Premier Wheatley Attends Caribbean Overseas Territories Caucus
Premier Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley is attending the Annual Caribbean Overseas Territories Caucus in Bermuda before heading to London for high-level bilateral talks with the UK government. Deputy Premier Julian Fraser has assumed executive duties as acting Premier to oversee governance and key ministerial portfolios during Dr. Wheatley's weeklong overseas mission.
Wheatley has departed the Territory to take part in high-level diplomatic and regional discussions in Bermuda and the United Kingdom, following his recent financial services trade mission to India. From September 8 to 10, Premier Wheatley is participating in the Annual Caribbean Overseas Territories Caucus in Bermuda.
The regional summit is convened under the leadership of Bermuda Premier E. David Burt in his role as President of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association Political Council. According to officials, the caucus focuses on strengthening the UK-Overseas Territories relationship, economic and financial services resilience, climate and disaster preparedness, regional cooperation, and citizen wellbeing.
During the Bermuda programme, visiting leaders are scheduled to hold plenary sessions at the Cabinet Office, attend a formal sitting of the House of Assembly, and tour historic St George's and the Royal Naval Dockyard. Regional leaders joining the caucus include Premier of Anguilla Cora Richardson-Hodge, Premier of the Cayman Islands André M.
Meade, and Deputy Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands Jamell R. The Virgin Islands previously hosted the leaders caucus at Scrub Island, where discussions addressed governance, financial services, border security, frozen pensions, climate change, trade, and education. Wheatley will travel to London for bilateral meetings scheduled from September 10 to 12 with the UK Minister responsible for the Overseas Territories, Uma Kumaran MP.
Kumaran assumed the portfolio following a UK government reshuffle in which former minister Stephen J. Doughty MP transitioned to a new role focused on the Middle East and North Africa. Key topics for the London bilateral talks include governance reform, the UK-BVI constitutional relationship, climate resilience, security, and illicit finance.
The government stated that Premier Wheatley's participation in the regional caucus and subsequent UK meetings forms part of a broader commitment to advancing the Virgin Islands through proactive international engagement and regional collaboration. The diplomatic mission follows an inaugural financial services trade mission led by Dr.
Wheatley to India from August 24 to 31, spanning New Delhi, GIFT City, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. During Premier Wheatley's absence from September 7 to 13, Deputy Premier Julian Fraser is serving as acting Premier. Fraser is temporarily managing the ministerial portfolios for Finance; Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development; and Financial Services, Economic Development and Digital Transformation.
The appointment was made under Section 55(1) of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007, which directs the Governor to authorise the Deputy Premier to perform the Premier's functions whenever the head of government is expected to be absent from the Territory for more than 48 hours.
Primary source: BVI Government