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Elections staff receive $19k honorarium for overtime

- Funds approved in honour of successful processing of the 2019 Elections
Supervisor of Elections Mrs Juliette Penn. Photo: VINO/File
2019 Voters in the third electoral district, Sea Cow’s Bay. Photo: Team of Reporters/File
2019 Voters in the third electoral district, Sea Cow’s Bay. Photo: Team of Reporters/File
Now Opposition Leader, Hon Marlon A. Penn at the NDP’s first press conference on Friday, March 1, 2019, after losing the elections has said the 2019 season was 'the worst.' Photo: Facebook/File
Now Opposition Leader, Hon Marlon A. Penn at the NDP’s first press conference on Friday, March 1, 2019, after losing the elections has said the 2019 season was 'the worst.' Photo: Facebook/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - With the February 25, 2019, General Elections in the Virgin Islands long gone, Cabinet has made moves to officially reward elections staff for extra hours put in to make the day a success.

According to the post-meeting statement of the Cabinet Meeting held on October 2, 2019, the VI Cabinet "Approved an honorarium totalling nineteen thousand, one hundred and fifty dollars ($19,150) for the staff of the Office of the Supervisor of Elections in appreciation of the extra hours worked to ensure the successful process of the 2019 General Elections." 

Funds Approved 

In the smooth elections, the territory went to the polls to choose among 4 parties, 2 Independents and 41 Candidates.

An honorarium is usually considered a voluntary payment that is given for services for which fees are not legally or traditionally required. 

VINO reported in February 25, 2019, that for the most part, the elections were free and fair; notwithstanding, at many of the polling stations particularly, Road Town (D4) and Sea Cows Bay (D3), there were complains from candidates and their agents, resulting in police being called in for reported violations of the rules.

However, in the official results released by Elections Supervisor Juliette Penn, the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) led by Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) managed to secure 8 seats out of 13 to form a new government.

The new VI Opposition comprised of Progressive Virgin Islands Movement's (PVIM), Hon Melvin M. Turnbull aka "Mitch", National Democratic Party's (NDP) Hon Alvera Maduro-Caines (R6), Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) and Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4), along with Chairman of Progressives United (PU) Hon Julian Fraser RA.

2019 Elections season was "The Worst" - Hon Penn

Suffering a major defeat was the NDP and the then embattled Chairman, Myron V. Walwyn (AL) who walked away as the biggest loser of the 2019 race and thus booted out of the Virgin Islands House of Assembly (HoA).

Now Opposition Leader, Hon Penn at the NDP’s first press conference on Friday, March 1, 2019, said the 2019 elections season was 'the worst.'

“The level of divisiveness that took place is something that I think all of us need to pray about and ensure that it never happens again in this territory,” he said.

19 Responses to “Elections staff receive $19k honorarium for overtime”

  • Payroll (04/11/2019, 11:20) Like (17) Dislike (8) Reply
    So only Elections staf work overtime, what happened to RVIPF? Because I was out there since 5am on elections day until night... where our bonus?
    • here we go again (04/11/2019, 12:08) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
      Where u from have alot to do with it my friend
    • WTF... (04/11/2019, 14:00) Like (15) Dislike (2) Reply
      Ridiculous!!! They get paid for four Non-election years for literally doing NOTHING. This is nonsense.
  • To this day (04/11/2019, 11:28) Like (28) Dislike (2) Reply
    And up to now we can’t get a lil 5$ raise at B.V.I.E.C (Powerplant) lord help us, we might got to strike and leave the place in darkness
    • I truly (04/11/2019, 11:40) Like (31) Dislike (1) Reply
      understand your frustration and somewhat agree with you but please don't leave me in darkness, I really can't take it.
  • Public servant (04/11/2019, 11:36) Like (18) Dislike (2) Reply
    Wish I had a job where I don't do nothing only after every five years and still get a lil something extra...
    • Hehehe (04/11/2019, 12:21) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
      LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOO RIGHT! Come work late, still go by Josh for Breakfast and sit down and surf the Internet leave at 4:30 pm.
  • Where is the news (04/11/2019, 11:36) Like (4) Dislike (25) Reply
    Vino you don’t print news, you all just a ratings hungry war planners. Who get overtime payment is not news!
  • Yep (04/11/2019, 12:23) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thought country was broke !
  • Hmmmm. (04/11/2019, 12:58) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    Thought that was Valunteer work.... Public Servants deserved nothing extra... Look, they only work 35 hrs a week. Add their lateness and the malingering. It may well come down under 30hrs a week... What little extra they gave us add it to their 30 hrs a week.. We deserve the extras... How do Cabinet justify this though.
  • ... (04/11/2019, 13:08) Like (8) Dislike (11) Reply
    just happy Myron gone! what a joy for we in the BVI
  • snaglepuss (04/11/2019, 13:49) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    they short change us i.t people on our pay, never me again
  • propaganda (04/11/2019, 14:13) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Which D3 u talking about that police had to be call in? Its’ certainly not the one in Sea Cows Bay because I was an election worker there and nothing of the sort happen at that polling station. And , if u really want the facts about how things went, go ask the District representative and he will tell u because he was there.
  • school children (04/11/2019, 16:53) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    When I graduate ESHS is Juliette Penn elections office I going look work
  • GG (04/11/2019, 18:05) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    It's tremendously interesting how we break one another down. Wow. We are our own worst enemy. I have no problem with nobody getting paid once they work honestly for it. Never seen stuff like this in the news, but if the police, I T and all the other agencies who went above.wne beyond during elections are duly rewarded, then hapoy for them too. Folks let's show love all around and not be bitter
  • @ School Children (04/11/2019, 18:57) Like (0) Dislike (6) Reply
    What exactly are you trying to say? Your comment is not readable.
  • Watchers. (04/11/2019, 19:25) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    And still the civil servants increments can't be paid. When god ready you all GPI g find out. Keep it up.
  • Quiet Warrior (04/11/2019, 20:28) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    If people are coming to work late, leaving early, using government resources for private use, unproductive while at work....etc. The culprits have an obligation/contract to produce 8 hours day and be paid for 8 hours. Nonetheless, the supposed slackers are not to blame, for each one of them has a supervisor. Why are not the supervisors doing their jobs? They should be call to task for not doing their job. Regardless, if hourly workers work over time, they should either be credited with overtime pay or compensatory time. Normally, mangers are on salary and do not earn overtime pay; they may be granted overtime pay. I’m assuming that if members of RVIPF rank and file and others worked overtime, they will earn overtime pay or compensatory time.


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