Local News
UK Says Interim Administration in Virgin Islands Not Required After Governance Progress
The United Kingdom has decided that an Interim Administration will not be required in the Virgin Islands after reviewing progress on governance reforms, Minister of State for Europe, North America and the Overseas Territories Stephen Doughty said in a Sept. 22, 2025 letter to Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley.
Doughty wrote that the Foreign Secretary, acting on his advice, had instructed the revocation of a draft Order in Council that would have enabled the UK to take direct control of the territory’s government. He said the process to formally withdraw the order will take several months.
The decision follows assessments by the Governor, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and the Virgin Islands government’s own self-evaluation of its progress in carrying out recommendations from the 2021 Commission of Inquiry. While acknowledging that reforms have advanced more slowly than expected, Doughty said significant legislation has been enacted and that the agreed framework for change has been put into effect.
“To ensure continued transparency,” Doughty wrote, the Governor will publish six-monthly reviews on governance, building on quarterly reports conducted since 2022. He also proposed a joint annual survey to gather the public’s views on reform implementation.
The minister cautioned, however, that concerns remain in key areas, including policing and customs, where a review by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire Rescue Services identified weaknesses. He urged the Virgin Islands government to prioritize funding law enforcement through its annual budget process and said progress in tackling illicit finance and strengthening financial transparency must accelerate.
Doughty added that there is “no change to the UK’s long-standing position” on the constitutional relationship and reaffirmed that the Virgin Islands remain “a valued part of our global British family.”
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force has confirmed that Tarik Aaron was arrested shortly before midnight on Friday, April 17, on extradition orders issued by authorities in the United States Virgin Islands, and has since appeared before the Magistrate’s Court.
According to police, the arrest was carried out in connection with a request from USVI authorities, though further details have not been disclosed.
Aaron appeared before the Magistrate’s Court today and was denied bail.
Further updates are expected as more information becomes available.
The Civil Registry and Passport Office has announced an increase in fees for United Kingdom passports, effective April 8, 2026.
According to the office, the revised fees apply to new, renewal and replacement passport applications, as well as other related services.
Under the new structure, the cost for a new, renewal or replacement adult passport has been set at £116.50, while the fee for a child passport is £75.50. Adult frequent traveller passports will cost £130.50, and child frequent traveller passports £89.50.
The fee for changes to an existing passport will also be £116.50. In addition, a delivery fee of £14.32 will apply.
The Civil Registry and Passport Office advised that the updated fees are now in effect and apply to all relevant applications submitted on or after April 8.
A bill proposing wide-ranging changes to the Virgin Islands’ electoral system was introduced in the House of Assembly today, Tuesday, April 22, by Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley.
The proposed Elections (Amendment) Act, 2026, is based on consultations with stakeholders and recommendations from observer missions, as well as input from the Deputy Governor’s Office and the Office of the Supervisor of Elections.
“This is the Elections Amendment Act 2026, following extensive deliberations with a number of entities, including a committee of the House who looked at recommendations of various observer missions that came to The Virgin Islands,” Hon. Wheatley said during the continuation of the Second Sitting of the Third Session of the Fifth House of Assembly.
He said the bill also builds on work undertaken by the previous House of Assembly. “Also, the last House of Assembly looked at a number of recommendations that were forwarded through the Deputy Governor’s Office and the Office of the Supervisor of Elections,” he said.
Hon. Wheatley said the proposed amendments were developed through discussions on changes to the Elections Act. “We had very extensive discussions about amendments to the Elections Act, and of course, those recommendations were used to make this Amendment Act. This received its first reading some time ago, and now we are here to debate this Elections Act, so that it can therefore become law,” he said.
The bill introduces several reforms to the electoral framework, including expanded access to voting through mobile and curbside options for individuals with physical limitations and the formal use of assistive technologies for voters with disabilities.
It also provides for the establishment of a Department of Elections and an Elections Advisory Committee to oversee voter registration and election administration.
Additional provisions include a formal Code of Conduct for political parties and candidates, along with new rules governing campaign donations and political financing.
The legislation also proposes restrictions on the announcement of major public grants or projects shortly before an election, aimed at addressing potential incumbency advantages.
The bill has already received its first reading and is expected to be referred to a committee when the House of Assembly resumes on April 30, 2026, at 10 a.m., where it will undergo further review as part of the legislative process.
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