Her son, Kadeem Stephan Maynard, 33, who was convicted alongside her, is also due for release soon—on 6th April. Currently held at the Miami Federal Detention Centre (FDC), Kadeem was sentenced to 57 months but will serve just over two years, having pleaded guilty in 2023.

The mother and son duo had struck a deal with the DEA to secure reduced sentences. However, the exact circumstances surrounding their early release remain unclear.

In the U.S. federal system, sentence reductions are not uncommon and can occur for a variety of reasons, including significant assistance with ongoing investigations or participation in rehabilitative programmes.

The female Maynard was the star witness in the prosecutions’ case against former Premier of the British Virgin Islands, Andrew Alturo Fahie, convicted in February 2024 on charges of conspiracy to import cocaine and money laundering.

Yet, without official confirmation from authorities, the precise nature of Maynard’s release remains speculative.

Meanwhile, Fahie remains incarcerated at Jesup Federal Correctional Institution (FCI). His release date is set for May 30, 2033, and his case continues to attract global attention.

As Oleanvine Maynard prepares to reintegrate into society, public interest turns to what her next steps will be and how her return will be received.

Maynard, her son Kadeem, and ex-Premier Fahie were arrested in April 2022 during a U.S. DEA sting operation in Miami, Florida. The case stemmed from an undercover investigation in which DEA agents, posing as members of the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel, approached the officials with an offer to facilitate the trafficking of thousands of kilograms of cocaine through the British Virgin Islands to the U.S. mainland.

Testimony from the agents revealed that Fahie and the Maynards had agreed to assist in the drug shipments in exchange for bribes amounting to millions of dollars. Court documents also disclosed that Oleanvine Maynard was happy to play a central role in the operation, referring to the opportunity as her “blessing.”

The arrests raised serious concerns about government corruption and links to drug trafficking within the territory, a region heavily dependent on tourism.

Oleanvine Maynard’s early release continues to stir debate both within the territory and internationally.

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