Wheatley: District Councils Suit Sister Islands
Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley told a Jost van Dyke public engagement on constitutional talks that while separate House of Assembly representatives for Anegada and Jost van Dyke are possible, such arrangements would be "quite irregular" and are properly determined by a Boundaries Commission. He said District Councils offering local elected governance and funding may better serve the Sister Islands and form part of the negotiating team's proposals.
Natalio Wheatley told residents at a constitutional public engagement on Jost van Dyke that the question of separate House of Assembly representatives for the Sister Islands is ultimately a matter for a Boundaries Commission, not direct prescription in the Constitution. Speaking at the Jost van Dyke Methodist Church on May 28, 2026, the Premier said Anegada and Jost van Dyke having their own constituencies "can happen, it would be quite irregular." He explained that the Constitution will set how many districts and At-Large seats there are and will establish a Boundaries Commission to define constituency lines: "The Constitution will tell you is that you have nine districts and you have a Boundaries Commission to determine how those districts are." He noted Jost van Dyke is currently part of the Ninth District and previously belonged to another district.
Wheatley also confirmed the Constitution can provide for an increased number of seats in the House of Assembly. "We decided that we want more seats in the Parliament because the executive has a lot of work to do, and we need an additional minister, and you have to have a certain ratio of Cabinet members to non-Cabinet members in the House," he said.
If changes are sought, a Boundaries Commission would be convened, produce a report to the House, and any change would require a law and would likely take effect at the next election. For practical local governance, the Premier proposed District Councils as a more suitable option for remote communities. "I think the better way in places like Anegada and Jost van Dyke, and this is just my opinion, is to have some form of local government," he said.
Under his outline, councils elected by island residents would assume responsibility for certain local matters while central government retains core functions. The government would provide funds to these councils to manage island affairs: "Some things would be run by the Central Government... and some responsibilities would go to Jost van Dyke that you do for yourself." Wheatley said the negotiating team has positioned the introduction of District Councils as part of constitutional discussions, arguing they "would work particularly well in places like Jost van Dyke and Anegada because of the remoteness…sometimes you feel neglected and forgotten." The remarks underline possible pathways for improving representation and local services in the Sister Islands—either through constituency boundary changes via a Boundaries Commission or through decentralised District Councils that give residents more control over island-level decisions.
Primary source: VINO