No need for new constitution if we're not serious about advancements- Premier
This is according to the Premier and Minister of Finance, Tourism, Culture, and Sustainable Development, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), who opened the debate on the 2022-2023 Constitutional Review Commission Report in the House of Assembly on Thursday, September 18, 2025.
The Premier acknowledged; however, that advancing the interests of the people of this Territory was a weighty task for the House of Assembly.
Premier Wheatley pointed out that the Virgin Islands Constitution Order is a Statutory Instrument produced by the United Kingdom government pursuant to the West Indies Act, the legislative basis for establishing colonies. He said that while the nomenclature changed to dependency and now Territory, the Virgin Islands is a colony of the United Kingdom.
"I want to say here, and I'd be concerned if persons don't share that view, that colonialism is a system where an alien group of people control and dominate another group of people," Honourable Wheatley declared. "We have been in a state of colonialism from then until now, but we have been on a journey, and ultimately, where we wish to end up is a place called self-determination."
He used the opportunity to recall the history of constitutional development in the Virgin Islands, including being governed under different arrangements from the Colony of the Leeward Islands in 1671 to local governance through district councils or assemblies, the return of the Legislative Council in 1950, Ministerial Government in 1967, and the first Minister of Finance in 1976.
'The fight continues'
The Territory's leader said there had been no constitutional advancement since 1976. He then pointed to the 2007 Constitution which he said was needed, as it allowed for a Cabinet as the highest decision-making body of the government, it established the National Security Council where the Premier and another Minister can sit, and it provided human rights protections for Virgin Islanders. He said these are advancements that "our people have fought for, and the fight continues."
"If we are not serious about advancing the interest of our people, we might as well not go for a new constitution," Premier Wheatley challenged. "If we don't advance the ball further, most likely we wouldn't get a new constitution until 2027."
He said making significant advancements with this new constitution is essential. He advocated for the civil service and internal security to sit under an Elected Minister, and for the Governor to be removed from Cabinet with the Premier presiding as Chair.
"In essence, this constitutional review and the negotiations should be about advancing the aspirations of self-determination and continuing along the process of decolonisation, transferring powers from the UK elected Governor and the United Kingdom to elected Members of Government," the Honourable Premier asserted.
The 2022-2023 Constitutional Review Commission Report was laid in the House of Assembly on Wednesday, January 31, 2024.
According to Premier Wheatley, he is looking forward to the following steps, which will include establishing a negotiating team and engaging with the United Kingdom to have an amended constitution ahead of the elections in 2027.
.png)
Follow Us On
24 Responses to “No need for new constitution if we're not serious about advancements- Premier”
No conscience or shame they have but their ways will catch up to them like it did Andrew.
Stephen Doughty
Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
Majestic Life Funeral Home
Baugher's Bay, (Pickering Building)
Road town, vg 1110
Not At All!!!!!!!! Give Back The Money Immediately!!!!!!!
Everyone who shares this sentiment with us do so with a LIKE!
It is true that being dictate by the UK us demeaning, but equally true being misrepresented by our local government leaders, knowingly or unknowingly must not be accepted as. good governance in the best interest of the majority of the people of the B.V.I.
Remember, if you have forgotten that you, and the other members of leadership team were elected by the people (voters of this British Overseas Territory( manage the daily affair in our best interest over other peoples interest. The truth is that you, and the other political leaders are working as sees fit, most of the time contrary against our best interest.
Not A threat
My advice to you is this. If you, and the other members of your cabinet intend to continue leading the B.V.I after this term is expired, you have less time to do you job satisfactory to us, yes, we the voters, not those that can't, we. The clock is ticking non stop. Get your mind in order. Get your practical act right in line with our best interest. As the saying goes fish (cash in hand now) means more to us than a million dollars promised that may never happen.
Pleasant night to you and your household. Rest well
Moreover, a major hindrance to the VI advancement is the the division, disunity,,appeasement, etc. This is attitude and behavior is empowering Mount Olympus. It is fueling regentrificatio, building a new Jerusalem. The Wickhams Cay project, per iconic JR Oneal, was intended to build a New Jerusalem, where locals would have been hewers of wood and carriers of water., The heroic, sacrificial action of Noel Lloyd and Positive Action Movement (PAM) derailed the plan. Noel Lloyd and PAM and the Great March of 1949 need to be exemplified and memorialized. In 194, 1500 people from an estimated population of approximately 7000, came out from every nook and cranny of the VI came out to protest the abusive, high-handed, controlling action of commissioner John Augustus Cockburn Cruikshank. Fast forwarding, an issue today cannot get 10 people to come out protest, agitate, advocate, etc. No one want sacrifice, thinking that issues are self-correcting.