Government

Financial Crisis: V.I.P.D. Drastically Cuts Overtime Hours

The Virgin Islands Police Department has drastically cut its overtime operation, a document outlining the directive -- which was signed by V.I.P.D. Commissioner Delroy Richards and obtained by The Virgin Islands Consortium, has revealed. The heavy reduction in overtime for the force comes as Governor Kenneth Mapp warned that because of the fiscal crisis facing the territory, austerity measures throughout government would be employed. Mr. Mapp had stressed during his press conference on Wednesday that the steps he outlined were only considerations. However, with the V.I.P.D.'s latest directive, it appears that some parts of the directive were already in motion. Mr. Mapp said the administration was prepared to order the V.I.P.D. as well as the Bureau of Corrections and the Fire Service, to reduce all overtime outlay by 80 percent. “What that means is that there could be shifts where fire houses would not be manned for an 8-hour period, but the response would come from other fire hou...