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Legislators want 5-year election cycle, not 4- HoA Report

The members of the current House of Assembly (HoA) want to serve for five years and not four, if they get their way in making amendments to the constitution in London later this year. Photo: YouTube/HoA
The Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) was led by Chairman Lisa E. Penn-Lettsome. Photo: VINO/File
The Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) was led by Chairman Lisa E. Penn-Lettsome. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The members of the current House of Assembly (HoA) want to serve for five years, not four, and they hope to get their way with that when making amendments to the constitution in London later this year.

However, the Lisa E. Penn-Lettsome-led Constitutional Review Commission recommended that no amendments be made to move from a four-year to a five-year election cycle, noting the constitutional significance of such a change and the absence of strong public demand for it.

However, the Committee of the whole House, putting the negotiating position together, rejected that notion and proposed a constitutional amendment to go to five years.

The House Committee of elected members recommends that the Constitution be amended to extend the maximum interval between general elections from four years to five years, while preserving the existing ability for the House to be dissolved earlier, in accordance with the constitutional framework.

Rationale of elected members

Elected members considered that, while shorter terms provide frequent and visible electoral accountability, a five-year cycle offers advantages for governmental stability and the sustained implementation of longer- term development policies, particularly in a small jurisdiction. 

Members also considered that the term should remain at a maximum of five years, preserving the flexibility of the Westminster model whereby Parliament may be dissolved earlier when circumstances so require.

Most, if not all, of the other Caribbean Islands have a five-year election cycle.

26 Responses to “Legislators want 5-year election cycle, not 4- HoA Report”

  • jack (14/04/2026, 09:33) Like (33) Dislike (8) Reply
    Longer to kill we
  • %100 raise (14/04/2026, 09:54) Like (50) Dislike (0) Reply
    These politicians only looking to do work when election is approaching. From seeing how these waste of times politicians working, the cycle need to DROP TO 3 YEARS.
  • hmm (14/04/2026, 09:56) Like (27) Dislike (0) Reply
    Pure madness with yall yah hear, may god cover these islands swiftly
  • No to 5! (14/04/2026, 10:59) Like (43) Dislike (0) Reply
    The four-year cycle is just fine. There is no compelling argument or reason for a five-year cycle. Five years is half of a decade, we can't do that. Do the peoples work as you are elected to do and let the people decide whether you met their expectations in 4 years. NO TO (5) FIVE!!
  • .... (14/04/2026, 11:11) Like (28) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Members therefore reject all aspects relating to accountability but wish for more time and more pay.
  • map (14/04/2026, 11:19) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
    NEVA
    • Lord o (14/04/2026, 12:44) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
      5 yrs is our way, our culture, why change it, everything cannot be in favor of useless politicians, If anything it should change to 3yrs so we can check these corrupt politicians on a regular.
  • Vision (14/04/2026, 12:14) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    You all shouldn't gotten four (4) years last general elections, now you all want five (5) years next general elections by any means necessary?
  • The Commissioner (14/04/2026, 12:37) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    these elected members have made their positions clear..stack the deck in favour of them and against the people who elected them!!
    • @The Commisioner (15/04/2026, 09:06) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      As they have vowed to the UK that they will continue to pay homage to the crown and keep our people blind and impoverished, more time is now requested to the same UK, to extend their time, pillaging and plundering. The real question to be answered is, exactly what will we as a people continue to accept and tolerate, from both the ukkkk and our local leadership? Tutteen ah dem to umpteen thousands ah we and we literally continue to accept their spells, craft and manipulated delay of progress when is we to decide our very own outcomes. Wha it aze we gon really do bout it?
  • Clear Vision (14/04/2026, 12:51) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Where vision is blurred even one (1) year is (1) years too much plus three (3)=4 years term. What has the VIP government done positively enough for the majority of the people of the British Virgin Islands and belongers to deserve an additional one year added to four (4) as is?
    The truth is even after the two 2017 hurricanes, Erma and Maria, the B.V.I infrastructure development lags. Boat government's and some residents buildings dwelling homes remain unrepaired. Filty sewerage water, many direlect vehicles, unrepaired roads, water shortages, low income earners, such as minimum wage workers, Healthcare workers and others continue suffering hardship. In all of these unfulfilled promises by the VIP government, they, the Cabinet leaders have the guall to want to fight for an extra year on four (4), so they can dip their greedy hands into or finances secretly, as was done, and add to what they have already took, without sympathy for the majority of financial struck people of the British Virgin Islands.

    • @Clear Vison (15/04/2026, 09:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      What would you do with such an appraisal if they were all personally employed by you?
  • Raw and Unfiltered (14/04/2026, 12:52) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    I’m averse to the election cycle moving from 4 to 5 years. However, along with this amendment, there also should be an amendment for a date certain for general election; that is stability, taking the guess work out of when an election will happen, leveling the playing field. Currently, the incumbent government has the advantage of calling an at its convenience and advantage, disadvantaging the opposition. Further, there must also be an amendment providing the electorate a reasonable and practical mean of recalling poor performing elected members, ie, ROJ scholars (Retired of the Job),members who clearly are putting self-interest ahead of public interest, etc. Furthermore, the 5 year cycle of approved should apply to the election/HOA cycle, not the current members. Moreover, there should be amendment allowing a)sister/
    Outlying Islands Councils and b)District/Village councils.
    • @RU (14/04/2026, 17:47) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      @RU, it seems that you are ok with a 5-year election cycle . But date certain general election and ability to recall elected members must be a sine qua non for the 5-yearcycle. Support the position.
  • island man (14/04/2026, 13:12) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Them legislative need to make life more easier for island man to get his papers after living here for 20 years. Deh I and I now have to attend college like deh I and I so bright. Just give deh I and I deh papers without the college degree in bvi history. PS (degree mentioned is just for jokes I know some of you might take me serious when I say that, it's a certificate not degree) bless up to deh legislators Dem so listening to deh I an I
  • Well (14/04/2026, 14:12) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Y'all only ever care to do any real work once it comes down to the final year of each cycle and you looking extra? If i had it my way, it wouldn't be anymore than 1 or 2 years!
  • hell no! (14/04/2026, 15:46) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is difficult enough for us, the voters, to wait four (4) years to replace your dishonest backsides. NO!
  • Insane (14/04/2026, 16:25) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    If any of you all vote for these people again next election you all need your heads examined.
    • @insane (15/04/2026, 08:21) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      I does say the same thing, I just waiting to see who they vote for because I know I ain’t voting for a soul. Look now they doing all kinda thing because election close. And where the hell Mark going again, these ppl sick misson.
  • Lee (14/04/2026, 17:44) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    He’ll No !!!!

    Time to get out , the country on life support.

    The people under sufferation .

    WE WANT CHANGE!

    Prayer warriors get on the wall to pray against this !

    I declare that the UK will say NO to 5 years!

    VIP MUST GO !!!!
  • zan (14/04/2026, 21:48) Like (0) Dislike (4) Reply
    So what if it’s five?
  • BuzzBvi (15/04/2026, 07:05) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    VIGILATE.

    HOA only working for themselves and the Coonstitution they want.

    Remember how they voted for their salaries and our minimum wage.

    THE political ELITES are not working for us.
  • Norris Turnbull (16/04/2026, 00:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Most, if not all, of the other Caribbean Islands have a five-year election cycle.

    Ok...we don't have to follow fashion the monkey.


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