I am delighted to continue work on the Law Revision and Accessibility of Laws project. Following the completion of Phase I, which saw the comprehensive revision of 93 Acts and their subsidiary legislation, the project has successfully transitioned into its second phase. Phase 2 marked a milestone with the launch of the redesigned Laws of the Virgin Islands website together with the publication of a Consolidated Index of laws as at January 1, 2025. This current phase focused on enhancing accessibility through the redesign of the Virgin Islands Laws online platform. Found at https://laws.gov.vg/ , the website has been enhanced with features such as full text search, improved navigation, the addition of research resources for example a Consolidated Index of the Laws of the Virgin Islands as at 1 January, 2025..
In talking to colleagues, I learnt that many of them found the existing Consolidated Index difficult to use, and so I set about finding a way to present the information in a more user-friendly format, not only for lawyers, but also for the layman. The new Index is colour coded to help persons easily see the distinction between primary and subsidiary laws and their amendments. It also seeks to make finding information such as commencement dates readily accessible. Work is already advanced in preparing the Consolidated Index as at 1 January 2026 with the intention of having an up-to-date Index annually available. Work also continues in Phase 2 full speed ahead on the 2024 Interim Revised Edition of the Laws of the Virgin Islands consisting of another 300 laws.