Roadtown, Tortola, British Virgin Islands Photo Credit: V.I. CONSORTIUM
April 24, 2023 — that’s the date on which voters in the British Virgin Islanders will elect a new government.
The proclamation establishing the date for the BVI’s next general elections was signed by Governor John Rankin on Wednesday, five days following the House of Assembly’s dissolution on Friday March 10.
According to Section 86 of the territory’s constitution, a general election must be held between twenty-one days and two months from the date the House is dissolved.
Advance polling will occur on April 21, three days before the election date.
Members of the Unity Government, which formed after former Premier Andrew Fahie was arrested and removed from office in the face of drug trafficking, money laundering and now racketeering charges, have returned to their partisan camps to contest the upcoming election.
Now led by incumbent Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley, the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) will be joined by the National Democratic Party (NDP), the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM), and Progressive United (PU) in the contest for the hearts, minds — and ultimately votes — of British Virgin Islanders.
