Constitutional negotiating team must be ‘united’- Premier Wheatley
Premier Wheatley was the guest on Honestly Speaking with Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, where he was asked about the negotiating team.
“Where are we, and when can the public expect to hear the announcement of the formation of this constitutional negotiating committee?” Skelton-Cline asked.
Dr Wheatley replied, “I would say during this Sitting.”
The House of Assembly (HoA) is currently engaged in the Second Sitting of the Third Session of the Fifth HoA.
Skelton-Cline has been vocal about not having Opposition Leader Hon Myron V. Walwyn (R6) on the constitution negotiating team, as he believes he is not on the same page with the government.
We have to learn from history- Premier Wheatley
Skelton-Cline doubled down on his position, saying, “I am on the public record that I am not in favour of the current Leader of the Opposition being on this committee because I do not believe and I have not heard where [he] is on the same page with the government.”
He explained that his concerns stem from what occurred during the 2007 constitution negotiations when the then Virgin Islands Party (VIP) and the National Democratic Party (NDP) government representatives were not in agreement.
According to Skelton-Cline, that team “went up there and showed division”. Deputy Premier and Minister for the Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3) was part of the 2007 constitution negotiating team. Hon Fraser, in November 2025, encouraged Premier Wheatley to select a constitution negotiating team that is "that is singing from the same song sheet", during a Special Sitting of the HoA.
“We did not walk away with two of these things, namely the Governor being out of Cabinet, and secondly the public service…those two main things which could have been had in 2007.”
When asked if Hon Walwyn would be part of the team, Premier Wheatley said he was not prepared to announce the negotiating team but agreed that lessons need to be taken from history.
“History tells us that when you go up there, it’s important for Government and Opposition to be united… The team that I bring with me would be a team that I’m confident will be on the same page and fighting for the future of the territory, and that will include members of the Opposition.”
Putting politics aside
Premier Wheatley explained that it is important for politics to be set aside and for something to be done for the benefit of current and future generations.
The Premier told reporters at a press conference on Friday, December 12, 2025, that the Government of the Virgin Islands has secured an agreement with the UK to commence formal constitutional negotiations in the first quarter of 2026.
Negotiations are expected to lead to a new constitution, followed by a bilateral compact with the UK to guide the VI’s cooperation over the next few years.
“These talks will allow us to advance the recommendations of our own House of Assembly and continue the work of building a stronger, more self-reliant territory,” Premier Wheatley said during the December 2025 press conference.
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4 Responses to “Constitutional negotiating team must be ‘united’- Premier Wheatley ”
Is the new constitution being negotiated for just for the Government elites or the people of the Territory?
Are you not going to follow the recommendations in the report that was commissioned and only negotiate for the interests of the HOA and not the people of the VI?
People of the VI this constitution is not being negotiated for you. This is the NEW style COLONIAL elites negotiating for themselves.
VIGILATE.