Public encouraged to comment on Sexual Offences Bill 2025
The proposed Bill represents a comprehensive modernisation of the Virgin Islands’ sexual offences laws. It consolidates existing provisions and introduces updated measures to address rape and sexual assault, child sexual abuse, abuse of positions of trust, human trafficking and sexual exploitation, online offences including the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, and protections for persons with mental disorders.
Bill strengthens rules
Acoording to a press release by the government, the Sexual Offences Bill, 2025 also strengthens evidential rules, clarifies the statutory definition of consent, enhances anonymity protections for complainants, and proposes penalties that reflect the seriousness of sexual offences.
Public engagment critical
Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley (R9), emphasised the importance of public engagement in the legislative process.
Honourable Wheatley said, “This Bill represents a significant step forward in strengthening protections for children, vulnerable persons, and survivors of sexual violence in the Virgin Islands. However, legislation of this importance must be shaped by the people it serves. I encourage residents, advocacy groups, legal professionals, faith-based organisations, and young people to carefully review the Discussion Paper and provide their feedback. Your voices are essential to ensuring that the final law is balanced, effective, and reflective of our Territory’s values”.
Meantime, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Tasha K. Bertie stated that the Ministry is committed to a transparent and inclusive consultation process stating, "We are seeking practical feedback on the clarity of the definitions, the appropriateness of the penalties, and the overall balance between victim protection and the rights of the accused. Public input will directly inform revisions to the Bill before it is presented to Cabinet and the House of Assembly.”
Members of the public are encouraged to review the Discussion Paper and respond to the consultation questions contained within it.
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7 Responses to “ Public encouraged to comment on Sexual Offences Bill 2025”
this here judge and lawyers have to watch themselves (Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate)
The religious leaders (Pharisees) came to test Jesus with a question about divorce:
“Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”
Jesus responds by going back to the very beginning — not to rabbinical debate, not to Roman law — but to creation.
He says:
“Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Here, Jesus quotes:
Book of Genesis 1:27 (male and female He created them)
Genesis 2:24 (the two shall become one flesh)
In light of the proven effectiveness of Sex Offender Registries worldwide, it is important to ask why we have not yet implemented such a system. The British Virgin Islands should be collaborating with other Caribbean jurisdictions to establish a registry that allows for local, regional, and international information sharing. Taking this step would demonstrate a commitment to meaningful, positive change and to strengthening public safety. The social, physical, and long-term well-being of our communities depends on it.
My people, let us effect positive changes!