Governor’s Group and Constitutionally Established Departments to
During the Speech from the Throne on 13 January, His Excellency Governor Daniel Pruce set out a legislative agenda for 2026 focused on modernising the Public Service and improving transparency and accountability across government. The Office of the Deputy Governor says the Human Rights Commission Bill will be advanced to Cabinet and the House of Assembly in 2026 following a territory-wide consultation in 2025, and a package of bills affecting policing, the magistracy, records management and other areas will move through consultative and legislative stages this year.
The Governor’s Group and Constitutionally Established Departments will progress a range of bills in 2026 aimed at strengthening governance, transparency and accountability in the Virgin Islands, the Government said following the Speech from the Throne on 13 January delivered by His Excellency Governor Daniel Pruce.
The legislative agenda is driven by ongoing transformation of the Public Service. Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Deputy Governor, Mrs Sharleen DaBreo-Lettsome, MBE, said the planned measures will bolster the organisation’s capacity and help place the Virgin Islands on ‘‘modern and fit-for-purpose legislative ground,’’ according to the Government release.
One headline item is the Virgin Islands Human Rights Commission (VIHRC) Bill. The Office of the Deputy Governor confirmed the Bill will be advanced to Cabinet and the House of Assembly in 2026 after an extensive territory-wide public consultation in 2025 designed to educate residents and solicit input on the commission’s mandate and structure.
Officials say the wider legislative programme will target strategic priorities across several core institutions, including the Magistracy, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) and the Civil Registry and Passport Office. The package is intended to refine how public institutions operate and interact with residents, and to strengthen oversight and professional standards in statutory bodies.
Key initiatives listed in the Speech from the Throne include Archives and Records Management; Criminal Procedure Rules; Immigration and Passport Ordinance; Magistrate's Code of Procedure; Restorative Justice; Flexible Working Arrangements; The Police Act; Police Service Commission; Service Commissions Act; Whistleblower protections; the Virgin Islands Human Rights Commission; and Witness Anonymity.
Specific reforms flagged in the Government statement aim to improve records management and archiving to enhance access to official documents, update criminal procedure and witness protections to safeguard victims and witnesses, and reform police legislation and service commissions to boost oversight and accountability.
For residents, officials say these changes could mean clearer public-sector procedures, easier access to services such as passports and civil registration, stronger human-rights protections and improved channels for reporting wrongdoing. The Governor’s Group and Constitutionally Established Departments will take the bills through the usual consultative and legislative stages in 2026.
The Government release says details and timelines will be announced as draft legislation is finalised. For enquiries, the Government lists Communications Officer Mr Eusa Z. Adams (eadams@gov.vg; telephone 1-284-468-2219/3000) and for international media BVIGovernment@dgagroup.com.
General government services and appointments can be arranged via the Government of the Virgin Islands phone line at 1(284)468-3701 or WhatsApp at 1(284)468-9760; the Government’s offices are at 33 Admin Drive, Wickhams Cay 1, Tortola. The 2026 legislative programme represents a coordinated step by the Governor’s Group and constitutionally established departments to update the legal framework that governs public administration and citizen services across the territory.
Primary source: BVI Government