Cabinet Meeting – 29th July, 2026

His Excellency the Acting Governor David Archer, Jr. chaired the meeting held on 29th July, 2026 in the absence of Governor Daniel Pruce, who was overseas on annual leave.
All Members were present, with the exception of the Deputy Premier and Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change and Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, who was overseas on official duty.

Cabinet:
1. Approved:
a. the pension adjustment option endorsed by the Pension Reform Committee, with an estimated fiscal impact of six million seven hundred thousand dollars ($6.7M), for implementation in the 2026 financial year; endorsed
b. the policy rationale underpinning this option, including its focus on equity, cost-of-living considerations, and targeted support for lower-income pensioners; noted
c. that the selected option reflects the Committee’s assessment of fairness, given the absence of pension increases over approximately 25 years; approved
d. the development of an integrated benefits administration module to strengthen pension management and oversight;
e. the institutionalisation of pension reviews on a three-year cycle, aligned with Public Service salary reviews, consistent with prior Cabinet decisions; and decided
f. that the estimated sum of two million, seven hundred thousand dollars ($2,700,000) be sought via the next Schedule of Additional Provision (SAP) at the next convenient sitting of the House of Assembly.

Cabinet Meeting – 19th August, 2026

His Excellency the Acting Governor David Archer, Jr. chaired the meeting held on 19th August, 2026 in the absence of Governor Daniel Pruce, who was overseas on annual leave.
All Members were present, with the exception of the Deputy Premier and Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change and Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, who was on leave.

Cabinet:
1. Approved the establishment of a third Commercial Court under the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court; noted the provision of the necessary funding for the period 2026-2029 to facilitate the appointment of the additional Judge, essential supporting court administration staff and obtaining commercial rental space to commence hearing matters within the fourth quarter of 2026.
2. Noted the 2025 annual reports for the Magistracy and the Supreme and Commercial Court; and agreed that both reports be laid on the table at the next convenient meeting of the House of Assembly.
3. Reviewed and decided to retroactively approve the appointment of Dr. Kedrick Pickering as Ministerial Special Adviser with effect from 1st November, 2025 to 30th April, 2026; and decided that Dr. Kedrick Pickering be engaged as a Special Envoy from 1st May, 2026 under the ministerial staff policy.
4. Noted Progress Report No. (7) Governance Reform Transition Plan - Governance Reform Implementation Action Plan as of June 2026 based on 151 actions, 95 were completed (63%), and 56 outstanding actions (37%); and the Statutory Board Schedule of Statutory Board Legislative Amendments.
5. Reviewed and accepted the recommendations of the Board of Immigration to grant Certificates of Residence to one hundred and one hundred and fifty-eight (158) persons, in accordance with Section 18(1) of the Immigration and Passport Act (as amended); accepted the recommendations of the Board of Immigration for endorsement of two (2) minor children in accordance with Section 18 (2) of the Immigration and Passport Act (as amended.
6. Considered and approved the Electronic Transactions (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to amend the Electronic Transactions Act, 2021, No. 6 of 2021 to clarify and narrow the scope of exclusions under section 4(1) of the principal Act in order to facilitate electronic transactions and improve efficiency of cross-border business transactions in the Virgin Islands; and decided that the Bill be introduced for its first reading in the House of Assembly at the next convenient sitting.
7. Noted Report No. 2 to update Cabinet on progress being made in implementing Cabinet's decision regarding the transfer of the product development function from the BVI Tourist Board to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development.
8. Noted:
a. that the Minister for Communications and Works approved a Commemorative Motor Vehicle Registration Plate to be used on personally registered vehicles to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) pursuant to regulation 6A(5) of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicle Registration and Operation and Driver and Vehicle Licensing) Regulations; decided
b. that a maximum of two hundred (200) pairs of plates be issued pursuant to regulation 6A(6) of the aforementioned Regulations;
c. that the Department of Motor Vehicles is to sell the 20th anniversary commemorative plates at a fee of two hundred ($200.00) per pair, as proposed and subject to the approval of the imposition of the fee by order of the Cabinet pursuant to section 66(1)(e)(j) of the Road Traffic Act (as amended); and
d. that 25 percent ($50.00) of each pair of plates sold will be retained by the Government of the Virgin Islands.
9. Approved four (4) Non-Belongers Land Holding Licence applications.
 

Published by the Cabinet Office on 3rd September, 2026.