Our Constitution public information campaign launched
The Premier and Constitutional Negotiating Committee have launched a public information campaign and website to explain 27 proposed constitutional amendments ahead of formal talks with the United Kingdom. Residents and the diaspora are invited to review summaries, timelines and FAQs at www.ourconstitution.vg and to submit questions during the month-long outreach in July 2026.
The Office of the Premier on July 3, 2026 launched a public information campaign, Our Constitution, to inform residents about 27 proposed constitutional amendments set to be negotiated with the United Kingdom later this month. Wheatley announced the campaign and said the initiative is intended to ensure everyone in the Territory understands what will be negotiated and why it matters.
The campaign includes a dedicated website, www.ourconstitution.vg, and runs throughout July 2026 across Facebook, WhatsApp, radio and the site itself. Video interviews with members of the Constitutional Negotiating Committee (CNC), past negotiators, legal experts and community voices are featured online, with diaspora-focused content to be distributed through the BVI London Office.
The CNC and the Premier previously visited the Territory’s four main islands to present the 27 points and to hear residents’ concerns. Wheatley said the proposals grew out of those consultations: "When our House of Assembly came together, the 13 elected members agreed on 27 changes to bring to the negotiation table," he said. "That is a strong mandate from our people.
Now our responsibility is to make sure every person who calls these islands home understands what we agreed to negotiate, and why it matters for all of us." According to the government, the 27 proposed amendments fall under five thematic areas that address governance, rights and the courts, while also including provisions aimed specifically at Virgin Islander heritage — such as Belonger status, ancestral land protections and a proposed Ancestral Virgin Islander category.
The website hosts plain-language summaries of each amendment, a timeline of the negotiation process and a frequently asked questions archive drawn from public forums. Members of the public may submit questions directly through the site. For BVI residents, the campaign is the main channel to follow developments before the first formal round of negotiations with the UK.
Officials have emphasised the opportunity for public input and encouraged people across the Territory — and Virgin Islanders overseas — to review the material and raise concerns or questions early. The government says the outreach effort is intended to build understanding and consensus ahead of what it describes as negotiations that will shape rights and governance for future generations.
This report is based on the statement released by the Office of the Premier and coverage by Virgin Islands News Online. Visit www.ourconstitution.vg to read the proposals and submit questions.
Primary source: VINO