Fraser insists: Anegada will become district in ‘near future’

Anegada will eventually become its own electoral district, but residents may gain greater control over local affairs through a proposed council system before that happens, Deputy Premier Julian Fraser has said.

Fraser made the remarks during a constitutional reform meeting on Anegada on Sunday, where residents raised concerns about the island’s long-standing push for separate district status and greater decision-making authority.

Responding to questions from residents, Fraser said the issue of district status remained important and was likely to be realised in the future.

“You have the best argument, which is sound. And it’s going to happen. You’re going to be a district if it doesn’t happen with this constitution, which has nothing to do really with you becoming a district or not,” Fraser stated. “It’s going to happen in the very near future that you will become a district.”

The comments came as government officials outlined proposals for constitutional advancement and local government reform ahead of negotiations with the United Kingdom on a new constitution for the Virgin Islands. The public meeting formed part of a territory-wide consultation process on constitutional reform.

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley told residents that while many people have focused on Anegada obtaining its own representative in the House of Assembly, the government believes a local council could provide more direct control over matters affecting the island.

According to Dr Wheatley, district representation is primarily an electoral mechanism, while a council would give residents greater influence over executive functions and local decision-making.

“What we are seeking to give you is more executive authority,” Premier Wheatley said. “More authority in terms of how public works functions, how solid waste functions, how land distribution would function.”

The Premier suggested that an Anegada council could make decisions on local issues and manage an allocation of public funds through an official government structure. He said the concept would ultimately be subject to legislation.

Residents questioned why Anegada could not receive both district status and a council, noting that the island has long argued it possesses sufficient population, land area and infrastructure to justify separate representation.

Health Minister and Ninth District Representative Vincent Wheatley said Anegada should be viewed differently from other districts because of its unique circumstances.

“There’s no other district in the BVI that has a seaport, airport, clinic, fire station, school, its own power grid,” Wheatley said. “Everything is duplicated in the Ninth District, unlike any other district.”

Fraser argued that a council could also bring economic benefits by providing Anegada with its own budget and spending authority.

“District representation doesn’t bring economic prosperity to the district,” Fraser said. “But having a district council, you’ll have a budget.”

The issue of Anegada’s status has surfaced repeatedly in constitutional discussions over the years. The Constitutional Review Commission examined proposals for greater local government arrangements, while residents have continued to advocate for separate district status through petitions and public consultations.

Government officials said constitutional negotiations with the UK are expected to continue later this year, with discussions on governance reforms and local representation forming part of the wider constitutional advancement agenda.