Justice Gerard St. C. Farara, KC, Chair of the 2005 Constitutional Review Commission, member of the 2007 and 2026 Negotiating Team from the Virgin Islands (VI), has encouraged Virgin Islanders to consider the Constitution as more than just an abstract document. Photo: Facebook/Government of the Virgin Islands

Justice Gerard St. C. Farara, KC, during the public engagement in Virgin Gorda on May 26, 2026. Photo: YouTube

The next public engagement is scheduled for June 7, 2026, at the Emile Dunlop Community Centre from 2:00 P.M. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

Justice Farara spoke during the public engagement held by the negotiating team in Virgin Gorda on May 26, 2026 and emphasised that the constitution is the Virgin Islands’ “most important and most fundamental legal instrument”. 

“The way I look at it is that it sets out the legal framework and legislative, executive and judicial institutions that will provide the underpinning and backbone for not only the advancement but development.”

He explained that only when the functions of the different arms of government are set out in the Constitution can there be an understanding and firm grasp of just how important the Constitution is. 

“I think really a lot of people look at it in a very abstract way; it is that legal document that they call the Constitution. Most people don’t pay attention to it in terms of reading it or in terms of trying to understand some of its most important provisions. But rest assured that it is the foundational document from a legal point of view of this democracy, and all the other laws in some fashion spring from the Constitution.”

Major advancements directly linked to evolution of executive & legislative responsibility

Meanwhile, Justice Farara said, upon examination, and as set out in both the 2007 and 2024 Constitution Review Committee Reports, history shows that the major advancement in the Virgin Islands has occurred when there has been significant evolution of executive and legislative responsibility and power to the people and elected representatives. 

“That is something for us to keep foremost in our mind and to not only grasp but to hold on to because often we would tend to have resolutions. Well, should we give more power to this particular office or that particular office? But when you look at the historical record, you would understand that when there’s a devolution of authority to our own people, the country has made strides in its advancement.”

Justice Farara added that this does not mean the United Kingdom has not given certain assistance “so to speak”. 

The next public engagement is scheduled for June 7, 2026, at the Emile Dunlop Community Centre in Anegada from 2:00 P.M.