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HLSCC struggles to pay staff!

- Many say it’s one of the many backlashes of the Government being broke after using the money to win the 2015 snap election
According to reports reaching Virgin Islands News Online, the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) is struggling to meet its financial obligations. Photo: VINO/File
Emails informing of delays in payments to staff have been issued on a regular basis by Acting HLSCC President Janet B. Smith (right). Similar Emails were also issued when Dr Karl Dawson was president. Photo: VINO/File
Emails informing of delays in payments to staff have been issued on a regular basis by Acting HLSCC President Janet B. Smith (right). Similar Emails were also issued when Dr Karl Dawson was president. Photo: VINO/File
PARAQUITA BAY, Tortola, VI- The local media, the Opposition Virgin Islands Party (VIP), civil society, and talk show hosts have continued to claim that the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) regime of Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith raided the Treasury, leaving the country broke to win the 2015 snap election.

In addition, there continues to be serious red flags raised by Governor John S. Duncan OBE, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Opposition and residents about the lack of government audited financial reports since the NDP took office in 2011, so that the real state of the public purse can be made known.

With all the many government Departments and Statutory Bodies dependent on taxpayers for funding continuing to feel the lack of financial support because of the inadequacy of funds, the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) is one of many.

Delays in salary payments

The college, a Statutory Body under the Ministry of Education and Culture, which depends on central government for much of its funding via a subvention, is facing cash flow challenges.

According to senior sources at the college and some current Board Members, the HLSCC is facing serious financial challenges and struggles monthly to pay its staff.

Over the past few months the college has not been able to pay its staff on the due dates, which are the 15 and 28 of each month.

In a series of Emails to the staff, the Acting President Dr Janet B. Smith continued to apologise for the late salary payments due to the lack of funds.

For today November 15, 2016 salary, for example, an Email was already issued from President Smith last night around 9:04 P.M. expressing her “sincere apologies that paychecks will not be received tomorrow. I do not yet know when they will be issued, but will let you know as soon as I have additional information” she wrote to staff.

Similar Emails were issued by the Acting President in September and October 2016 of this year and some going back to the former President Dr Karl Dawson about not being able to pay college staff on the due date.

Many college staff and the faculty remain in distress by these developments and are worried about the survival of the college, an institution started by the late Chief Minister H. Lavity Stoutt.

Walwyn’s waste of money wall

Many other non-revenue Statutory Bodies have also complained to our newsroom that their subvention from central government are most often late or not forthcoming, causing cash flow problems which include their inability to pay operational bills.

One College Board Member blasted the Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL), who is responsible for the college, for wasting over $1 Million on a small wall around the Elmore Stoutt High School in Road Town just before the 2015 snap election. The Board Member argued that those funds could have been used to help support HLSCC.

44 Responses to “HLSCC struggles to pay staff!”

  • student (15/11/2016, 11:28) Like (32) Dislike (8) Reply
    Uk hurry come
  • Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm (15/11/2016, 11:33) Like (55) Dislike (0) Reply

    VINO thanks for having the ballz to write this story.
    There cant be no money in the kitty. The new illustrious ............. done waste a set of it since they come..upgrade the presidential suite where they sit they old tired draconian self, install a set of speed bumps at the college, turn the atm house into a security guard post and have a security company there collecting more money of what the college don't have. Don't forget those blessed banners all over town. Ya need to talk with di faculty and ask if it alwayz have money for paper for dem to print on. Ting to talk. I hope the poor staff gets their dollar$ by the end of today cause people got bill$ to pay.

