The history of legislature in the British Virgin Islands can be roughly divided into two: colonial legislatures in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and then a hiatus, followed by the modern legislature after the re-introduction of democracy in 1950.

The first Legislative Council of modern times was formed in 1950, pursuant to the Constitution Act, 1950. It had eight members, two ex-official members, two nominated members and four elected members. Requirements for standing for election included income, property, and a deposit (forfeited with failure to garner a certain percentage of votes). The four members were elected in 1950 on a Territory-wide basis.

In 1954 the existing constitutional provisions were replaced by the Constitution and Elections Ordinance, 1954, which expanded the elected membership to six, divided amongst five district seats (with Road Town having two representatives).

The 1967 Constitution expanded the elected membership to seven, with each district having a single representative. In 1977 the Elections Ordinance, 1977 expanded the number of district seats to nine.

Pursuant to the Elections Act, 1994, the British Virgin Islands introduced four Territorial At-Large seats in addition to the nine District seats, creating a total of 13 elected members to sit alongside the two ex-officio members (the Speaker and the Attorney General).

Following the new constitution of 2007, Hon. Roy Harrigan was elected Speaker to the First House of Assembly (2007 – 2011); Hon. Ingrid Moses-Scatliffe to the Second and Third House of Assembly (2011 – 2019) , and Hon. Julian Willock to the Fourth House of Assembly (2019 – present). The change from Chief Minister to Premier was also as a result of the new consitution of 2007.

British Virgin Islands Legislatures

Legislative Council

Election Years Terms Elected Seats
1950 1950 - 1954 First 4 - Four at-large
1954 1954 - 1957 Second 5 - Five territorial
1957 1957 - 1960 Third 5 - Five territorial
1960 1960 - 1963 Fourth 5 - Five territorial
1963 1963 - 1967 Fifth 5 - Five territorial
1967 1967 - 1971 Sixth 7 - Seven territorial
1971 1971 - 1975 Seventh 7 - Severn territorial
1975 1975 - 1979 Eighth 7 - Seven territorial
1979 1979 - 1983 Ninth 9 - Nine territorial
1983 1983 - 1986 Tenth 9 - Nine territorial
1986 1986 - 1990 Eleventh 9 - Nine territorial
1990 1990 - 1995 Twelfth 9 - Nine territorial
1995 1995 - 1999 Thirteenth 13 - Nine territorial plus four at-large
1999 1999 - 2003 Fourteenth 13 - Nine territorial plus four at-large
2003 2003 - 2007 Fifteenth 13 - Nine territorial plus four at-large

 

House of Assembly

Election Years Terms Elected Seats
2007 2007 - 2011 First 13 - Nine territorial plus four at-large
2011 2011 - 2015 Second 13 - Nine territorial plus four at-large
2015 2015 - 2019 Third 13 - Nine territorial plus four at-large
2019 2019 - Present Fourth 13 - Nine territorial plus four at-large
2023 2023–Present Fifth 13 - Nine territorial plus four at-large

 

Chief Ministers/Premiers

Election Years Person Title
1967 1967 - 1971 Hon. H. Lavity Stoutt Chief Minister
1971 1971 - 1979 Dr. the Hon. Willard Wheatley, LLD, MBE Chief Minister
1979 1979 - 1983 Hon. H. Lavity Stoutt Chief Minister
1983 1983 - 1986 Hon. Cyril B. Romney Chief Minister
1986 1986 - 1995 Hon. H. Lavity Stoutt Chief Minister
1995 1995 - 1999 Hon. Ralph T. O'Neal, OBE Chief Minister
1999 1999 - 2003 Hon. Ralph T. O'Neal, OBE Chief Minister
2003 2003 - 2007 Dr. the Hon. D. Orlando Smith, MBE, OBE Chief Minister
2007 2007 - 2011 Hon. Ralph T. O'Neal, OBE Premier
2011 2011 - 2015 Dr. the Hon. D. Orlando Smith, MBE, OBE Premier
2015 2015 - 2019 Dr. the Hon. D. Orlando Smith, MBE, OBE Premier
2019 2019 - 2022 Hon. Andrew A. Fahie Premier
  2022-2023 Dr. the Hon. Natalio Wheatley Premier
2023 2023 Dr. the Hon. Natalio Wheatley Premier

 

Speakers Legislative Council

Election Years Person Title
1967 1967 - 1971 Hon. Henry O. Creque, OBE Speaker
1971 1971 - 1975 Hon. Howard R. Penn, MBE, OBE Speaker
1975 1975 - 1983 Hon. Ivan Dawson, OBE, CBE Speaker
1983 1983 - 1996 Hon. Keith L. Flax Speaker
1996 1996 - 2003 Hon. Ruben Vanterpool Speaker
2003 2003 - 2007 Hon. V. Inez Archibald, CBE Speaker

 

Speakers House of Assembly

Election Years Person Title
2007 2007-2011 Hon. Roy Harrigan Speaker
2011 2011-2019 Hon. Ingrid A. Moses-Scatliffe Speaker
2019 2019-2022 Hon. Julian Willock Speaker
2023 2022-Present Hon. Corine George-Massicote Speaker

 

Current Elected Members of the Fourth House of Assembly

Year(s) Name Position
2019 - Present Dr. The Hon. Natalio D. Wheatley

Premier and Minister of Finance and Member
for the Seventh District

2023 - Present Hon. Lorna Smith MBE Deputy Premier and Ministry for Financial Services, Labour and Trade
and Territorial Member
2019 - Present Hon. Kye Rymer Minister of Communications and Works and Member for the Fifth District
2019 - Present Hon. Sharie B. DeCastro Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, and Sports and Territorial Member
2019 - Present Hon. Vincent Wheatley Minister for Health and Social Development and Member for the Eighth District
2023- Present Hon. Luce Hodge Smith Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism
and Member for the Fourth District
2023 - Present Hon. Karl Dawson Junior Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries
and Member for the Ninth District
2023 - Present Hon. Stacy "Buddha" Mather Deputy Speaker and Territorial Member
2023 - Present Hon. Ronnie Skelton Leader of the Opposition and Territorial Member
2023 - Present Hon. Myron V Walwyn Member for the Sixth District 
1999 - Present Hon. Julian Fraser, RA Member for the Third District 
2011 - Present Hon. Mitch Turnbull Member for the Fourth District
2011 - Present Hon. Marlon Penn Member for the Eighth District