Robin Hall will not be continuing his role as commissioner of police “due to circumstances beyond our control”, the Governor’s Office has said.
A press release from the office on 19 April, stated that he left the island for the United Kingdom on 9 March to attend a policing training course and “will not be able to return”.
When this became known, Governor Sarah Tucker revoked his appointment “in line with any departing commissioner” of the Royal Montserrat Police Service, the release said.
She officially declared the action in a notice in the Gazette published on 27 March, saying it would become effective on 31 March. The Gazette is only available to paid subscribers.
This appears to contradict a press release from the Governor’s Office released on 28 March saying Hall had been unexpectedly delayed due to unforeseen operational policing matters.
A response from the office to a press query from Montserrat Focus on 2 April also failed to say his position had been revoked.
Acting police chief
Alexander Enriles from the Royal Gibraltar Police, who was due to cover for Hall for a few months, was sworn in as acting commissioner, effective on 20 April.
Prior to that, Roje Williams from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service served as acting commissioner for three weeks, and Sean Troy Perera for one week.
In the press release, the governor said it is challenging for any organisation to have changes in leadership.
“But officers on loan from forces across the overseas territories both gain and share experience during their time with us,” she said.
“These opportunities to work more closely together can only be positive and I know that some of our officers will be supporting other OTs in the future.”
‘Accomplished officer’
In the release, the Governor’s Office said former police commissioner Hall is a “highly skilled and accomplished officer”.
It continued that “in his short time in territory, made a positive impact on which incoming commissioners will continue to build”.
The governor thanked him for the dedication he showed to Montserrat during his tenure.
The Governor’s Office is currently recruiting a new deputy commissioner of police after Charles Thompson became the chief immigration officer.
A recruitment campaign for a new commissioner of police will commence shortly, the office added.
People are leaving the Governors Office and the commissioners are leaving because no one can tolerate the insufferable overreach and micromanagement by the governor.