Law Reform Commission

Division Head:          Ray C.M. Harris

Physical Address:     9 Flemming Street

                               Road Town, Tortola

                               British Virgin Islands

Postal Addrss:          P.O. Box 242

                               Road Town, Tortola

                               British Virgin Islands VG1110

Telephone:               (284) 494-8738 or (284) 494-3701 ext. 3453/3464

Facsimile:                (284) 468-2654

E-mail Address:        lawreform@bvigovernment.org

History

The Law Reform Commission is a division under the Attorney General’s Chambers. The Commission was established under the Law Reform Commission Act 2000 and had its inaugural ceremony on May 31, 2002. The Act was brought into operation by Proclamation on January 1, 2002. The Commission is comprised of a Chairman, Deputy Chairman, three other Commissioners, and a Secretary to the Commission.

Functions and Programmes

The functions of the Law Reform Commission are to study and keep under constant review the statues and other laws of the Virgin Islands with a view to making recommendations for their improvement, modernization, and reform. In promoting law reform in the Virgin Islands the Commission is expected, among other things, to reflect in the law the customs and values of the Virgin Islands society. During the process of law reform, the Commission encourages the public to submit their views on any topic under reform.

Under the Law Reform Commission Act, the Commission is empowered to appoint Committees, whether from among members of the Commission or from among persons outside the Commission or both, to study and make recommendations to the Commission on any aspect of the law referred to it by the Commission. The Commission and Committee members also participate in radio and television call-in programmes and hold public meetings in order to educate and solicit the views of the public as regards any area of law being reformed. The Commission also uses interviews, articles, brochures, flyers and questionnaires to interact with the public and, with the assistance of the Government Information Service and the media, ensures a great degree of public participation in the reform process.

Links and Information

General Questions on Education Regulations (December 2007)

General Questions on Early Childhood Education Regulations (June 2008)