Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Dr the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering (R7) is acting Premier. Photo: GIS

This, according to a Government Information Services (GIS) press release, on October 11, 2018, which stated that Hon Pickering will act as Premier in the absence of Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE who is away from the Territory from October 11, 2018 to October 18, 2018, on private business.

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.”