Premier Smith and Deputy Premier Pickering are the two elected members of the National Security Council and the body held its first meeting last week following the 2011 general elections and the formation of the new Cabinet.

Following the revision of the Virgin Islands Constitution in 2007, a National Security Council was established consisting of the Governor, Premier, Deputy Premier, Attorney General and the Commissioner of Police. The Cabinet Secretary acts as the Council’s Secretary.

This was the first meeting following the 2011 General Elections where the National Democratic Party was victorious winning 9 of the 13 seats in Parliament and following the formation of the new Cabinet.

The National Security Council is expected to meet once a month and advises the Governor on matters relating to internal security and the Governor acts in accordance with the advice of the Council, unless he considers that it would adversely affect the interest of the United Kingdom’s Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.