Mr Paul Bayly, a native of New Zealand, contracted to be the CEO of the Recovery Agency. Photo: VINO/File

RDA Boss $350k package not a Gov’t decision—Dr Kedrick D. Pickering. Photo: Provided

Honestly Speaking's host, Mr Claude Skelton Cline. Photo: VINO/File

This, according to Deputy Premier, Dr the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering (R7), when he appeared recently on radio programme Honestly Speaking and was questioned by host, Mr Claude O. Skelton Cline on a range of issues related to the RDA.

Dr Pickering told listeners during the Honestly Speaking's August 28, 2018, broadcast, that government had no say in the appointment and determination of the package to be paid and further the monies being used comes under the United Kingdom’s (UK) $10M grant to the Virgin Islands.

The Deputy Premier was at the time being grilled by host, Mr Skelton Cline, on the silence from his National Democratic Party’s (NDP) administration, with regards the workings of the entity which is being seen as a parallel government of sorts, in the manner with which contracts are being handed out, among other issues.

Not NDP

Dr Pickering was quick to distance his NDP administration from the process saying firstly, “be careful when you call that big number ($350,000) because it sounds like something that the government out of its own accord just decide to pay somebody this amount of money.”

Asked to elucidate, the Deputy Premier told listeners, the “decision, is a decision made by the board.”

Virgin Islands News Online sources contradict Dr Pickering however, saying he is misrepresenting the "truth," since Cabinet ultimately had to approve the Mr Bayly's contract as head of the RDA.

Dr Pickering in his deliberations with Mr Skelton Cline had noted, the $350,000 figure does not represent a base salary but rather a package, consisting housing, relocation and utilities among other allowances.

Host, Skelton Cline was quick to point out to Deputy Premier that the information being disclosed was not known publicly because, “the government has not said anything.”

The Deputy Premier insists however, that the RDA Board was acting independently of government.

As it relates to the source of funding for the RDA and the payments for its CEO, Mr Bayly, the Deputy Premier said, “the Governor was allocated $10M directly by the UK (United Kingdom) government.”