Walwyn: Constitution Preamble Not Inclusive
Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn says the proposed Virgin Islands Constitution preamble fails to reflect the territory’s multicultural population and should explicitly recognise diverse groups who live in the BVI. He praised aspects of the draft but urged lawmakers to embed a stronger sense of belonging and inclusivity as the territory debates greater autonomy.
Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has raised concerns that the preamble to the proposed Virgin Islands Constitution does not sufficiently reflect the territory’s multicultural reality and inclusive aspirations. Speaking in the House of Assembly during debate on constitutional reform, Walwyn said the preamble should "reflect a shared sense of belonging and inclusion for every group, regardless of origin, ethnicity, religion, background, or personal circumstances." He argued modern constitutions recognise plural societies and the BVI should do the same.
Walwyn, the Sixth District representative, described the preamble as the "spirit of the Constitution" — a section that should set out the core values and guiding principles of democracy, the rule of law, liberty and equality, rights, and national sovereignty. He read the proposed preamble in full during his address and praised its stronger invocation of God and its acknowledgment of the Virgin Islands’ heritage, but said it still failed to "capture that part of the BVI sufficiently — a diverse society." The Opposition Leader pointed to the Territory’s demographics as a reason the document must be explicit: "close to 100 different nationalities living in the BVI, many of whom have become belongers," he said, adding that "the Constitution should be for everybody who resides in the territory." Walwyn stressed that embedding inclusivity in the foundational legal document is especially important as the BVI discusses self-determination and advances toward greater autonomy.
Walwyn’s remarks come amid wider debate over draft constitutional recommendations submitted by the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC). The CRC proposal strengthens references to God and national identity but does not include explicit language recognising the multicultural makeup of the Virgin Islands.
The review process has followed a series of public consultations and broader discussions on reforming the 2007 Constitution Order, including whether the Territory should pursue greater self-governance or eventual independence from the United Kingdom. As the House continues its deliberations, Walwyn urged colleagues to consider language that brings all residents into the nation-building project: "In nation building, you must bring all the people along.
We should try our utmost to see how we can include that in the preamble." Lawmakers and the public can expect continued debate on how best to balance heritage, faith, identity and inclusivity in the evolving constitutional text.
Primary source: BVI News