(L-R) Bermuda Premier Hon E. David Burt, Anguilla Premier Hon Cora Richardson-Hodge, Virgin Islands Premier Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), Cayman Islands Premier Hon André Ebanks, Montserrat Premier Hon Reuben Meade, and Deputy Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands Hon Jamell Robinson. Photo: Bernews

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) will attend Bilateral Meetings with the new Minister responsible for Overseas Territories, Uma Kumaran MP, in the United Kingdom (UK) from September 10 to 12, 2026. Photo: UK Parliament

Deputy Premier Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) has been appointed to carry out the duties of Premier, Minister of Finance, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development and Minister for Financial Services, Economic Development and Digital Transformation from September 7 to 13, 2026. Photo: GIS

Premier Wheatley will first attend the Annual Caribbean Overseas Territories Caucus in Bermuda from September 8 to 10, 2026. The meeting is being held under the leadership of the Bermuda Premier, Honourable E. David Burt, in his capacity as President of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association [UKOTA] Political Council.

According to a Bermuda government spokesperson, discussions during this meeting will range across the UK–Overseas Territories relationship, economic and financial services resilience, climate and disaster preparedness, regional cooperation, and citizen wellbeing. 

Attending leaders will meet in plenary at the Cabinet Office, attend a sitting of the House of Assembly, and travel to St George’s and the Royal Naval Dockyard during the programme. 

Other OT leaders in attendance will be Hon Cora Richardson-Hodge, Premier of Anguilla; Hon André M. Ebanks, Premier of the Cayman Islands; Hon Reuben T. Meade, Premier of Montserrat; and Hon Jamell R. Robinson, Deputy Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands. 

Bilateral Meetings in the UK 

Following the meetings in Bermuda, Premier Wheatley will attend Bilateral Meetings with the new Minister responsible for Overseas Territories, Uma Kumaran MP, in the United Kingdom (UK) from September 10 to 12, 2026. 

In July 2026, Kumaran succeeded the former Minister responsible for OTs, Stephen J. Doughty MP, following a government reshuffle. Doughty now serves as Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan. 

Hon Fraser is Acting Premier 

In Premier Wheatley’s absence, Deputy Premier Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) has been appointed to carry out the duties of Premier, Minister of Finance, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development and Minister for Financial Services, Economic Development and Digital Transformation from September 7 to 13, 2026.

His 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.”