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HoA to increase from 13 seats to 15 before 2027 elections– House Report

Members of the House of Assembly have expressly supported the addition of two at-large seats, to be effected by direct amendment to the Constitution. Photo: VINO/File
Elected Members considered that the current size of the House places significant pressure on Ministers and constrains effective executive oversight. Photo: GIS/File
Elected Members considered that the current size of the House places significant pressure on Ministers and constrains effective executive oversight. Photo: GIS/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Lisa E. Penn-Lettsome Constitutional Review Commission recommended steps to provide for a sixth Minister of Government, noting that the Constitution prescribes a ratio between Ministers and elected Members and that increasing the number of Ministers would therefore require an increase in elected membership.

The Committee of Elected Members of the whole House agreed, but with an amended approach. Elected Members supported increasing the number of Ministers and agreed this should be achieved by first increasing the number of elected Members of the House of Assembly (HoA).

Rationale for elected members’ decision

Members further expressly supported the addition of two at-large seats, to be effected by direct amendment to the Constitution (rather than through an electoral boundary review), and agreed that commencement arrangements should allow the additional seats to be contested at the next general election, subject to enactment and commencement of the amendment in time.

Elected Members considered that the current size of the House places significant pressure on Ministers and constrains effective executive oversight. Members also considered that adding at-large seats provides a modest expansion of representation without necessarily triggering district boundary changes, while recognising that wider electoral reform considerations may still benefit from independent review.

Why not a district seat?

The addition of two at-large seats would raise the total number of elected Members of the HoA from thirteen to fifteen.

Many residents during the Penn-Lettsome review believed that one of the two seats should have been a district seat, giving Anegada its own district. For over 30 years, the small population on Anegada has felt neglected and removed from the other residents of the Virgin Islands.

22 Responses to “HoA to increase from 13 seats to 15 before 2027 elections– House Report”

  • nonsense (15/04/2026, 08:44) Like (35) Dislike (0) Reply
    Nobody asked for this...
  • Citizen (15/04/2026, 08:48) Like (53) Dislike (1) Reply
    we don't need more politicians, we need less of them
  • Karnage (15/04/2026, 08:57) Like (23) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why?
  • excuse (15/04/2026, 09:12) Like (38) Dislike (1) Reply
    Wait so they not asking the people how they feel about this? They just doing what they want?
  • More space ... (15/04/2026, 09:49) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Next in line is a bigger building..
  • anegada (15/04/2026, 09:51) Like (18) Dislike (3) Reply
    Anegada needs its own seat.
  • apple pie (15/04/2026, 09:57) Like (1) Dislike (7) Reply
    Free the due free seats
  • THE GOVERMENT HAVE IN ENOUGH A**E$ ALREADY (15/04/2026, 10:24) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply

    WE DONT WANT NO MORE

  • hell no! (15/04/2026, 10:25) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    The country cant afford it.
  • FIRE (15/04/2026, 11:00) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    The two seats should have been Anegada and the Premier.
  • island man (15/04/2026, 11:09) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    Deh I and I here again, listen allyuh will need deh I and I vote so them legislative need to make life more easier for island man to get his papers after living here for 20 years. Deh I and I now have to attend college like deh I and I so bright. Just give deh I and I deh papers nuh without the college degree in bvi history. PS (it's a certificate not degree) bless up to deh legislators dem an so for listening to deh I an I
  • anegada (15/04/2026, 11:34) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    Give Anegada its own seat and forget the at large business.
    Presently the at large members have no role and is just a waste of money.
    Can anyone point to any project, policy, or infrastructure championed by any of these at large members.
    Do we see or hear them in any of the communities across the Virgin Islands? They are a total waste.
  • Dim Sum (15/04/2026, 15:44) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    I asked about this the other day. So with the additional (2) AL members, will that now mean that there will be an increase in Ministries? If so; what would these look like? From (5) ministers to what - 7 or 8? More permanent secretaries, more administrative staff, bigger budgets, more vehicles to abuse, more big government bureaucracy and spending. How is this supposed to enhance the lives of the people and advance the territory? Anyone….
  • no way (15/04/2026, 18:28) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    The public did not ask for any additional seats or politicians in the HOA. The things we asked for to be included in the new constitution was rejected by all of you because you all want to have full control without any regard for transparency and accountability. This is a democracy and as such it should be treated. The majority of the people have suffered enough for the past 31/2 years and we certainly don’t need you all to impose any more political gymics on this territory. Right now the country is falling apart while all of you are living your best life ever.
  • Part (15/04/2026, 20:00) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    The sister islands need their own districts
  • Josiahsbay (15/04/2026, 20:03) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Currently, the AT-large representatives are directionless and ineffective. Without a clear mandate and a sufficient budget, adding more AT-large seats will only create an oversized HOA that fails to provide any real benefits to the community. If you don't have a reasonable budget or a plan for generating revenue, you are essentially an ineffective politician—full of promises but lacking substance and unable to truly assist the people.
  • Done away with the at large. (16/04/2026, 04:40) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    The purpose of the at large with this new proposal will no longer be relevant and necessary, get rid of the at large system, then it will be ok to ad three more seats, Anegada, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke...This is what makes sense. These Islands have their own rep, no more need for at large.
  • BuzzBvi (16/04/2026, 05:03) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Making room for to more scavengers to join the DirtyHOA13.
    This is just an attempt to make ALl13MUSTGO redundant.

    ALL15MUSTGO

    Until we can get Politicians for People.

    Plantation minded Elites now are the ruin of the VI just as they were in the 1800's.
  • Outrage!!! (16/04/2026, 09:18) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yet again Anegada is left to the proclivity of VG…SMH. HOW THAT COULD IS?????
  • civil servants (16/04/2026, 16:22) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    With the expansion of the HOA members by two seats this will strengthen the Civil Service's voting power. We would be able to use our voting power; about three thousand persons strong, and vote for the political party who will not keep on making promises to us about paying us our well deserved increments. LET US SHOW THIS GOVERNMENT WHO HOLDS THE REAL POWER.
  • Truth (17/04/2026, 12:45) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    The At-Large memembers already don't do anything for us, you think adding two more will make any difference, i could see it getting worst not better with that approach


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