From left: Deputy Governor David D. Archer Jr and Cabinet Secretary Sandra I. Ward. Elected Members have agreed that the Constitution should require that the Deputy Governor and the Cabinet Secretary be Ancestral Virgin Islanders. Photo: GIS/File

When the Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7)- led delegation goes to London later this year, there are some specific items they will be seeking from the new constitution. Photo: VINO/File

An Ancestral Virgin Islander is anyone who can trace any side (mother or father) of their connection to three generations of Virgin Islanders. Photo: VINO/File

Elected Members agreed to relocate the public service leadership from under the Governor and Deputy Governor to the Premier through a strengthened Cabinet Office, with the Cabinet Secretary recognised as Head of the Public Service and responsible for arranging Cabinet business.

The Cabinet Secretary role, including acting appointments, would be restricted to an Ancestral Virgin Islander (used to be called an indigenous Virgin Islander) who is also a Belonger. The role of being responsible for the Public Service will be stripped from both the Governor and Deputy Governor in the new constitution.

Deputy Governor’s role must be Ancestral Virgin Islander

Meanwhile, Elected Members identified a need to modernise the constitutional arrangements for continuity in the exercise of executive functions when the Governor is absent or unable to act.

The aim was to enhance clarity, predictability, and stability within the acting framework, and to align eligibility for this senior constitutional role with the Virgin Islands’ approach to key public offices.

Elected Members agreed that the Constitution should require that the Deputy Governor be an Ancestral Virgin Islander who is also a Belonger, and that the Deputy Governor should automatically perform the Governor’s functions whenever the Governor is absent, ill, or otherwise unable to act, subject to any express constitutional exceptions.

Rationale of Elected Members

Members were of the view that the current acting arrangements are unnecessarily fragmented. They saw value in consolidating these into a single, automatic acting model, while still respecting any constitutional requirements for the Governor’s personal involvement (or through a specific instrument) where reserved functions necessitate it.

This change was viewed as a way to improve clarity, align with modern practices, reduce ambiguity, and support continuity in governance.

This will be achieved by a constitutional amendment, with consequential alignment across provisions that currently trigger acting or deputy constructs.

An Ancestral Virgin Islander is anyone who can trace any side (mother or father) of their connection to three generations of Virgin Islanders.