BVI moves to constitutional reform talks with UK

The British Virgin Islands has taken a formal step toward long-anticipated constitutional reform, after the House of Assembly approved a delegation to represent the territory in negotiations with the United Kingdom.

Premier Natalio Wheatley secured approval for a motion establishing a Constitutional Negotiating Committee, which will engage the UK government on updates to the territory’s governance framework.

The committee will be led by Wheatley and will include senior government ministers, members of the opposition, legal experts, and representatives from the Constitutional Review Commission, alongside support from senior public officials and the territory’s London office.

Wheatley said the talks are grounded in the Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, which provided for a review after 10 years. He noted that nearly two decades have now passed since its introduction, underscoring what he described as the need for reform.

He also referenced completed local work on the issue, including the Constitutional Review Commission’s report finalised in November 2023 and deliberations in the House of Assembly concluded in April 2026.

The report, he said, has been made public to inform wider national discussion and will be formally submitted to the UK government through the Minister for Overseas Territories.

The newly established committee is mandated to represent the Virgin Islands in discussions on constitutional reform and modernisation.

The motion passed without debate, formally clearing the way for the delegation to begin negotiations with the United Kingdom.