Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley will be away from the Virgin Islands from July 5 to July 9 attending the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Montego Bay Jamaica.

The meeting will be held from July 6 to July 8 under the chairmanship of Prime Minister of Jamaica, Dr the Most Honourable Andrew Holness.

Premier Wheatley will join other leaders to discuss improving regional security, enhancing food and nutrition security and combatting climate change. The meeting will be observed under the theme, “People, Partnerships, Property: Promoting a Secure and Sustainable Future”.

Premier Wheatley said, “We are happy to collaborate with our Caribbean neighbours, so that together we can find solutions to food security and the concerns of climate change, topics which are so important in our agenda of priority matters.  This partnership, affords us the opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from other countries about what they are doing to improve these areas”.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change Honourable Julian Fraser will also be away from the Territory for the same period.

In their absence, Minister for Communication and Works, Honourable Kye Rymer has been appointed to carry out the functions of Premier, Minister of Finance, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development, and Minister for Financial Services, Economic Development and Digital Transformation during the period, July 5 to July 9

Honourable Rymer’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.”

The Government of the Virgin Islands remains committed to the overall development of the Territory through collaboration with other countries.