House of Assembly Returns January 13 with
The House of Assembly reconvened for the First Sitting of the Third Session of the Fifth House of Assembly on Tuesday, 13 January 2026 at 10:00 a.m., following prorogation, when Governor Daniel Pruce delivered the Speech from the Throne under the theme "Legislative Pillars of Progress: Building a Sustainable Nation" (BVI Government). The sitting reviewed the productive work of 2025, noted changes to the House's political composition, and set the next sitting for Thursday, 15 January at 4:00 p.m. (BVI Government).
Governor Daniel Pruce, acting on the advice of Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley, appointed the time and place for the First Sitting of the Third Session of the Fifth House of Assembly. The Official Gazette records that the sitting took place on Tuesday, 13 January 2026 at 10:00 a.m., and formally notified "all members of the House of Assembly and His Majesty’s loving subjects" to take due notice and govern themselves accordingly (Official Gazette; VINO).
Following prorogation, His Excellency Governor Pruce delivered the Speech from the Throne to mark the official opening of the session. The Governor set the theme as "Legislative Pillars of Progress: Building a Sustainable Nation," and reviewed the government's priorities for 2026 across the economy, infrastructure, health, education, environment and good governance (BVI Government).
He described the coming session as an opportunity for the House to address those priorities. In reviewing the work of the Second Session of the Fifth House of Assembly, Governor Pruce noted that the session commenced on 7 January 2025 and continued until 31 December 2025. By his account, the 2025 session was productive: the House deliberated on some 25 bills, 21 of which were passed and 18 of which have been assented to (BVI Government; VINO).
Among notable laws debated and passed last session were the Asset Seizure and Forfeiture (Amendment) Act; the BVI Health Services Authority (Amendment) Act, 2024; amendments to the Customs Management and Duties Ordinance, 2010; the Commercial Recreational Vessels Licensing Act; refinements to the Cruising and Home Port Permit Act, 2021; the Tobacco Products Control (Amendment) Act, 2025 and Regulations; the BVI Business Companies and Limited Partnerships (Beneficial Ownership) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025; the Anti‑Money Laundering (Amendment) Regulations, 2025; and the Immigration and Passport Act and Regulations (VINO).
Members also debated 14 motions and undertook important oversight work, including consideration of the Constitutional Review Commission report and the Government of the Virgin Islands’ self‑assessment on implementing recommendations from the 2022 Commission of Inquiry (VINO). After the Governor’s address, he declared the Third Session of the Fifth House of Assembly open (BVI Government).
Ahead of the sitting, the political composition of the House changed when Hon. Mather crossed the floor to join the Virgin Islands Party government, reducing the Opposition to four members. That shift may affect committee allocations, the nature of parliamentary debate and the Opposition’s capacity to scrutinise government proposals, though individual legislators often continue to raise constituency concerns regardless of numbers (VINO).
Acting Premier Honourable Julian Fraser tabled documents during the sitting, and the Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Kye Rymer, also laid documents on the table, as recorded by the House (BVI Government). The House scheduled its Second Sitting of the Third Session for Thursday, 15 January at 4:00 p.m. in the Chamber in Road Town, Tortola (BVI Government).
The Office of the House of Assembly and the Official Gazette remain the formal sources for notices about sittings and orders of business. Residents who wish to follow proceedings should monitor official communications from the House of Assembly and the Government for schedules, public access information and published orders of business.
Primary source: VINO