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2031 proposed date for referendum to change political status- Premier Wheatley

- said VI has different options apart from independence
2031 has been proposed as the year the Virgin Islands will have a referendum to determine whether to change its current status of being a colony of Britain to one that gives more autonomy. Photo: VINO/File
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) the Report of the UN C24 Mission used the word 'independence'; however, it is recognised that the Virgin Islands has different options, and that independence is just one of them. Photo: GIS/File
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) the Report of the UN C24 Mission used the word 'independence'; however, it is recognised that the Virgin Islands has different options, and that independence is just one of them. Photo: GIS/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- 2031 has been proposed as the year the Virgin Islands will have a referendum to determine whether to change its current status of being a colony of Britain to one that gives more autonomy.

This was disclosed by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) when asked whether there is a fixed future date for a referendum on the change of political status of the Virgin Islands.

"The House of Assembly dealt with that when we were in Committee discussing the Report of the Constitutional Review Commission. That will be in the report [that is] forthcoming.

"But if memory serves me correctly, we did propose for that date to be in 2031," Premier Wheatley stated at a press conference on November 18, 2025.

Premier Wheatley also said the Report of the UN C24 Mission used the word "independence"; however, it is recognised that the Virgin Islands has different options, and that independence is just one of them.

"What I would prefer to say is that we should set a timetable for a change of political status."

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