  • Dafrica (15/11/2016, 11:37) Like (19) Dislike (8) Reply
    An overstaffed institution, too many staff being paid too much money and too many holidays. Needs to be thinned down and quickly. Lay offs must be just around the corner.
  • chad (15/11/2016, 11:40) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.. Jokes to be told still to come
  • Teacher Mildred (15/11/2016, 11:42) Like (31) Dislike (2) Reply
    Where there's no vision the HLSCC staff is perishing, and the establishment can't even go to the National Bank for a lone because the greedy C .Family have the bank broke and ain't paying their loans..The government can help their supporters by giving them all the money in the bank and can't secure money for the hard working staff at the college ,who is in charge of this government ,who is managing the finances of the country,people we must drain the swamp sooner than later because 5 years now the people are hurting and it's finally showing ,pay less pay day at the college..My prayers goes out to those workers who live from pay ck to pay ck and the crooked leaders in the H O A saying they ain't hand to mouth they should be damn shame of themselves...
    • Peaches (15/11/2016, 15:09) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      LOL!! Teacher Mildred you too funny! Drain the Swamp!!!
    • Right People for Right Jobs (15/11/2016, 17:01) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      Decipher why we have a Gynecologist/Obstetrician (Picko) and a General Practitioner (I believe) (Smith) running the GOVERNMENT of the BVI. Then conclude the sellouts, the overspending and the poor management.

      When you have a toothache you probably wouldn't go to a mechanic and if your car breaks down you probably wouldn't take it to a dentist. Makes no sense. Vote them in again next time.
  • good (15/11/2016, 11:43) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    The college is bloated with a bunch of waste of space people up there collecting salaries and doing nothing. If it's one thing the Governor should conduct a commission of inquiry on is HLSCC. So many people being paid hefty salaries but you can never see them on campus.
  • wow (15/11/2016, 11:44) Like (30) Dislike (2) Reply
    i blame mvw for the wall and mv for wasting money in pier park
    • @ SMH (15/11/2016, 21:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      and the sad part after the next election only them two will be left with their seats
  • dog (15/11/2016, 12:14) Like (21) Dislike (2) Reply
    Mr Lavity Stoutt must be turning in his grave to see what funny man did to the collage
  • Outspoken (15/11/2016, 12:25) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
    Too mush waste of tax payers dollars. Can someone please tell me the purpose of that beach development, with no proper drainage, at brandywine. These politicians seems not to give a hoot about anybody. People cannot get pay but money been wasted doing all kind of bull. They prefer to receive the kickbacks than other people get paid.
  • Really (15/11/2016, 12:41) Like (30) Dislike (5) Reply

    Talk the truth. The college is in a fiscal mess because NDP made tuition free which was not necessary because it was already cheap. The current President is busy counting cars in the parking lot instead of addressing the fiscal problems. In addition to not paying people on time the staff is treated like shit. She needs to go ASAP!!!!

