Premier Wheatley Attends Landmark Acs International Cooperation
Premier of the Virgin Islands, Honourable Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley, is representing the Territory at the 10th Association of Caribbean States (ACS) International Cooperation Conference (ICC) being held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 3–4 February 2026. The ICC is convened for the first time on the margins of the World Governments Summit, and the Premier’s trip is fully sponsored by the World Governments Summit and the ACS. While Premier Wheatley is in Dubai he is accompanied by Special Envoy Mr. Benito Wheatley, and Honourable Julian Fraser has been appointed to act as Premier and Minister of Finance from 1–10 February 2026 in accordance with the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007.
Premier of the Virgin Islands, Honourable Dr. Wheatley, is in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, representing the Territory at the 10th Association of Caribbean States (ACS) International Cooperation Conference (ICC), which runs from 3–4 February 2026. For the first time, the ICC is being convened on the margins of the World Governments Summit — a global platform organisers say will amplify dialogue around innovation, resilience and South–South cooperation.
The ACS invited the Premier to participate in this landmark forum to help deliver practical, high-impact outcomes for sustainable development across the Greater Caribbean. The conference agenda focuses on several flagship initiatives, including the digitisation of maritime transport and logistics, regional strategies to manage sargassum, ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction, and the implementation of the ACS Strategic Plan 2025–2035, according to the Government of the Virgin Islands.
The Premier’s participation was facilitated through full sponsorship by the World Governments Summit and the ACS. Noemí Espinoza Madrid described Premier Wheatley’s presence as “invaluable in advancing the region’s shared development agenda,” a position echoed in the Territory’s government release.
Premier Wheatley said the visit helps the Virgin Islands align its development goals with broader regional strategies and that leveraging global partnerships and South–South cooperation is essential to tackle shared challenges such as sargassum and maritime efficiency. Premier Wheatley is accompanied to Dubai by Special Envoy Mr.
While the Premier is overseas, Honourable Julian Fraser, RA, Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, has been authorised to carry out the duties of Premier and Minister of Finance from 1–10 February 2026. The acting appointment follows Section 55(1) of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007, which requires the Governor to authorise the Deputy Premier to perform the functions of Premier if the Premier is expected to be absent from the Territory for more than 48 hours.
The themes discussed at the ICC have direct relevance to residents of the Virgin Islands. Digitisation of maritime transport could streamline port operations, customs and freight handling, benefitting trade, yachting and inter-island connections. Regional sargassum strategies aim to protect beaches, tourism revenue and local fisheries, while ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction supports the Territory’s resilience to storms and sea-level rise.
The Government says the Premier’s attendance underscores the Virgin Islands’ role in regional diplomacy and environmental stewardship and advances its broader aim of promoting good governance and sustainable development. The Premier’s Office will continue to coordinate cross-sectoral policies and programmes to ensure the Territory remains well-informed, prosperous, cohesive and stable, the Government’s statement said.
This article is based on official communications from the Government of the Virgin Islands and statements from the Association of Caribbean States released in relation to the ICC in Dubai.
Primary source: BVI Government