Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley, will be absent from the Territory from Thursday 21st August to Monday 25th August for the purpose of attending CARIFESTA XV, 2025 in Barbados.

Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, Honourable Julian Fraser RA, has been appointed to carry out the duties 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 21st to 25th August, 2025.

Honourable Fraser's acting 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."