Vanterpool appointed acting premier

Minister of Communication and Works Mark Vanterpool has been appointed to act in the top political job in the British Virgin Islands (BVI).

He will serve in the post of Acting Premier until October 15 when Premier Dr D Orlando Smith returns to the territory from official business.

Premier Smith, who also is the territory’s finance minister, departed the BVI yesterday to attend what is said to be a high-level Caribbean meeting with the World Bank. News of his departure came yesterday via a Government media release.

According to the release, Vanterpool was appointed by Governor Augustus Jaspert, being that Deputy Premier Dr Kedrick Pickering is also on duty travel.

Citing BVI law, the government said Vanterpool’s appointment is: “in accordance with Section 55 (2) of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, which states: ‘If both the Premier and the Deputy Premier are expected to be absent from the Virgin Islands for more than forty-eight hours, the Governor shall authorise another Minister designated by the 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 either the Premier or the Deputy Premier.”