Elections 2023
Shereen Flax-Charles to contest 9th District for PVIM
New PVIM member Shereen Flax-Charles
By MERRICK ANDREWS, Online News Editor
(JTV News) — Territory At-Large Representative, Shereen D. Flax-Charles, who resigned from the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) on Feb. 12, 2023, will contest the 2023 General Elections as a Ninth District candidate for the Ronnie Skelton-led Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM).
Flax-Charles made the announcement at a PVIM press conference on Friday during which she was introduced by Skelton, the chairman of the party, who later said, in response to a reporter’s question, that “we are proud to have her”.
She started off by saying she is a tourism stalwart, someone who cares about the territory, and someone who is not afraid to speak up.
She said she decided to join the PVIM because its leadership, with Skelton at the helm, as well as Mitch Turnbull (its deputy), are exemplary persons with a proven track record in their personal, professional, and political lives.
“Ladies and gentlemen integrity matters,” she pointed out, adding that she is excited to serve and rebuild the British Virgin Islands, and its reputation while uplifting its people.
“I pledge to serve these Virgin Islands with all my heart with truth and integrity as my motto. You can count on me, and you can count on PVIM to take this country to the next level,” she added.
During the question-and-answer session, she said she decided to run for the Ninth District because of feedback from people in the district. She however noted that if elected, she will still look out for the interest of the entire territory.
HERE IS FLAX-CHARLES’S FULL STATEMENT:
“Shereen Flax-Charles: A tourism stalwart, someone who cares about this territory, someone who is not afraid to speak up. I have made the decision to contest the upcoming elections as a candidate with the Progressive Islands Movement in the 9th district. Why PVIM? I’ve decided to join this Movement because its leadership with the Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton as well as the Honourable Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull
exemplifies persons with a proven track record in their personal, professional, and political life. Accountability, hope, empowerment, transparency, and inspiration. Ladies and gentlemen, integrity matters. I am excited for the journey ahead to serve you the people of the Virgin Islands in rebuilding our country’s reputation and uplifting its people, and so today, I pledge to serve these Virgin Islands with all my heart, with truth and integrity as my motto. And I want to say to everyone within the sound of my voice that you can count on me and you can count on the PVIM to take this country to the next level.”
WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN HER AND THE VIP?
Flax-Charles is currently the Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development, Agriculture, and Fisheries and a member of the Natalio-Wheatley-led National Unity government. She intends to remain in this position until the general elections which is due this year but for which a date has yet to be set.
Her resignation from the VIP came exactly one week after the VIP Congress held a meeting to elect a new executive body to confirm its candidates for the General Elections which is constitutionally due by May 12.
Flax-Charles was not among the 10 candidates — seven district candidates and three at-large candidates — who were ratified by the VIP Congress.
The party said a “special meeting” will be convened in the near future to ratify the remaining candidates.
It was disclosed at a press conference by Party Chairman and Premier, Natalio Wheatley, that Flax-Charles’s non-ratification had to do with administrative issues: paper work she submitted did not meet the requirements.
However, in her resignation statement on Feb. 12, Flax-Charles gave her side of the story.
“My priorities are clear and have been communicated. I will only be a part of leadership that is transparent, fair and honest, conducted with the utmost integrity; developing and honouring structures which hold us to account. On this vein, I want to ensure that my own upholding of these standards remains unquestionable.
“I pride myself on understanding and operating within laws and rules. While many of you have rightly dismissed the idea that I somehow infringed on the constitution of my former party, I know that for others this has been a concern as it brings my ethics and frankly, my common sense, under scrutiny.
“Summarizing The Virgin Islands Party Constitution, Article Twenty: Nomination and Selection of Candidates for the Legislature, it is made abundantly clear that any incumbent VIP member of the Legislative Council desirous of re-election under the banner of the party is entitled to do so once they have informed the executive by the deadline prescribed.
“I fulfilled the basic requirements as outlined in Section 4, and made my intention known to the party’s secretary. I could not met the deadline which Section 1 makes mention of as to date none has been communicated, at least not to me.
“Anyone interested in further investigating this exercise of wordplay and paperwork is free to peruse the party’s constitution. There will be varied opinions as there always are, but what I can share is that my interpretation is supported by a senior party member’s written correspondence. Ultimately, this is a minor matter. When compared to the tremendous challenges we face as a Territory, it warrants no further dialogue.
“I only raised this for two reasons. It is important to me that you all continue to know that I do not play party games and that I have complete respect for fair protocol and due process. Whatever clerical mishaps and misunderstandings may have occurred, I hold no animosity towards my former party as this only reassured me of what I have been considering for a time,” she added.