  • Binocs (15/11/2016, 12:50) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    The college cannot run itself; it need staff. The level of staffing is no different to central government; actually it is much less!! Without proper staffing levels, customers suffer just visit any store in BVI for proof. Now, HLSCC board members who are nothing more than puppets should be ashamed of themselves as they have not acted in the best interest of the college. Instead they went along and continue to go along with what ever government wants even if it is not in the college best interest. But this should come as no surprise as this hlscc Board don't have a clue about their function or responsibilities. Instead of focusing on raising capital they are busy trying to dictate the day to day operations if the college.
  • Music (15/11/2016, 12:52) Like (29) Dislike (3) Reply
    Yet they can afford all those banners which are so high you cant read them.
  • kick backs (15/11/2016, 12:57) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
    The poor staff at the HLSCC will end up hand to mouth
  • Really (15/11/2016, 13:02) Like (23) Dislike (2) Reply
    What about all these pictures all over road town what is the cost set of brainless backside no common sense at all .
  • The TRUTH (15/11/2016, 13:37) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    What you expect when they made tuition free? Government struggling itself now they can't suck on the their nipple. :facepalm*
  • taxman (15/11/2016, 14:26) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    supa-cop should sort out the coffers soon enough. how bout he do people for speeding and driving recklessly past HLSCC with all funds going to the college.
    • Outlaw (15/11/2016, 18:07) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
      Taxman, send the security personnel out in the road to do that
      • @Outlaw (16/11/2016, 08:55) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
        It is not within their jurisdiction to do so. Security guards cannot give speeding ticket or any other ticket.
  • GOVERNOR (15/11/2016, 14:37) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    The worst is yet to come. .Too much mismanagement of funs, no accountability to the public, doc Smith isn't calling a snap election this time I calling it because the people are suffering under this government, it's a problem every day and no resolution in site to the problemsong. .
  • Yes (15/11/2016, 18:06) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Next ting you going hear them blaming Trump,always somebody else fault
  • @ lol (15/11/2016, 21:48) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    NO MAN THEY WILL BLAME THE LOCAL MEDIA HAHAHAHAHAHA
  • facts (15/11/2016, 22:24) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    The college did not spend a cent of tax payers money on those banners in and around Road Town. It's was all sponsorship money ,please check for yourself before chatting crap. Every economy is facing some sort of difficulty. The bvi is part of it. Yes I agree that the college really have staff that does nothing or barely does ,so some weeding out need to take place .
    Thats why they send someone who don't need to carry news and not looking favors to get the job done..Give her a chance and she would fix most of it.People in senior position don't do a thing for their salary. They should be charged for fraud. Collecting government money without working for it.Bunch of fraudsters. And am sure they know who they are.They should be thankful for the college and the changes that is taking place to make it a better institution.
    • TalkDat (16/11/2016, 15:30) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ facts, I don't know who give you the facts but don't be fooled by those little logos you see on those banners, our tax money still pay, yet you can't find money to pay staff on time. Priorities all wrong with spending. I do agree that there are a number of staff that do nothing, but the changes still ain't for a better institution when almost the whole place infested with mold making people sick...where is the priority on spending?
      • @TalkDat (16/11/2016, 21:31) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        Even the 12 grade teacher can't teach in some of the moldy classrooms. The new one was supposed to fix it instead she spending time going after people who are sick. Just wait. Get your popcorn. Up there is bad, bad, bad.
  • Binocs (15/11/2016, 23:19) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    There is soooo much joy in tearing each other down...you all need to go pray
    • street reporter. (16/11/2016, 08:52) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      Too many boards in this place. What's is really their purpose and are they fulfilling their purpose?
  • Socrates (16/11/2016, 02:43) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    What are the potential funding sources for HLSCC ? Government funding, tuition, endowment. Is government having funding challenges? Is government providing funding contributions/support in a timely manner and in the agreed sum? Should tuition be free for Virgin Islanders? Is the free tuition a major cause of funding woes? Should tuition for Virgin Islanders be discounted instead of being totally free? Should the free tuition be stopped? Should tuition assistance be means tested? Is the tuition paid by non Virgin Islanders enough to support operations? Should the cost to non Virgin Islanders be increased?

    Is the college finances effectively managed? Is the school effectively staffed? Does the school have any endowments? Is the Board paid? Should service on the Board be voluntary? Would the interest in serving on the Board be the same if it were voluntary/unpaid? Is politics interfering with school operations? Is the small population a factor in the school's woes? Is the salary worries adversely impacting the quality of education/service?
  • wize up (16/11/2016, 06:04) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    what is the real purpose of the security at HLSCC other than a political favour(3 persons at one gate standing around doing nothing)....if I did not know better I will assume HLSCC is now a military camp
  • Political Mess. (16/11/2016, 08:38) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    They hired and import too much of their Cronies during election over pay them. Get their votes. After election ask them to consider lower salary, mist refused... It's an issue VB of too much staff and too much over paid Staff.. Especially the new ones.
  • more (16/11/2016, 08:50) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Most of the BVI problems with dishonesty, greed, selfishness, unaccountability mismanagement became rampant under these last two administration.
  • fraser (16/11/2016, 09:17) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Make the bvi great again


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