Press Release
Organisation: Premier’s Office
Release Date: 9 June, 2026
Representatives from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are expected to visit The Virgin Islands in July, as the Territory advances to the next phase of its constitutional review process.
Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley made the announcement at the Emile Dunlop Community Centre on Anegada on Sunday 7 June, during the fourth and final in a series of public engagements hosted by the Constitutional Negotiating Committee.
Premier Wheatley said the work undertaken by the Constitutional Review Commission and the subsequent deliberations of the House of Assembly have laid the foundation for direct engagement with the UK Government.
The Premier said, “The Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) had over 45 public and private meetings. You would have expressed your ideas, your concerns, your desires, what you wanted to see. The CRC captured those as best they could and then they gave me as Premier a report. I took that report to the House of Assembly. I laid that report on the table. We debated it and we then went into committee and had a process of scrutinising every single recommendation. Most of the recommendations we accepted, either outright or with slight modifications.”
Premier Wheatley explained that the upcoming discussions with the UK representatives are expected to focus initially on constitutional matters where broad agreement exists before negotiations continue in the United Kingdom later this year, likely in September.
The Premier further explained that once negotiations are completed and an agreed constitutional text is produced, the document will be returned to the House of Assembly for consideration and approval before advancing through the United Kingdom’s constitutional process. Following approval by the House of Assembly, the proposed constitutional amendments would be submitted to the Privy Council for consideration and Royal Assent.
During the Anegada public engagement, attendees were updated on the progress of the constitutional review process and the importance of modernising The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007 to ensure that the Territory’s governance framework remains relevant, effective and reflective of the aspirations of the people.
Discussions focused on democratic accountability, governance efficiency, human rights protections and strengthening the ability of elected representatives to effectively carry out the mandate entrusted to them by the electorate.
Anegada residents also discussed issues of land management, ancestral land claims and proposals for local district councils. Participants highlighted the unique circumstances of the sister island and expressed support for governance arrangements that would provide greater local decision-making authority and more direct oversight of community affairs.
The engagement also provided an opportunity to discuss the proposed activation of a Human Rights Commission and the broader role constitutional reform can play in strengthening public institutions, improving governance and safeguarding the rights of Virgin Islanders.
The Anegada meeting formed part of a series of public engagements held across the Territory. Sessions were held on Tortola on 4 May, Virgin Gorda on 26 May and Jost Van Dyke on 28 May. Feedback gathered during the engagements will continue to inform the Territory’s negotiating position as preparations advance for discussions with the United Kingdom Government.
Also traveling to Anegada were Deputy Premier Honourable Julian Fraser, Minister for Health Honourable Vincent Wheatley, Principal Crown Counsel Maya Barry and member of the Constitutional Negotiating Committee Dwynel Davis.
