Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE is currently travelling to the Asia Pacific Region where he will lead a delegation on the BVI ASIAN Trade Mission.

Premier Smith will attend the BVI ASIAN Trade Mission from October 17 to October 29. Immediately following the trade mission, he will proceed to the United Kingdom from October 29 to November 5, where he will attend the annual Joint Ministerial Council Meeting (JMC) and hold other discussions. Premier Smith will return to the Territory on November 6.

In the Honourable Premier’s absence from the Territory, Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Dr. the Honourable Kedrick Pickering will act as Premier. 

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.”