VI Decolonisation Commission to be established this year- Premier
This was one of the announcements made by the Premier during the State of the Territory Address on Tuesday, June 9, 2026.
“The future of the Virgin Islands is larger than politics. It belongs to all of us. That is also why Government will establish a Virgin Islands Decolonisation Commission this year,” he said.
Recently, VI Special Envoy, Mr E. Benito Wheatley, called on the United Nations (UN) Special Committee on Decolonisation (C24) to take meaningful steps in fulfilling its mandate to support the decolonisation of the 17 remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories (NSGTs), including the VI.
Constitutional advancement is nation-building work
Premier Wheatley said the Decolonisation Commission will help strengthen public education, dialogue and awareness around constitutional development, political advancement and greater self-determination. “Because constitutional advancement is not only legal work. It is nation-building work.”
According to the Premier, the new phase of constitutional negotiations with the United Kingdom (UK) will begin next month, July 2026, with hopes of concluding talks by year's end and preparation for enactment in 2027.
“Let me be clear: this is not Government’s Constitution. This is the People’s Constitution.”
A broad public education and communications campaign will also be launched this week to ensure that every Virgin Islander has the opportunity to understand, engage with, and help shape our constitutional future. “Because self-determination, democracy and freedom must belong to the people,” Premier Wheatley added.
A series of public engagements across the territory, with the Constitution Negotiating Team, wrapped up on June 7.
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19 Responses to “VI Decolonisation Commission to be established this year- Premier ”
Can't see myself voting VIP again..
I just can't understand what persons were seeing to even give them six votes last election.
A damn stupid #$$ clueless people say yes to colonialism i.e. slavery.
Voters of the British Virgin Islands; coming next general elections to be held in the British Virgin Islands stop arguing withe the Premier. Can't we see that he is hell bent to do what pleases him, no matter how he is warned to consult with the people of the B.V.I on such a critical at this time of hardship facing us? Simple do the same to him as was done to his grandfather, the late Willard Wheatley, who was one of our Chief Minister. Vote him out of office, if you really care about the 90% or there about, our, our children and our grandchildren future.
Food prices are on an increase, health care needs dire attention, we are experiencing brain drain where the best of our youths are coming home with little opportunities so after a year of looking here and there they chose to go elsewhere.
This government is not looking at the needs of the people. The only one I see moving ahead is DeCastro. All I see from the others are talk. If this administration continues I fear for us all especially with Vincent O’Neal heading health he always seems clueless.
The BIG question is why has it taken close to 80 years to establish a Decolonization Commission? Was the UN’s initiative just ignored,,blown off? When will Virgin Islanders get the chance through a referendum to cast their vote for or against integration, independence,,” free association, status quo? When will a true briefing on the pros and cons on various self -determination options?