‘Ancestral Virgin Islander’ status to be constitutionally recognised
The House of Assembly has agreed to introduce constitutional recognition for a new category of people described as “Ancestral Virgin Islanders”, as part of wider reforms emerging from deliberations on the Constitutional Review Commission report.
The decision forms part of a broader package of constitutional amendments reviewed by lawmakers sitting as a Committee of the Whole House between October 2025 and April 2026.
Under the agreed position, the Constitution will establish “a distinct recognition of an ‘Ancestral Virgin Islander’ as a unique category, separate from persons deemed to belong under section 2 and from the constitutional definition of ‘Virgin Islander’,” the report stated.
The definition will apply to individuals who can prove “direct lineal descent by birth, traced through the maternal or paternal line, from at least one ancestor born in the Virgin Islands on or before 1860,” the report outlined.
Lawmakers stressed that this recognition will not automatically confer Belonger status. Instead, it will operate as a separate constitutional category grounded in heritage and historical connection.
The report detailed several protections linked to the designation. These include “the right to reside in the Virgin Islands without being subject to immigration control” and “the right to hold land… acquired by inheritance or succession on death without having to obtain a Non-Belonger Land Holding Licence”.
Additional provisions will allow individuals recognised under this category to hold shares inherited in local companies without a licence and access “a fast-track process, as prescribed by law, for Belonger status and citizenship,” according to the report.
Why 1860?
Lawmakers explained that the year 1860 was selected as the threshold for establishing ancestral ties because it aligns with “the earliest reliable church and civil records” in the territory.
The Committee also agreed to amend the Constitution’s Preamble to replace references to “Virgin Islander” with “people of the Virgin Islands” to avoid confusion with technical legal definitions.
The recognition of ancestral connection forms part of a wider effort to address identity, belonging, and heritage within the constitutional framework. The report noted that reforms in this area aim to “strengthen clarity … and improve the coherence of key constitutional concepts.”
Public debate over belonging, citizenship pathways, and the rights of Virgin Islanders living abroad has been ongoing in the BVI for some time. Those discussions have intensified in recent years as the territory reviews its constitutional relationship and immigration framework.
The Committee indicated that while the Constitution will establish the category and core protections, detailed procedures, including proof requirements and administrative processes, will be set out in legislation.
The proposal now forms part of the constitutional amendment package to be developed following the House’s review.
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Another way to show others that they do not belong to the BVI whether they were born in the BVI to expat parents or they became citizens through the immigration process. Our leaders and some of our people don’t seem to understand that separating a people only makes us weaker the end. SMH
Sadly, the whole thing stinks of George Orwell.
All this to say that one set of ancestors left Africa on the slave ship before another set and made it to the BVI first?
Yes you are angry but that gives you no right to belittle the ancestors who were kidnapped.
You mean sold off into slavery by other Africans.
Excellent.
About Time – protect your native population
they are not protecting anyone, they are opeing the borders to people who have never set foot on the territory but will now be able to bring their entire families and apply for land….
complaining about blood heritage possible cousins from being able to live with there families sounds so foolish. These are your cousins your family y’all don’t want coming home.
Native you say … so from 1860 make you a carib or Arawak, I think not. We are all still immigrants to these islands.
About time
This Might Look and Sound Good in the News But with this Present 13 in this HOA it is Just Rubbish. This means absolutely Nothing to Ancestral Virgin Islanders. Prime Example: Who is Benefiting From owning Crown Lands in BVI presently? Scarcely Ancestral Virgin Islanders. Families, Friends and Cronies. Unless This Territory Gets Rid of the Present 13, NOTHING in Favor of Virgin Islanders will be realized. This Government Has Destroyed the Core Fabric of This Territory and Should NOT be Given another Term to Do any More Damage. Infact All 13 need to Go! The Few Good Ones are far outnumbered. The Best Thing For These Virgin Islands would Be Fresh, New Honest Faces. Voters MUST Turn The Page!!!
Sounds to me like an “Aryan Certificate”
Racist. Imposing a cast system
If you have a vote and are not ‘ancestral,’ do not vote for any politician if you hear the words ‘ancestral Virgin Islander’ come out of their mouth. It is pure racism and a desperate attempt to hold onto the power that they see slipping out of their hands.
Thank goddess they had the balls to stand up for the pure blood locals
You sound so stupid!
Pure blood?
That’s why your babies look so funny.
Too little variation in the gene pool creates defects.
Congrats on being “pure blood” -inbred.
Watch the comments. The pitied visitor now want what the parents saved to give their children as inheritance. And dem bold wid it
Why?
If the UK did this we would shout racists from the rooftops.
I going to open ah can ah worm.
So does this include former slave masters and/or plantation owners also?
This might be good. Feels like BVIslanders whose ancestors were slaves here deserve some recognition. Does not mean there should be privileged above others except in exceptional circumstances, but they should be recognised.
Now, does this finally clear up the MISuse of the word indigenous? I hope so.
Indigenous people were in their lands the whole time. Ancestral VIslanders were BROUGHT HERE as slaves. This is an important distinction is so many ways. Hopefully the government doing this has ended the previous nonsense about these same people being somehow “indigenous”.
There are lots of Penns and Hodge and the rest of various shades coming to claim..interesting how this is going to play out..diversity is the rule right?This is a great idea.
MONACO Model
Spread joy appreciation thanks and love to your ancestors..Honor them,yessiree.
Pity those who object and or resent Tolians hearts ,how we are proud appreciative and display honor for those long gone who,through blood sweat and tears toiled unceasingly carving out “who we be” and our VI haven,our unceasing gratitude, pity them. They are from a different strain of humanity up yonder.
Monaco Model
What would be the purpose of this category, would so-called ancestral virgin islanders have more constitutional rights than everyone else?
The constitution protects against discrimination. HoA have a concundrum on their hands.
Unless this sets a global precedent, and we draw a line and take your blood for a dna test, then send everyone back to the place of their heritage.
Which would mean so-called virgin islanders finally able to go back to Africa.
All being equal.
I’m a Carib man that born Tortola to Vincentian perants, i’m a true Idigenous man of the soil, my parents are idigenous Caribs