Decolonisation Commission coming this year, Premier says
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has announced that the government intends to establish a Decolonisation Commission later this year as part of its constitutional reform agenda, saying the body will help educate the public and encourage dialogue on the territory’s political future.
The announcement was part of the Premier’s 2026 State of the Territory address, in which he outlined plans to begin a new phase of constitutional negotiations with the United Kingdom in July and complete those discussions before the end of the year, ahead of the proposed enactment of a new constitution in 2027.
“That is why government will establish the Virgin Islands Decolonisation Commission this year, helping strengthen public education, dialogue and awareness around constitutional development, political advancement and greater self-determination,” Premier Wheatley told residents.
He said the commission would support the territory’s constitutional journey by encouraging greater public understanding of the issues involved.
“Because constitutional advancement is not only legal work, it is nation-building work,” Dr Wheatley stated.
According to the Premier, the constitutional negotiations will seek greater internal autonomy, including “the right to chair our own Cabinet and responsibility for our public service.” He stressed that the constitutional review belongs to the people rather than the government.
“But let me be clear, this is not government’s constitution, this is the people’s constitution,” Dr Wheatley stated. “Government will launch a broad public education and communications campaign to ensure every Virgin Islander has the opportunity to understand, engage with and help shape our constitutional future.”
The Premier also welcomed what he described as bipartisan support for constitutional reform, noting that the House of Assembly had recently agreed on a common vision for the territory’s future relationship with the UK.
“Because there are moments when unity must rise above division. And this is one of those moments. The future of the Virgin Islands is larger than politics. It belongs to all of us,” Dr Wheatley stated.
The proposed commission follows several years of increased engagement by the Virgin Islands with the United Nations’ decolonisation process. In 2024, a visiting mission from the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation (C-24) assessed the territory’s progress towards self-government.
The committee’s subsequent report recommended a national public education programme on self-determination, continued discussions with the United Kingdom on constitutional advancement and consideration of a future referendum following an extensive public education campaign. The government has welcomed those recommendations and has said it will inform its constitutional review process.
In his address, Premier Wheatley said the territory had reached an important point in its constitutional development, arguing that recent governance reforms and the removal of the threat of an Order in Council had created an opportunity to pursue greater self-government through dialogue and public participation.
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Just be ready for the takeover after.
So this man is really eager for independence!Wow.total destruction guys.dictatorship plan.
You cannot be a BVI Patriot and oppose to decolonisation. That’s an oxymoron.
The government not only needs to engage in decolonization efforts as they describe them, but the larger challenge will be decolonizing the minds of people like you who have become comfortabe in the Masters House.
That’s the greatest challenge there. After all these years many of you are still in mental bondage. How does the government or any goverment fix that? Education? Maybe.
As Bob Marley once sang: Emaancipate yourself from mental slavery.
We all have our opinions, but in mine, some of you have dangerous mindsets that would frustrate the efforts of others and try to hold back the country as a whole.
You have grown accustomed…too accustomed to your circumstances that you dont even see the larger picture.
Its like being placed in a very smelly room, and over time you don’t even sense the smell anymore, so you continue to live in it.
The government has its hands full with some of you progress haters.
if progress is what you call the following:
bank of asia scandal
covid grants to salary workers, fake fishers , fake farmers,
scholarships to people who ain step one foot in the school
pot ridden roads for over 30+ years
Water cutting off from 6pm for over 30+ years
power cutting of randomly and mashing up your electronics and fridge for over 30+ years
government has been un audited for over 10+ years
money to barges to secure boarders when a service was offerd for free
calling dudes who look like thugs and own assets despite having no job history “business men”
kids being sold sex drugs to go into the schools
kids consumin edibles nd ending up hospital for overdosing
Kids forming gangs like money boyzzzz
No price control on
greedy bill
politicians raising their own pay to the max part of the new pay scale despite getting greedy bill
kids consuming rum and ending up hospital for overdosing
if this is progress then call me the biggest progress hater in the bvi
i am fed up
Listen, you have all the reasons to feel frustrated. You and many others are frustruted with the government and you have that right.
I think part of the problem the government has and will face with their decolonisation effort is people like have sentiments like yours.
You speak from your realty, and its difficult in light of such views to co-sign the government’s efforts on this issue when there are other issues important to you and others.
I belive if the government was doing better and more favored for their efforts, it would be easier for people to co-sign.
Its a message the government needs to heed. All politics is local, and if the people are not happy, nothing else matters.
Anyway, thanks for responding and expanding on your thouights. It gave me an opportunity to understand your viewpoint.
The upcoming election is your opportunity to contribute to making a change. Ensure to register to vote and actually show up.
Less than half of registered voters actually vote. If people are frustrated like you do, there upcoming electon is your chance to vote for persons who best respresents your interest and who you hope will fix the issues you mentioned.
This is Why ALL 13 MUST GO!!!! This Is Dictatorship’s Behavior. He Said The Constitution Belongs To The People and Not The Government Yet Every Recommendation The People Made To The Committee were Discarded By The Said Government. How Hypocritical A Statement. This V.I HOA Clan is NOT For The People of The V.I. They Are For Self. These V.I. Need To Be Sanitized From This Dictatorship System. It Takes A Real Man To Do A Man’s Job and Not A Boy. Clearly All 13 Have Somewhat Lost Focus On What It Truly Takes To Lead A Nation. No Matter How They Think And Feel, Truly Most Of The Members Of This Current HOA Should Be Gone Next Election Cycle. Most Of Them Should Start Handing In Their Letters Of Resignation And Not Wait For The Sensible People To Dismiss Them. They Know Who They Are. These Virgin Islands Are Capable And Deserving Of Visionary, People Inclusive, Honest Leaders. Leaders With Integrity And Empathy. Who To Blame?? Voters Of These Virgin Islands need To Prove To The World That They Really Not As Stupid As They Think They Are!!!!
This will not be an independent body but will be put together to bang the drums for independence. He says the purpose is to educate the public but how will this be a balanced view that is being presented?
And other infrastructure first, just get it done and stop trying to create division, complete what the majority of taxpayers consider basic necessities. Stop putting your power trips first without showing us that your capable of achieving meaningful change with the powers you already have.
They will arrive to the BVI and see that we have now been colonized by a bunch of clowns!