The second round of talks will take place June 26-28 at the Office of the Legislative Council in Road Town, and come just over three months since the BVI opened constitutional negotiations with the UK in March.

“The work we are doing to advance our constitutional is the most important action this administration will undertake,” Chief Minister Dr Orlando Smith said. “We are working towards a constitution that reflects our present state of development and that will lay a foundation for continued growth.”

The Chief Minister said that he and other team members are looking forward to an open, honest, and productive exchange of ideas with their UK counterparts.

“This round of talks will allow us to discuss in depth on some of the key issues that are on the table, such as the governor’s powers and the proposal for a cabinet system of government,” he said.

The Chief Minister said he expects three or more negotiating sessions will be necessary for the teams to fully discuss all the issues raised by the 2005 Report of the Virgin Islands Constitutional Commission.

The report, which was written following extensive public dialogue led by the 9-member Constitutional Commission, makes recommendations for change in seven broad areas as set out by the Commission’s terms of reference.

The BVI negotiating team is led by the Chief Minister. The UK delegation is led by Ian Hendry. 

The first round of constitutional negotiations were held on March 2-3, this year in the Office of the Legislative Council in Road Town, Tortola.

In conducting its deliberations, the Commission sought and received comments from a wide cross-section of the community. The Commission held a series of 12 community meetings around the Territory and one in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Members also sought public comment by appearing on several radio and television programmes. In total, 99 people made formal written or verbal submissions to the Commission.