Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has said the revocation of the Order in Council is not the end but the beginning of a new chapter. Photo: Facebook

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has called on Virgin Islanders to carry the spirit of progress, resilience, and unity that helped get the Virgin Islands out from under the Order in Council. Photo: Facebook

On February 10, 2026, the Virgin Islands Constitution Interim Amendment Revocation Order 2026 was laid in the United Kingdom Parliament, and revokes the Virgin Islands Constitution Interim Amendment Order 2022. Photo: Hansard Society

During a special announcement to the nation on Friday, March 13, 2026, Premier Wheatley announced that the Virgin Islands Constitution Interim Amendment Order 2022, which was laid in the United Kingdom (UK) parilament was officially lifted. 

This marked the end of the order, which, if it had ever been enforced, would have suspended significant portions of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007. 

A new chapter

“While we celebrate this moment, we recognise that the revocation of the Order in Council is not the end of the journey; it is the beginning of a new chapter,” Premier Wheatley said, “We must proceed with vigilance, we must continue to strengthen our institutions, we must continue to uphold high standards in public life, we must continue to modernise our systems and processes, and we must continue to build on the work of the last four years.”

The Virgin Islands (VI), he said, must remain steadfast in the implementation of the policies, legislation and processes implemented during the CoI through our Governance Reform Transition Programme. 

“This is our ironclad commitment to continue the ongoing governance reform that would ensure that the changes to our governance are positively manifested in the lives of the people of the Virgin Islands.”

Committed to good governance & democratic accountability

The Order in Council was held in reserve while the government of the Virgin Islands developed and implemented the reforms recommended by the Commission of Inquiry (CoI).

Dr Wheatley added, “As Premier, I assure the public that my government and I remain committed to good governance and leading this territory with honesty, integrity and democratic accountability.”

He said that the success of the revocation of the Order in Council rested on unity, putting aside division and focusing on what binds us and not what separates us. 

“We have proven that when we stand together, we can overcome any challenge. When we work together, we can protect our democracy. When we believe in ourselves, there’s no limit to what we can achieve.”

This success, he said, depended on a willingness to see reform not as an imposed obligation but as an opportunity to build a better Virgin Islands, a more transparent government, create a more efficient public service, strengthen public trust, and an opportunity to shape a future that reflects the best of the Virgin Islands. 

“Let us seize these opportunities together…As we celebrate…as we give thanks…as we honour the journey that brought us here, let us carry that same spirit of progress, resilience, and unity.”

He encouraged all to band together to build a Virgin Islands that is strong, stable and prosperous; a Virgin Islands where every child can dream boldly; a Virgin Islands where every citizen feels valued; and a Virgin Islands where democracy is not only preserved but strengthened. 

See link to related article

https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/order-in-council-that-hung-over-our-democracyis-now-lifted-premier-wheatley-