Equity Needed for Anegada, Jost van Dyke
Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley has renewed calls for greater representation and service equity for Anegada and Jost van Dyke and proposed district councils as a way to give the outer islands more executive authority. Former parliamentary representative Julian Willock on June 22 urged the government to consider giving the two islands their own elected representatives rather than relying on at-large seats, saying dedicated reps would be a "game-changer."
Natalio Wheatley renewed his call for greater representation and equity for the British Virgin Islands' outer islands during his Too Inquisitive podcast on June 12, 2026, stressing that Anegada and Jost van Dyke should not be left behind because of their small populations. Speaking on the June 12 episode, Wheatley recalled the territory’s move from four or five electoral districts to nine, saying the change was intended to provide "different areas with more representation." (Source: Too Inquisitive podcast/VINO) Wheatley acknowledged the recurring challenge that small resident populations have prompted some to question whether Anegada and Jost van Dyke can justify separate districts. "I think that's a discussion we need to have," he said, adding that small populations should not be used to deny residents equitable access to services.
He highlighted concerns about living costs and logistics, noting that "the cost of living will be higher out here, just because of the fact that everything has to be barged here and whatever." (Source: Too Inquisitive podcast/VINO) To address those inequalities, the Premier suggested creating district councils to strengthen local governance and give island communities more executive authority over day-to-day issues. "That's not to say that you at some point can't get representation, but we believe district councils... will be able to give Anegada and Jost van Dyke more executive authority over the areas that affect your everyday lives," Wheatley said.
He framed the proposal as the start of a wider conversation, not a finalized plan, and urged consultation with affected communities and elected representatives. (Source: Too Inquisitive podcast/VINO) A week later, former parliamentary representative Julian Willock added momentum to the discussion, arguing for direct elected representation for the two islands.
In an interview on the Talking Points Programme broadcast on ZBVI 780 AM on June 22, 2026, Willock said giving Anegada and Jost van Dyke their own seats "would have made a big difference" and described such representation as a "game-changer." He criticised the constitutional choice to allow two at-large seats instead of allocating individual seats to the outer islands, saying he had raised the issue with the government. (Source: Talking Points Programme/ZBVI/VINO) Willock insisted representation should not depend solely on population size. "Don't tell me anything about the number...representation is representation.
They're big states, and they're small states. They all have 2 senators, and the issue of the population is not a factor," he said, drawing an analogy to equal representation in other systems. He also highlighted the everyday struggles faced by residents of Anegada and Jost van Dyke — difficulties getting a boat to Tortola, limited economic development, and the logistical hurdles that raise costs and complicate access to healthcare and education. (Source: Talking Points Programme/ZBVI/VINO) Both Wheatley and Willock framed the matter as one of fairness: residents of the outer islands deserve comparable standards of medical services, education, infrastructure and timely decision-making powers.
The Premier is proposing district councils as one option; Willock is pushing for directly elected representatives. The government will need to consult communities, legal advisors and lawmakers as the conversation progresses. Update: This article has been updated to include Julian Willock's June 22 remarks calling for separate elected representatives for Anegada and Jost van Dyke, following Premier Wheatley's June 12 proposal on district councils.
Primary source: VINO