Host of Honestly Speaking, Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline, has raised concerns about the incompletion of the 2020 Population Census during the recent airing of his show on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. Photo: Facebook

The 2020 Population and Housing Census was expected to be completed in June 2020; however, it was impeded by the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: Facebook/Central Statistics Office

The Central Statistics Office conducts the population census, which has been significantly delayed over the past 6 years. Photo: Central Statistic Office

Skelton-Cline’s show was titled ‘Babylon is Falling’, and he tackled some issues, including the population census, which is yet to be completed. 

“What is the status of our census exercise that was taking place a year and a half, two years ago?” Skelton-Cline asked, “Why is it that exercise in regard to our census has never been completed, report never been gotten, [and] nothing published. Why? What is the status of it?”

Census stalled?

The last census for the Virgin Islands (VI) was done in 2010, following which it was reported that the VI had a population of 28,054. The official report from the 2010 population census was published in 2014. 

The 2020 Population and Housing Census was expected to be completed in June 2020; however, it was impeded by the COVID-19 pandemic. Preparations were then made to administer the Population and Housing Census from June 15, 2023, to December 2023; the deadline was again pushed to June 2024.

In March 2024, Hon Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL), then Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services, Trade, and Labour, revealed that the census was just thirty per cent complete. 

In May 2025, during The Virgin Islands Voice, Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) revealed that the lack of updated population data is significantly hindering the VI’s access to international aid and development resources. 

“If you're trying to get any kind of aid from any country, they will tell you, no census data, you don't qualify automatically,” the Minister lamented then. 

There have been no further updates on the population census. 

Command & demand census completion

Skelton-Cline also raised questions about how the government and private sector can make informed decisions in the absence of this important data. 

“Why have we fallen on this?”

He added that it is his understanding that, according to information collected so far, there are fifty thousand people in the VI and climbing.

“How do we think this is sustainable? Stop skinning and grinning with these government officials and command and demand that we complete this exercise, so as to make informed decisions.”

Skelton-Cline said this is why he raises concerns as to the importance of population management and stewardship. 

Other OTs are addressing this issue

“Again, I am calling on the government to put in place, which is prescribed by the Immigration Act and statutes, a quota-setting committee. How [are] we going to have fifty thousand people in this country going north? Where are the classrooms? Where [is] the housing? Where [are] the vehicles? Where [is] the public transportation? How [are we going to] flush? Where’s the supply for fuel, for food?”

Skelton-Cline said he has conducted research, particularly about other British Overseas Territories, including the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, where there is an immigration cap and the Turks and Caicos Islands, where they are currently working on enforcing a cap. 

In the VI, he said, there are “no such standards”. 

See links to related articles

https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/vi-census-just-30-complete-ahead-of-june-2024-deadline-hon-lorna-g-smith

https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/census-delay-blocking-vital-aid-for-vi-hon-vincent-o-wheatley