Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE left the Territory on Friday, October 27 to attend a Caribbean Overseas Territories meeting and tourism industry meetings in Miami and New York. The Premier will also travel to London, UK for attendance at official meetings.

Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Ronnie Skelton will act as Premier and Minister of Finance in the Premier’s absence as Deputy Premier, Dr. the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering, will also be away from the Territory.

Honourable Pickering will carry out the duties of Premier and Minister of Finance on his return to the Territory on October 29, until Premier Smith returns to the Territory on November 4.

This is in accordance with Section 55 (2) of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007, which states: “If both the Premier and the Deputy Premier are expected to be absent from the Virgin Islands for more than forty-eight hours, the Governor shall authorise another Minister designated by the Premier to perform the functions of the office of Premier; and the Governor shall revoke this authority on the return to the Virgin Islands of either the Premier or the Deputy Premier.