The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007

  1. Introductory Text

  2. 1.Citation, commencement and establishment of Constitution

  3. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

    1. Whereas the people of the territory of the Virgin Islands...

    2. Acknowledging that the society of the Virgin Islands is based...

    3. Mindful that the people of the Virgin Islands have expressed...

    4. Recognising that the people of the Virgin Islands have a...

    5. Recalling that because of historical, economic and other reasons many...

    6. Accepting that the Virgin Islands should be governed based on...

    7. Affirming that the people of the Virgin Islands have generally...

    8. Noting that the United Kingdom, the administering power for the...

    9. Now, therefore, the following provisions have effect as the Constitution...

    10. CHAPTER 1

      1. 2.Interpretation

      2. 3.References to public office

      3. 4.Appointments

      4. 5.Re-election or reappointment

      5. 6.Removal from office

      6. 7.Resignation

      7. 8.Power to amend or revoke instruments

    11. CHAPTER 2

      1. 9.Fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual

      2. 10.Interpretation of Chapter 2

      3. 11.Protection of right to life

      4. 12.Equality before the law

      5. 13.Protection from inhuman treatment

      6. 14.Protection from slavery and forced labour

      7. 15.Protection of right to personal liberty

      8. 16.Provisions to secure protection of law

      9. 17.Protection of right of prisoners to humane treatment

      10. 18.Protection of freedom of movement

      11. 19.Protection of private and family life and privacy of home and other property

      12. 20.Protection of the right to marry and found a family

      13. 21.Protection of freedom of conscience

      14. 22.Protection of the right to education

      15. 23.Protection of freedom of expression

      16. 24.Protection of freedom of assembly and association

      17. 25.Protection from deprivation of property

      18. 26.Protection from discrimination

      19. 27.Provisions for periods of public emergency

      20. 28.Protection of persons detained under emergency laws

      21. 29.Protection of the environment

      22. 30.Protection of children

      23. 31.Enforcement of protective provisions

      24. 32.Proceedings which might affect freedom of conscience

      25. 33.Proceedings which might affect freedom of expression

      26. 34.Establishment of a Human Rights Commission

    12. CHAPTER 3

      1. 35.Governor

      2. 36.Deputy Governor

      3. 37.Acting Governor

      4. 38.Functions of Deputy Governor

      5. 39.Deputy to Governor

      6. 40.Exercise of Governor’s functions

      7. 41.Crown lands

      8. 42.Powers to constitute offices and make appointments, etc

      9. 43.Powers of pardon, etc

      10. 44.Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy

      11. 45.The public seal

    13. CHAPTER 4

      1. 46.Executive authority of the Virgin Islands

      2. 47.Cabinet

      3. 48.Meetings of the Cabinet

      4. 49.Proceedings in the Cabinet

      5. 50.Summoning of persons to the Cabinet

      6. 51.Cabinet Secretary

      7. 52.Appointment of Ministers

      8. 53.Tenure of office of Ministers

      9. 54.Absence of Ministers from the Virgin Islands

      10. 55.Performance of functions of Premier in certain events

      11. 56.Assignment of responsibilities to Ministers

      12. 57.National Security Council

      13. 58.Attorney General

      14. 59.Director of Public Prosecutions

      15. 60.Governor’s special responsibilities

      16. 61.Oaths and affirmations

    14. CHAPTER 5

      1. Composition

        1. 62.Composition of Legislature

        2. 63.House of Assembly

        3. 64.Elected members

        4. 65.Qualifications for elected membership

        5. 66.Disqualifications for elected membership

        6. 67.Tenure of seats of members of House of Assembly

        7. 68.Qualifications of voters

        8. 69.Speaker and Deputy Speaker

        9. 70.Leader of the Opposition

      2. Powers and Procedure

        1. 71.Power to make laws

        2. 72.Standing Orders

        3. 73.Oaths and affirmations

        4. 74.Presiding in the House of Assembly

        5. 75.Voting

        6. 76.Validity of proceedings

        7. 77.Quorum

        8. 78.Introduction of Bills, etc

        9. 79.Assent to Bills

        10. 80.Disallowance of laws

        11. 81.Governor’s reserved power

        12. 82.Privileges, immunities and powers of House of Assembly

      3. Miscellaneous

        1. 83.Sessions of House of Assembly

        2. 84.Prorogation and dissolution

        3. 85.Recalling dissolved House of Assembly in case of emergency

        4. 86.General elections

        5. 87.Determination of questions as to membership

        6. 88.Penalty for unauthorised sitting or voting

    15. CHAPTER 6

      1. 89.Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

      2. 90.Subordinate courts and tribunals

    16. CHAPTER 7

      1. Public Service - General

        1. 91.Public Service Commission

        2. 92.Power to appoint, etc, to public office

        3. 93.Teaching Service Commission

        4. 94.Judicial and Legal Services Commission

        5. 95.Power to appoint, etc, to legal offices

        6. 96.Police Service Commission

        7. 97.Power to appoint, etc, to offices in the Police Force

        8. 98.Legislation regarding Commissions

      2. Pensions

        1. 99.Applicability of pension law

        2. 100.Pensions, etc, charged on Consolidated Fund or Pension Fund

        3. 101.Grant and withholding of pensions, etc

    17. CHAPTER 8

      1. 102.Consolidated Fund

      2. 103.Withdrawal of money from Consolidated Fund or other public funds

      3. 104.Authorisation of expenditure

      4. 105.Authorisation of expenditure in advance of appropriation

      5. 106.Contingencies Fund

      6. 107.Public debt

      7. 108.Remuneration of certain officers

      8. 109.The Auditor General

    18. CHAPTER 9

      1. 110.The Complaints Commissioner

      2. 111.Functions of Complaints Commissioner

      3. 112.Registration of interests

    19. CHAPTER 10

      1. 113.Meaning of the appointed day

      2. 114.Revocations

      3. 115.Existing laws

      4. 116.Existing offices and officers

      5. 117.Standing Orders

      6. 118.Elections

      7. 119.Power reserved to Her Majesty

  4. Signature

    1. SCHEDULE 1

      FORMS OF OATHS AND AFFIRMATIONS

    2. SCHEDULE 2

      REVOCATIONS

  6. Explanatory Note