Governor Daniel Pruce. (GIS Photo)
Governor Daniel Pruce has expressed full confidence in the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Tiffany Scatliffe, declining to criticise the office despite questions about recent high-profile cases that have been lost.
Speaking at his first press conference for 2026 at Government House, Pruce addressed concerns raised by media representatives about the DPP’s performance and recent case outcomes.
When asked whether he was concerned about what was described as a rate of lost cases and the potential reputational impact on the United Kingdom and the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, Pruce said he would not engage in that line of commentary.
“I work closely with the DPP. I have every confidence in the work that she’s doing,” Pruce stated.
He added that he would not assess the DPP’s performance using the metrics suggested by the report.
The Governor also stressed that it would be inappropriate to comment on specific cases, particularly where matters may still be under consideration. “It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to comment on particular cases which are perhaps still under consideration,” Pruce said.
The remarks came during a broader briefing focused primarily on security matters, including updates on the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, prison reform, and implementation of Commission of Inquiry recommendations.
Late last year, Bishop John Cline accused the DPP of wasting public money on failed cases and appeals, calling for an end to what he described as “witch hunt” prosecutions that keep people off the job for years.
Scatliffe has complained for years about the underfunding of the DDP’s Office, flagging delays in recruitment and salary constraints as key factors contributing to staff shortages in her office. She previously noted that under-resourcing her department impacts global financial compliance efforts, including combating money laundering and other crimes.
During the briefing, Pruce highlighted additional funding for law enforcement agencies in the 2026 budget, including just over $800,000 allocated to the Office of the DPP. He described the 2026 security budget as one of the most generous in many years and said it would help address what he called an “historic period of underfunding” across key agencies.
The Governor reiterated his commitment to strengthening the overall justice and security framework, including improvements in investigative practice and case management within law enforcement bodies. He said the collective goal across agencies is to achieve “stronger investigations,” “higher quality case management,” and “improved support for victims.”
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