NDP Gov't promises to pay civil servants their full increments this year!
Premier Smith said that to be able to free up funds to provide for spending in other areas such as increments, there would have to be reduction in spending on travel and entertainment among others.
“One of the things we looked at Madam Speaker was increments. And we recognised that if increments are earned it could reduce the provision in the budget,” he said.
The Premier added that when the total increments are determined and come due then that could be supplemented if necessary. In this way all the increments could be paid during the year, he said.
He said that upon further revision of the estimates it was determined that the civil servants will receive their full increments and that will be reflected in the budget for this year.
During the National Democratic Party campaign prior to the June 8, 2015 elections, Premier Smith had announced on May 12, 2015 that Government had to withhold payment of increments because the Government needed the money to do "other things".
“…We recognised that we had to be thrifty. Remember what our mothers thought us to be thrifty and not spend spend spend? And so we held back on the civil servants’ increments just for a little while because we needed that money. But now those increments are being paid,” said Premier Smith.
He, however, did not go into detail as to what was financed as a result of the increments being withheld. He mentioned that the VI did not have to go the route as to cut civil servants salaries or send them home as has happened in other Caribbean countries.
Opposition agitated for increments
What the Premier did not say is that the payment of the increments came as a result of heavy agitation by members of the Opposition, primarily Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) and Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3).
It was in February 2015 that after three years of pressure, questions in the House of Assembly and speeches by Hon Fahie and Fraser that the Smith led NDP Administration surrendered to the will of the Opposition and announced that they will pay the increments due to the officers.
This was made public in a statement by Dr Smith, during the Third Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Second House of Assembly (HoA) of the Virgin Islands held on Thursday, February 12, 2015.
Hon Fraser first raised the issue
It was the VIP Chairman Honourable Fraser who first raised this issue in 2012/13 about the civil servants increments and has been consistent in advocating for civil servants to be paid their due increments. It was again hammered home by senior member of the VIP Honourable Andrew A. Fahie on payment of performance increments for Public Officers in his January 24, 2015 speech at Capoon’s Bay Recreational Grounds on Tortola.
Under the VIP Administration civil servants have always been paid their increments and there were no lay-offs despite the global economic crisis hitting hardest at the time.
19 Responses to “NDP Gov't promises to pay civil servants their full increments this year!”
Ok Doc. I don't know about your mother but mine taught me to speak the truth always. Speak for yourself. Gov employees has families to feed and support. Stop trifling with people's lives. #Governmentemployeeslivematters.