Melissa K. Brewley has been appointed as Information Commissioner of the Virgin Islands, effective May 11, 2026. Photo: GIS

Permanent Secretary in the Premier's Office, Mrs Carolyn E. Stoutt-Igwe, commented on the importance of now having an Information Commissioner in place to support enforcement of the Data Protection Act, 2021. Photo: Facebook/File

This announcement was made by the Government of the Virgin Islands in a press release today, June 9, 2026.

Qualified attorney

Ms Brewley is a qualified attorney and in-house legal counsel with more than five years of experience in legal, regulatory compliance, and international tax cooperation matters within the Virgin Islands. Most recently, Ms Brewley, served as In-House Counsel at the Virgin Islands International Tax Authority (ITA). Prior to joining the ITA, she  worked as Crown Counsel within the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and earlier in her career served as a Junior Corporate Incorporator Administrator at Trident Trust BVI Limited.

At the ITA, Ms Brewley provided legal support on intergovernmental agreements, ensured compliance with confidentiality and data protection obligations, and contributed to the drafting and amendment of legislation to support the Territory’s alignment with international standards set by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). As Crown Counsel, she represented the Crown  at multiple levels of the court system, collaborated on legislative drafting with a focus on criminal justice and human rights, and engaged in public legal education initiatives. She has also served on several committees, including the Sexual Offences Committee within the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the ITA Disaster Preparedness Action Committee.

Ms Brewley holds a Bachelor of Laws from Cardiff University and a Legal Professional Training Postgraduate Diploma from City Law School in London. She has also completed specialist training in confidentiality and data safeguards under the Global Forum framework.

Role as Information Commissioner

As Information Commissioner, Ms Brewley will monitor and enforce compliance with the Data Protection Act, 2021 by public and private bodies, receive and investigate complaints regarding alleged breaches of data protection principles, develop and deliver educational programmes to increase public awareness, and advise on legislative, administrative, and procedural reforms to strengthen the Territory's data protection framework.

Permanent Secretary in the Premier's Office, Mrs Carolyn E. Stoutt-Igwe, commented on the importance of now having an Information Commissioner in place to support enforcement of the Data Protection Act, 2021: "Ms Brewley's appointment as Information Commissioner is an important step for the Government of the Virgin Islands. The Data Protection Act, 2021 is a critical piece of legislation, and having a dedicated Commissioner in place ensures that both public and private bodies are held to the highest standards in the handling of personal data, for the benefit of all who live and work in the Territory."

The new Information Commissioner expressed her commitment to the role saying, "I am honoured to serve as The Virgin Islands' Information Commissioner under the Data Protection Act. I am committed to providing independent oversight of the Territory's data protection framework, promoting compliance with the Act, raising awareness of privacy rights and responsibilities, and supporting public and private bodies in the lawful, fair, transparent, and secure handling of personal data.”

The Data Protection Act, 2021 establishes the legal framework governing the collection, processing, storage, and sharing of personal data by public and private bodies in the Virgin Islands.