VI HoA to Be Model Among OTs
Deputy Premier Hon. Fraser praised the Speaker and members for establishing the House of Assembly as an independent institution following the passage of the House of Assembly (Management) Act. Fraser said the new semi-autonomous structure, and recent cooperation across government, could make the BVI legislature a model among Overseas Territories.
Fraser used the continuation of the Fifth Sitting of the Third Session of the Fifth House of Assembly to praise the Speaker and members for steering the legislature toward independence and stronger institutional support. Fraser highlighted the passage and implementation of the House of Assembly (Management) Act, 2025, which—after receiving assent on January 26, 2026—came into effect on January 30, 2026.
The Act creates a semi-autonomous management structure intended to give the legislature the institutional support needed to operate with professionalism, efficiency and independence in keeping with Commonwealth parliamentary best practices. “When you were elected as Speaker of this House, it is impossible for you to have known that this is what you were signing up for,” Hon.
Fraser told the House, praising the Speaker for shouldering an unusually heavy responsibility as the House made its early transition to an independent institution. He added that, having seen “seven, maybe eight” people hold the role previously, none had been “entrusted with the responsibility that you have taken on.” Fraser also commended the level of support the Speaker has received from members, calling it “a wonderful cast” and noting that such cooperation is not always guaranteed.
He singled out the Premier for taking an accommodative approach and said the government had taken “some unorthodox things in this House in order to get to where we are.” The Deputy Premier predicted the Territory’s legislative experiment would have wider significance: “before long, this House will be a model among overseas territories.
And it will be a model to follow, as far as all independence is concerned,” he said. Officials pointed to one practical sign of the shift: the House of Assembly (Management) Act is the first bill in the Virgin Islands to be introduced by a Member of the House and passed without first proceeding through Cabinet.
That procedural change signals greater legislative autonomy and could alter how future measures are debated and managed. Fraser made his remarks while seconding the motion to pass the Statutory Rates, Fees and Charges Act, 2005. The motion, as amended, was passed in the House on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
For residents, the changes mean the legislature will increasingly manage its own affairs and processes. Proponents say the move should strengthen local oversight, transparency and professionalism in lawmaking; critics may watch closely to ensure the new arrangements deliver improved governance and accountability.
Primary source: VINO