No Place for Pettiness in Constitutional Debate
Education Minister Sharie deCastro urged lawmakers to set aside partisan rivalry as the Virgin Islands moves through a constitutional review, calling for respectful, collaborative debate and stronger parliamentary standards. She said the review is a weighty, future-defining exercise that requires accountability, vision and cooperation across political lines.
Education Minister Sharie deCastro has called on members of the Virgin Islands House of Assembly to raise the standard of parliamentary debate and put aside partisan pettiness as the territory undertakes a constitutional review. Speaking during debate on the review, deCastro warned that too many exchanges in the House have become "combative" rather than "collaborative," and said national issues such as the Constitution should unite, not divide, elected representatives.
She described the review as "weighty" and said it carries the future of the territory in lawmakers' hands, demanding both care and audacity. DeCastro, who serves as Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports and was elected at-large, said she will use her platform to lead by example. "Words are powerful," she told the House, adding that what legislators say can shape outcomes and perceptions.
She urged colleagues to be guided by integrity and vision rather than political rivalry. The minister stressed the wider consequences of how the legislature conducts itself. "When people trust their government, everything else, whether it's investment, participation, civic pride, it becomes stronger," she said, arguing that public confidence must begin with the tone and effectiveness of the House.
DeCastro also spoke in favour of robust checks and balances. She framed accountability not as a burden to leadership but as a safeguard: a means to steer responsible governance and protect democratic institutions. That stance comes as the territory grapples with public criticism over the tone of parliamentary debates and questions about whether the House is adequately addressing national priorities.
Highlighting the need for cross-party cooperation, she said meaningful constitutional reform will require lawmakers to find common ground. "Partisanship and pettiness have no place in this debate," deCastro insisted, urging colleagues to prioritise long-term interests for future generations so residents can "sail into a future with confidence." Her remarks signal an attempt to shift parliamentary culture toward greater respect and purpose at a critical juncture for the Virgin Islands.
As the constitutional review progresses, residents and stakeholders will be watching whether the House can translate calls for civility and accountability into concrete reforms and more effective governance.
Primary source: BVI News