Premier of the Attends 54th Caribbean Development Bank Annual Meeting in Ontario

Hon. Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley, Premier and Minister of Finance of the Virgin Islands, is currently attending the 54th Annual Meeting of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) in Ontario, Canada.

This event, running from June 18 to 21, gathers the bank’s highest decision-making body, along with thought-leaders, innovators, academics, business leaders, policymakers, and government officials to engage in critical discussions aimed at advancing sustainable development in the Caribbean region.

The theme of this year’s meeting, “Partnerships for Resilient Prosperity,” highlights the collaborative efforts of the CDB and its member countries towards achieving resilient and sustainable growth. Emphasis will be placed on developing comprehensive measures for sustainable development and securing the necessary financial resources to support these initiatives.

Dr. Wheatley serves as the Governor representing the British Overseas Territories within the CDB. Each member country of the bank nominates a Governor and an Alternate Governor, with Governors casting votes on behalf of their respective territories. The British Overseas Territories, including Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Montserrat, and the Turks and Caicos Islands, are collectively recognized as a single member entity in the bank.

Accompanying Premier Wheatley is the Acting Financial Secretary, Dr. Drexel Glasgow, who serves as the primary liaison for the CDB’s partnership with the Government of the Virgin Islands.

In Premier Wheatley’s absence, Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services, Labour, and Trade, Honourable Lorna G. Smith, OBE, has been appointed Acting Premier and Minister of Finance from June 18 to June 21, 2024. This appointment is in accordance with Section 55 (1) of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007, which mandates that the Governor authorize the Deputy Premier to perform the Premier’s duties if the Premier is absent from the territory for more than forty-eight hours.

Premier Wheatley is scheduled to return to the Virgin Islands on June 21.