Julian Fraser Acting Premier Three Days
Deputy Premier Hon. Julian Fraser will serve as acting Premier from Monday, October 6 to Wednesday, October 8, 2025, while Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley attends the United Nations General Assembly Fourth Committee in New York. The appointment follows Section 55(1) of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007, and will be revoked when the Premier returns.
Honourable Julian Fraser will serve as acting Premier of the Virgin Islands for three days while Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley is overseas attending the United Nations General Assembly Fourth Committee in New York. Premier Wheatley will be absent from the Territory from Monday, October 6, 2025, to Wednesday, October 8, 2025.
During this period, the Governor has authorised Deputy Premier Fraser to perform the functions of the office of Premier in accordance with Section 55(1) of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007. That provision 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 Fourth Committee of the UN General Assembly, sometimes known as the Special Political and Decolonisation Committee, is meeting as part of the wider UNGA sessions in New York.
Premier Wheatley’s attendance underscores the Territory’s engagement with international fora on matters of political significance, including issues related to small island states and self-determination that are of interest to the BVI. For residents, the temporary change in leadership is procedural and aims to ensure continuity of government services and decision-making while the Premier is abroad.
Fraser will be empowered to carry out constitutional and administrative duties that normally fall to the Premier, and the Governor’s authorisation makes the temporary transfer of functions official for the specified period. Julian Fraser is a veteran legislator in the Virgin Islands whose brief tenure as acting head of government will be closely watched by the public and by stakeholders who monitor governance and policy continuity.
The Governor’s authority to appoint the Deputy Premier in the Premier’s absence is a standard constitutional mechanism designed to avoid gaps in leadership for absences longer than 48 hours. The acting appointment will end automatically when Premier Wheatley returns to the Territory and the Governor revokes the authorisation.
Virgin Islands residents can expect the normal operations of government to continue during the Premier’s short absence. This report is based on information reported by Virgin Islands News Online.
Primary source: VINO