Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has announced the establishment of a Virgin Islands (VI) Decolonisation Commission later in 2026. Photo: VINO

The Virgin Islands will meet with the United Kingdom in July 2026, to begin constitutional negotiations. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

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.