This article reports:

“According to Mr. Richards, the proposed changes ‘are intended to ensure an appropriate and thorough engagement of the public prior to submitting a draft constitution.’ By granting the delegates additional time, they will be afforded… an opportunity to act upon the community’s contributions.”

Given VICC President Usie Richards’s actual policies since VICC first convened last January, this rationale for the proposed changes appears utterly absurd, unless by public participation he means PR. Here are a few tests for his sincerity going forward. All are widely accepted protocols for meaningful public participation:

1) Will he publicly release public meeting agendas?

2) Will he publicly release the public documents provided to delegates to discuss at their public meetings?

3) Will he release the minutes and video recordings of the public meetings, including the delegates’ votes?

4) Will he ensure high-quality audio for remote public participants at public meetings?

5) Will he release the marketing plan approved by VICC’s executive committee?

6) Will he release all the above in a timely and accessible way (e.g., by posting them on an official VICC website?)

Source: Constitutional Convention Seeks 15-Month Extension, $200K in Additional Funding to Complete Draft, Virgin Islands Consortium, Oct. 30, 2025.