Local News
BVI Premier Seeks Constitutional Amendment to Establish Minister of State Position
Premier Hon. Natalio D. Wheatley has announced plans to pursue a constitutional amendment to formalise the appointment of a Minister of State, a position currently not recognised under the British Virgin Islands’ constitutional framework. The revelation came during an interview on The Big Story with JTV’s Cathy Richards on March 11, where the Premier addressed recent shifts within his administration, including the return of Hon. Lorna G. Smith to government and the reassignment of Hon. Karl Dawson.
The changes, announced earlier in the day, saw Dawson’s removal as Junior Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, while Smith was designated as Minister of State. However, Wheatley acknowledged that the position does not yet legally exist, requiring approval from the United Kingdom to be formally established.
“In the Westminster system, there are different types of junior ministers, including Ministers of State and Parliamentary Under-Secretaries,” Wheatley explained. “While our current constitution allows for junior ministers, we would need an amendment to introduce the Minister of State designation.”
The Premier confirmed that he has informally raised the matter with the Governor and intends to discuss it further in an upcoming meeting with UK Minister for Overseas Territories, Steven Doughty. If successful, the amendment would provide the BVI government with additional flexibility in ministerial appointments.
Wheatley defended his decision to publicly designate Smith as Minister of State ahead of securing the constitutional amendment, stating that she was passionate about the role, particularly in relation to financial services—one of the territory’s key economic sectors. He emphasised that the move signals his administration’s commitment to expanding the governance framework to better reflect the needs of the territory.
“My point in communicating it is to let persons know that this is something we want to get done as quickly as possible,” he said.
While Smith is not a member of Cabinet, the Premier noted that she will be invited to Cabinet meetings as needed to discuss matters related to her portfolio. Under the current system, only five ministers can be full Cabinet members. Any expansion would require additional constitutional reforms, including a potential increase in the number of elected officials in the House of Assembly.
Should the UK approve the amendment, Smith’s position would become official, leaving a junior ministerial post open. Wheatley also indicated that his government may request an increase in the number of junior ministerial positions beyond the current limit of two.
“We would be asking for the ability to have different levels of junior ministers, and I believe it would be prudent for us to request more than just two,” he said.
As negotiations with the UK progress, the government’s ability to restructure its ministerial framework remains uncertain. However, Wheatley remains optimistic that changes can be implemented in a timely manner.
“We will see how quickly we can get it done,” he said, underscoring his administration’s push for constitutional reform.
The proposed changes come at a time when the BVI is preparing for broader constitutional negotiations with the UK. The discussions will not only address the Minister of State position but could also lead to wider governance reforms.
For now, Smith will continue to serve in one of the two existing junior ministerial roles until a formal decision is made.
Premier Hon. Natalio D. Wheatley was on hand Sunday to present the Guy Eldridge Spirit of Enthusiasm Award to Jim Vos, skipper of Warthog, in recognition of his dedication to youth sailing in the Virgin Islands.
The award was one of the highlights of the final day of the 52nd BVI Spring Regatta, which wrapped up a week of racing on the waters of the Sir Francis Drake Channel.
While the early part of the week saw strong winds and challenging conditions, sailors were treated to classic Caribbean weather for the finale—sunny skies, steady breeze, and warm temperatures.
Despite the tough start, most crews found their rhythm and stayed consistent through the final races. The mix of international and local talent made for a strong showing across the board.
The regatta closed out with a lively celebration at the Regatta Village—sailors, supporters, and organizers coming together to toast another successful year on the water.
Full list of class winners:
-
Warthog – Jim Vos (ANT)
-
El Ocaso – Tony Mack (GBR)
-
Huey Too – Bernie Evan-Wong (ANT)
-
Bravissimo – Mike Feierabend (USVI)
-
Painkiller/Sea-Battical – Alice Martin (USA)
-
Jitterbug – Dr. Robin Tattersall (BVI)
-
La Novia – Georges Coutu (DOM)
-
Layla – Andrew Anne (GBR)
-
Ting A Ling – Graham Harney (BVI)
-
Cricket – Sandy Mair (BVI)
-
Flying Jenny – Sandy Askew (USA)
ADVERTISEMENT:
A man drowned Wednesday afternoon after being swept into the sea by a powerful wave while fishing along the rocky coastline of Carrot Bay, local authorities confirmed.
The incident occurred near the former site of the Isabella Morris Primary School, which has since been demolished. According to witnesses, the victim was fishing with two other men when a massive wave pulled him into the water. His companions ran for help, but by the time assistance arrived, he had already disappeared beneath the waves.
Local fishermen later recovered the man’s body. The drowning occurred sometime before 5:30 p.m. Authorities have not yet released the victim’s identity.
Police remained at the scene Wednesday evening, where the body was kept on a vessel at the Fisherman’s Ramp awaiting transportation. An investigation is ongoing.
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) rugby team secured the Plate at the 2025 Kowloon RugbyFest, held on March 27 in Hong Kong. The one-day, 10-a-side tournament drew teams from around the world, with the BVI squad advancing through the competition to emerge Plate champions.
This year’s RugbyFest featured more than 30 teams across multiple divisions, hosted at King’s Park Sports Ground. The tournament, organized annually by the Kowloon Rugby Club, is one of the largest social rugby events in Asia and includes elite, open, and veteran brackets.
The BVI squad, which included several young players making their debut debut outside of the Caribbean and Central America.—Roquan Hemmering, D’Von Jones, Jayden Williams, and Gethin Jones—recorded a series of wins and competitive matchups en route to the Plate final. Their performance earned them a place among the top contenders of the tournament’s second-tier playoff round.
In addition to their tournament participation, BVI players were invited to join the Pot Bellied Pigs RFC in a memorial rugby match honoring the victims of the 2002 Bali bombings. The match took place as part of the club’s annual tribute event during RugbyFest. The Pot Bellied Pigs, based in Asia, are known for combining rugby with charitable initiatives and commemorative matches.
The BVI team’s involvement in the memorial game marked the first time the territory was represented in that capacity at RugbyFest.
ADVERTISEMENT:
Premier Wheatley Presents Top Award at BVI Spring Regatta
Jamaican National Ronnie Identified as Carrot Bay Drowning Victim
Man Drowns After Being Swept Off Rocks by Wave in the Carrot Bay
-
Uncategorized2 days agoJamaican National Ronnie Identified as Carrot Bay Drowning Victim
-
Uncategorized2 days agoAssaults and Wounding Charges for Huntums Ghut and Virgin Gorda Residents
-
Uncategorized2 days agoTwo Men Charged in Separate Burglary Investigations
-
Uncategorized2 weeks agoPrison Officer Stabbed in Altercation at His Majesty’s Prison
-
Uncategorized1 week agoCity Takes Action on Craft Alive Rent Arrears
-
Crime/Police1 week agoPrison Superintendent Addresses Attack on Officer at Balsam Ghut
-
Local News2 days agoMan Drowns After Being Swept Off Rocks by Wave in the Carrot Bay
-
Uncategorized2 weeks agoPower Outage Affects Tortola After Infrastructure Damage