Justice Gerard St. C. Farara, KC, Chair of the 2005 Constitutional Review Commission and part of the 2007 Negotiating Team from the Virgin Islands (VI), has encouraged the 2026 Constitution Negotiating Team to enter negotiations with conviction and confidence. Photo: YouTube

Public consultations with members of the 2026 Constitution Negotiating Team continue today, Thursday, May 28, 2026, at the Jost van Dyke Methodist Church from 10:30 A.M. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) will lead the 10-member Constitution Negotiating Team for negotiations with the United Kingdom. Photo: youTube

Justice Farara was present during the second public engagement session by the negotiating team in Virgin Gorda at the Catholic Community Centre on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. He is also part of this new negotiating team.

“We have to approach negotiations with a measure of conviction and confidence. We have to, in any negotiations, try to influence, if not set the agenda; this is very important.”

He said once the team knows and has some clear thoughts and positions about where they want to go in the VI’s evolution, they must figure out strategically how best to advance along that path. 

VI may not get everything asked for

Justice Farara reminded the team that they may not get everything they request from the negotiations. 

“Indeed, during the negotiations leading to the 2007 Constitution, we didn’t get everything that was recommended, we didn’t get everything that we were hoping to achieve and even in one instance, something that we thought that we were convinced and had been confirmed as having been achieved, was not actually reflected that way in the 2007 Constitution.”

He told the team to enter the upcoming negotiations, which will take place in both the VI and the United Kingdom, “with commitment, with confidence, and a belief in our country and that we have at this stage in our development, the education and the ability to govern ourselves at a higher and a more deeper level”.

VI has the ability to take the reins moving forward

As it relates to the public consultations, Justice Farara said these are important matters, and important times, in a different world today. 

“We have to be strategic but we have to be committed that in a country that we all love, in a country that has been good to us all, in a country that has provided us with a sound education and the intellectual platform that we can be as good and as competent as anyone in our chosen field of endeavour anywhere in the world, that is the inheritance of our forefathers and foreparents in the BVI.”

The people of the VI, he added, have the innate abilities to be as good as anyone in any chosen field of endeavour. 

“All the investment that has been made in us collectively, educationally and otherwise, why should we not advance in a significant way to greater control, greater devolution of authority and have the ability to more firmly take the reins in terms of moving our country forward.”

Justice Farara also commended what he called the excellent work done by the 2023 Constitutional Review Commission. 

“When you look at the type of research, the work they put into it, the report itself, the various aspects and issues that they considered in the report, you will see how thorough it is and the great deal of work that has been put into that.”

Public consultations continue today, Thursday, May 28, 2026, at the Jost van Dyke Methodist Church from 10:30 AM.