Premier Wheatley to attend CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in T&T
The meeting will be held under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister of Dominica, Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit in Trinidad and Tobago.
'Advancing intraregional trade & policy coordination'
According to a press release from Government Information Service (GIS) on July 2, 2023, the Premier’s attendance at these official meetings is in an effort to advance intraregional trade and policy coordination, towards safeguarding the overall socio-economic and political interests of the Virgin Islands.
Premier Wheatley stated, “The Virgin Islands has been an Associate Member of CARICOM for 32 years. Our Associate Membership is one of the primary means by which we engage in regional cooperation that benefits the Territory in a variety of ways, including the strong political support we have received over the past two years.”
The Premier added, “It is highly appropriate that the Virgin Islands is present to demonstrate our solidarity with our neighbours, and find solutions to problems such as regional transportation and food security that affect the region.”
Premier Wheatley will be accompanied by his Special Envoy Mr E. Benito Wheatley, Deputy Director of the International Affairs Secretariat, Ms Dwynel Davis, and Assistant Secretary for External Affairs, Ms Xyrah Wheatley.
CARICOM is made of fifteen (15) states and five (5) Associated States. The Virgin Islands is an Associate State.
Hon Lorna G. Smith, OBE is Acting Premier
Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services, Labour and Trade, Honourable Lorna G. Smith, OBE, has been appointed to act as Premier and Minister of Finance from July 2 to July 6 while Premier Wheatley is away from the Virgin Islands. The Premier is scheduled to return to the Territory on July 6.
Honourable Smith’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.”
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26 Responses to “Premier Wheatley to attend CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in T&T”
Great job and keep up the good work young leader.
Moreover, as you mention, a part of the Premier’s role and responsibility is representing both at home and abroad. Regional integration and sharing of the region’s limited resources to benefit the the most people is vital to the region’s growth, development, sustainability and resilience. If unification is good for Europe, save for the UK, US, Canada, Australia, etc, why is it not good for the small, resource-poor Caribbean? Insularity, individualism, poor planning, organizing etc, are the region’s Achilles heel. The West Indies Federation ( 1958-1962), the Caribbean region Brexit, crash and burn quickly because of insularity, ie, disagreement over where the capital should be, etc. In the process, some new math created, “1 from 10 leaves nought.” The region fails to unite at its own peril. How many more decades the masses must live with a few doing well and many catching hell. Here is a news flash . Change is needed but it is not coming from politicians who are about self-interest; it has to come from the many/masses.
LEAVE MY BOY ALONE.
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