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Premier Smith declines to name min. wage review C’tte head

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith has declined to name the person who is heading the committee that the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government has set up to lead the review of the minimum wage. Photo: VINO/File
What was puzzling was the fact that it was sometime in July of this year that Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering (R7) had alluded to the fact that persons were already selected. Photo: VINO/File
What was puzzling was the fact that it was sometime in July of this year that Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering (R7) had alluded to the fact that persons were already selected. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith has declined to name the person who is heading the committee that the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government has set up to lead the review of the minimum wage.

The issue of minimum wage has been a burning one on the table of the government and persons in all sectors have been making their cries loud for this to be reviewed and the ceiling lifted considering the rise in cost of living and the stagnant pay purse of the average class working in the Territory.

On Tuesday September 16, 2014 the Premier held one of his usual press conferences to bring the media up to speed of the Territory’s development and to respond to questions. When asked about the constitution of the committee Premier Smith said only that he knew that the committee was indeed set up.

He said, “The committee has been set up…not too long ago. [Who] heads it I cannot at this moment tell you because I would not recall but it has been set up with Chairman and members who will be [doing] whatever work they’ve been asked to [after which] they would report to government.”

What was puzzling was the fact that it was sometime in July of this year that Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering (R7) had alluded to the fact that persons were already selected.

The minimum wage currently in the Virgin Islands is $4 per hour. Many persons say this is what employers are guilty of paying their staff even in the daily rise in prices for basic commodities required for daily living.

15 Responses to “Premier Smith declines to name min. wage review C’tte head”

  • vex (22/09/2014, 16:00) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    He cant remember because its another political scam
    • Rez (24/09/2014, 22:57) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      How could he refuse to give the name unless it really slipped his memory?
  • Only in the BVI (22/09/2014, 16:07) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    This is ridiculous. We demand to know who is on this committee. Are they qualified??? Why the secrecy?????THIS IS NOT GOOD!!!!!!
  • Worried (22/09/2014, 16:20) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    What is he hiding again? Too many secrets under the NDP Government. We need honest people to lead, not those who are only interested in themselves.
  • government in the sunshine (22/09/2014, 16:32) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    It got to be a bunch of ndp business men who only hire pillipinoes.
    • Fairness (22/09/2014, 20:20) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      Do you know of any Government who will increase salaries when things are so bad. The NDP Government must go
  • Committee (22/09/2014, 17:19) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    1. Chairman, Mr. Simon Potter
    2. Vice chairman, Mrs. Benedicta Samuels-Richardson
    3. Representative of shops and stores, Mr. Roger Mathavious, Jr.
    4. Representative of Hotel and Commerce Association, Mr. Louis Potter
    5. Representative of Restaurants, Mr. Wilbert Mason
    6. Representative of Restaurants, Mr. Mario Smith
    7. Representative of Building Industry, Mrs. Roxanne Ritter-Herbert
    8. Representative of Workers, Mrs. Jeanette Black
    9. Representative of Workers, Mr. Wilbert Smith
    10. Representative of Sister Islands, Ms. Anne Lennard
    11. Youth representative, Mr. Aaron Parillon
    12. Youth representative, Mr. Bevin George
    13. President/representative of the Virgin Islands Christian Council
    14. Representative of Development Planning Unit Raymond Phillips
    15. Financial Secretary/ representative (Advisory)
    16. Labour Commissioner/representative (Advisory)
    17. Secretary, ex-officio Member from the Labour Department
  • pure politics (22/09/2014, 19:44) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply

    Tis ndp s p...er the brother of the ndp ch..r

  • Yup (22/09/2014, 20:49) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    VINO I like the way your news site spurs them into action. The other day the quickly put out one week update after that story on their slougtfulness in giving the murdered guy's family. That was a never before seen move. Today the quickly published the names of the committee. Yes. VINO they may not like you guys but keep shaking them into action. THEY CANT TOUCH VINO. A set of secrecy over lil craps. Time to get mordernise BVI. Thanks for being the news site with Guts. Oh I also like the spin on the little BVIEC accident that's how a news agency works. GO VINO
    • Lmao! (22/09/2014, 21:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Ok. Hopefully you wake out of that dream in time to get to work. lmao!
    • BREAKING NEWS (22/09/2014, 21:30) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
      I heard VINO got a lot of things holding, files, Pos, contracts… mehson you all better hurry break um
  • David (22/09/2014, 21:26) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Maybe all the members of the HoA should work for $4 per hour. I wonder if the issue of minimum wage would be taken more seriously then.
  • rite way (22/09/2014, 22:39) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    We need help real bad
  • Check-up (23/09/2014, 10:33) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Top Super store like Bolos still paying minimum wage! Well dressed and getting paid under 800 a month. Wicked people must go to hell


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