Elections 2023
Virgin Islands Elections Office Moves to Expand Access Through Mobile and Absentee Voting
The Office of the Supervisor of Elections announced that the proposed Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2025 would expand access to voting by allowing election teams to visit specified locations so qualified and approved individuals can cast their ballots without attending a polling station in person.
According to the Bill, election officers would be authorised to operate mobile polling stations in hospitals, care facilities, prisons and private residences for voters unable to travel due to illness, disability or other qualifying reasons. Teams could also visit designated public locations ahead of polling day to serve approved absentee voters.
The proposed legislation sets out absentee and postal voting procedures, including application requirements and deadlines for voters who are overseas, medically unable to leave home, caring for dependents or on short-term remand. It also provides for emergency absentee voting in situations such as last-minute medical issues or work obligations.
The Bill further introduces terms such as “absentee voter,” “assistive voting technology,” and “curbside voting,” and would formally establish a Department of Elections responsible for voter registration, public education and the conduct of elections. It also proposes an Elections Advisory Committee to advise on electoral policy and operations.
If passed, the measure would represent one of the most significant updates to the Virgin Islands’ election laws in more than a decade, aiming to make voting more accessible while maintaining the established legal framework.
The Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduces sweeping changes to the Territory’s electoral process, including expanded vote-by-mail provisions, the creation of a Department of Elections, stricter proof-of-residence requirements, and the establishment of an Elections Advisory Committee.
The Bill, now before the House of Assembly, establishes a Department of Elections under the administration of the Supervisor of Elections. The Department will oversee continuous voter registration, revisions to the voters’ roll, candidate nominations, voter education, and the conduct and monitoring of elections. It will also support the Electoral District Boundaries Commission, settle certain electoral disputes prior to results being declared, and incorporate technology to improve transparency and accountability.
The legislation expands voting access through new provisions for absentee, postal, curbside, and mobile voting. Students, government employees, and residents working or receiving medical care abroad may qualify to vote by mail. Elderly and disabled voters unable to enter polling stations may cast ballots from their vehicles, while mobile polling teams will be permitted to visit hospitals, aged-care facilities, prisons, and private homes. An internet-based tracking system will allow voters to monitor the status of their absentee ballots.
Stricter residency verification rules are also introduced. Applicants for voter registration must provide two months of utility bills, rent receipts, or insurance documents as proof of residence. Where this is not possible, a notarized letter or a signed form from the homeowner or principal occupier may be accepted. Submitting false documents carries a fine of up to $500.
The Bill also requires relatives of registered voters who die overseas to notify the Supervisor of Elections with supporting documents, including a death certificate and proof of relationship. False reporting may result in a fine of up to $2,000 or imprisonment for two years.
An Elections Advisory Committee will be created to advise the Supervisor of Elections on policy and operations. Members will be appointed by the Governor after a public application process and in consultation with the Premier, Leader of the Opposition, and the Attorney General. The Committee will include a chairperson, four to six members, and the Supervisor of Elections as an ex-officio member. Individuals currently serving as legislators, public officers, judges, or political party executives will not be eligible.
The Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2025, also updates terminology by replacing “electronic tabulating system” with “electronic voting system” throughout the principal law. It provides for live-streaming of absentee ballot processing and requires recordkeeping, reporting, and safeguards for the handling of ballots before and after polling day.
If enacted, the Bill will amend the Elections Act, Revised Laws of the Virgin Islands 2013, with provisions coming into force on dates to be appointed by the Governor.
The Office of the Supervisor of Elections has published the 2025 Preliminary Voters List, giving registered voters in the Virgin Islands the opportunity to review their information and submit corrections before the final Revised Voters List is issued.
Officials said the publication of the preliminary list is a standard step in the election process and ensures that eligible voters are able to verify their details in advance of the next general election. Registered voters are encouraged to check their names, addresses, and other information and to report any inaccuracies promptly.
Corrections may be submitted through the Office of the Deputy Governor, located on the second floor of the Burhym Building in Road Town, Tortola, or directly to the Office of the Supervisor of Elections at 216 Upper Main Street, Creque Building, Road Town.
The Supervisor of Elections’ office is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Voters may also contact the office by telephone at (284) 468-4380, by fax at (284) 468-2779, or by email at electionsvi@gov.vg.
The Office of the Deputy Governor may be reached at (284) 468-2195 or by email at dgo@gov.vg.
The Revised Voters List will be compiled following the correction period.
Visit https://gov.vg/service-details/2025-preliminary-voters-list to view the list and submit any claims or objections.
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