Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE is away from the Territory attending the Joint Ministerial Council Meeting (JMC) and other meetings in the United Kingdom from Thursday, November 26, to Wednesday, December 2. Following the JMC meeting the Premier will proceed on personal leave from December 3 and will return to the Territory on December 12.

In the absence of the Honourable Premier, Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Resources and Labour, Dr. the Honourable Kedrick Pickering will act as Premier for the periods November 25, December 2 to December 5 and December 10 to December 12. 

Honourable Pickering’s appointment is in accordance with Section 55 (1) of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007 which states, “If the Premier is expected to be absent from the Virgin Islands for more than forty-eight hours, the Governor shall authorise the Deputy 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 the Premier.”

Additionally, in Premier Smith’s absence, Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton will act as Premier from November 26 to December 1, and December 6 to December 10, due to the slated absence of the Deputy Premier Dr. the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering who will also be traveling during this time.

Honourable Skelton’s appointment is in accordance with Section 55 (2) of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007.   The section 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.”