Our Constitution. 27 Proposed Amendments.
Our Moment.

The House of Assembly will be expanded from 13 to 15 elected Members by adding two new at-large seats. At-large Members are elected territory-wide rather than from a specific district, which means they are accountable to the whole population. This gives the territory broader representation and creates additional capacity within the House for scrutiny and oversight as the population and complexity of governance grows.

What this means for you: Two more elected voices, accountable to all of the Virgin Islands, will sit in the House of Assembly.

The constitution will be amended to establish a Parliament of the Virgin Islands comprising the existing House of Assembly and a new Senate. The Senate will serve as a second chamber for legislative scrutiny, reviewing Bills passed by the House before they become law. The Senate will not have the power to block money bills and will have safeguards to prevent delays to urgent legislation. This is a common feature of many democracies, and it adds a layer of careful review to the laws that govern daily life in the Virgin Islands.

What this means for you: Before a law is passed, the Senate will review it, adding an extra layer of scrutiny on your behalf.

The maximum interval between general elections will be extended from four years to five. This aligns the Virgin Islands with most Westminster-style democracies, including the UK, Canada, and several Caribbean neighbours. The change allows governments more time to implement policy and see results before facing election. Importantly, this is a maximum interval only. Elections can still be called earlier. The people still decide.

What this means for you: The maximum time between elections increases to five years, in line with most similar democracies.

The constitution will be amended to more clearly recognise the Premier's role in the exercise of executive authority and to strengthen the constitutional functions of the Cabinet Office and the Cabinet Secretary. Currently, the lines of executive authority can be unclear, which creates gaps in accountability. This amendment makes it constitutionally explicit that the Premier leads the executive government, improving both the clarity of governance and the accountability of the person voters chose to lead them.

What this means for you: It will be clearer in the constitution that the Premier you elected is the head of the executive government and is accountable for it.

Currently, the Speaker of the House of Assembly can be removed by a simple majority vote. This amendment raises the threshold for removal to a two-thirds majority and provides for the Speaker to remain in office through dissolution until a new Speaker is elected by the incoming House of Assembly. This gives the Speaker greater independence and security of tenure, which is essential for a public officer who must be impartial and who must be able to manage the House of Assembly without fear of politically motivated removal.

What this means for you: The Speaker of the House, who must be impartial, will be harder to remove and more protected from political pressure.

The Attorney General is the territory's chief legal adviser and plays a critical role in the rule of law. This amendment reforms the office along the lines of a model used in Bermuda, separating the legal advisory function from prosecution and clarifying the independence of the office from political direction. The goal is an Attorney General who is both professionally independent and institutionally accountable, providing the territory with stronger legal governance at the highest level.

What this means for you: The territory's chief legal officer will be more independent, and the office will be structured more clearly in the constitution.

Certain key constitutional officers, such as the Director of Public Prosecutions and other specified positions, will be subject to fixed-term appointments under this amendment. Fixed terms protect these officers from indefinite tenure and from the uncertainty of open-ended appointments that can be extended or not renewed based on political convenience. The result is greater independence and predictability in the institutions that must remain above political influence.

What this means for you: Key watchdog and legal offices will serve fixed terms, making them more independent and less vulnerable to political pressure.

The Cabinet of the Virgin Islands will be expanded to a maximum of 6 Ministers, up from the current 5. This gives the Premier greater flexibility to structure the executive government to match the territory's actual governance needs and the increasing complexity of managing a small but sophisticated jurisdiction. The constitutional functions of the Cabinet Office and Cabinet Secretary are also strengthened as part of this package of executive reforms.

What this means for you: The Cabinet can grow to six Ministers, giving elected government more capacity to serve the territory.

Under the current constitution, a person facing certain pending criminal matters can be disqualified from standing for election before any finding of guilt. This amendment updates the disqualification rules to ensure that the standards applied are fair, proportionate, and consistent with the rule of law. The change ensures that no one is prevented from participating in democracy on grounds that have not been properly tested by the courts.

What this means for you: The rules for who can stand for elected office will be fairer and more consistent with the principle that you are innocent until proven guilty.

The constitution will be amended to formally recognise the role of Minister of State, which functions as a junior ministerial position supporting a full Minister. This brings the role, which already exists in practice in many Westminster systems, into the constitutional framework with clear functions and accountability. It also creates a pipeline for developing governing talent by giving capable individuals formal ministerial experience before taking on a full portfolio.

What this means for you: The role of Minister of State will be formally recognised in the constitution, providing a better opportunity to support governance and creating a clear pathway for developing future leaders.