HoA to Expand to 15 Elected Members
Hon Julian Fraser says the House of Assembly will increase by two elected seats, bringing the total to 15. One new seat is expected for Anegada and the other an At-Large seat, with a Boundaries Commission anticipated to implement the change ahead of a potential sixth ministerial appointment after 2027.
Hon Julian Fraser has announced that the House of Assembly (HoA) will be increased by two elected seats, bringing the total number of elected members to 15 (up from 13), as the Constitutional Report is being reviewed. Fraser did not provide full details during his remarks, but he quipped at UK-appointed Governor Daniel Pruce—who was speaking at the same event—asking whether the governor was seeking one of the new seats.
According to reporting on the announcement, one of the additions is expected to create a dedicated district for Anegada, while the other will be an At-Large seat. If implemented, the increase would also enable the appointment of a sixth government minister following the 2027 general elections.
Officials are expected to establish a Boundaries Commission to redraw electoral boundaries and give effect to the new seats, although the exact timing and the process for debating the committee’s Constitutional submission remain unclear under the Dr. Anegada residents and representatives have long campaigned for distinct political representation.
The island’s isolation from Tortola and perceived lack of attention to local needs have fueled calls for a dedicated district representative. Critics of a separate Anegada seat point to the island’s small population as a reason against it. Supporters counter that international Commonwealth practice does not rely solely on population figures when determining whether a jurisdiction should have its own political representation, and that geographic and community interests also matter.
Creating an additional At-Large seat would restore a degree of broader-island representation and change the balance between district and territory-wide voices in the HoA. Any boundary changes and the introduction of new seats will hinge on the work of the Boundaries Commission and the government’s legislative timetable.
At this stage, many details—including the commission’s membership, timeline, and the government’s formal response to the Constitutional committee report—are still to be announced. BVI residents can expect further public consultation and an official government statement as plans progress.
This report is based on remarks attributed to Hon Julian Fraser and reporting by Virgin Islands News Online.
Primary source: VINO