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VIP pressure forced Dr. Smith to pay increments to civil servants!

-In a statement in the House of Assembly the National Democratic Party caves to the Virgin Islands Party demands and announced that increments will be paid from end of February 2015
Premier Dr the Hon D. Orlando Smith announced that increments to civil servants will be paid following three years of pressure from the Opposition members, including Hon Julian Fraser RA. Photo: VINO/File
Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) also brought pressure on the Government over the issue, the latest time being his Carrot Bay address on January 24, 2015. Photo: VINO/File
Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) also brought pressure on the Government over the issue, the latest time being his Carrot Bay address on January 24, 2015. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - After three years of pressure, questions in the House of Assembly and speeches by Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Opposition members Hons Julian Fraser RA (R3) and Andrew A. Fahie (R1) over the unfair decision by the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government to withhold the hard earned increments of civil servants the Dr. Orlando Smith led NDP Administration have 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 Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando 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.

VIP on civil servants' side

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 at his speech and report to the people of the first district on payment of performance increments for Public Officers in his January 24, 2015 speech at Capoon’s Bay Recreational Grounds on Tortola.

The statement to pay

In a brief statement yesterday the Minister of Finance Hon. Smith told the HoA, “Madame Speaker, the payment of increments will begin by end of February 2015 until all eligible officers are paid their 2013 increments”.

The Premier also stated that “when this is complete increments for 2014 will be addressed”, however, he did not give a time frame for when the long overdue payments of increments are expected to be completed.

The Premier and Leader of Government business told Ministries and Departments “to be even more efficient and committed to delivering goods and services to our clients as we collectively work towards the continued growth and advancement of this Territory”.

Under the VIP Administration civil servants have always been paid their increments and there have been no layoffs.

20 Responses to “VIP pressure forced Dr. Smith to pay increments to civil servants!”

  • civil servants (13/02/2015, 09:22) Like (20) Dislike (12) Reply
    thanks VIP
    • DON'T FORGET (14/02/2015, 08:00) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Ok VIP, remind the people of your 14 measures to reduce the cost of the public service.
  • farmer brown (13/02/2015, 10:01) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    I've been hearing this song since 2013 from the NDP so whats new?
    When I see the money on my accoutns I will decide
  • johncrook (13/02/2015, 10:13) Like (6) Dislike (14) Reply
    Dr. Smith always said he was going to pay but when they liquidated the debt VIP left. We were happy to wait. Everything being a political ploy.
  • i from here (13/02/2015, 10:17) Like (15) Dislike (3) Reply
    The civil service has always done well under a VIP Government...Under NDP tis, no increments, firing, political victimization and more so you only get a promotion, scholarship or a job if you support them…the the NDP is DOA when coming to civil servants
  • i from here (13/02/2015, 10:26) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!

    UTTER RUBBISH !!
  • Civil Too (13/02/2015, 10:33) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    Boy,

    This was coming anyway. It's an election year. It's an election tactic that I will gladly accept...
  • ooooo (13/02/2015, 11:04) Like (12) Dislike (3) Reply
    NDP kept the people hungry and now wants to feed them because it's election time
  • Well (13/02/2015, 11:48) Like (19) Dislike (1) Reply
    They kept the civil servants increments to hire their candidates who lost the election with big contracts then put them in big jobs that they were not trained for. That is why there are so many problems with the ports pier. They fired the manager of ports to give their losing candidate a job. That is wrong. I am not blaming the present manager for the NDP knew he was a preacher. Blame the NDP. They know he does not know about ports.
    • Vision (13/02/2015, 13:49) Like (2) Dislike (5) Reply
      LOL!! You can look at our ports and really say that with a straight face? Pier extension soon done and landside well underway. Under VIP we went begging Disney for money to put a welcome center, that's it. Under NDP we have an extension, full landside development and 15 year berthing agreements. Night and day when it comes to progress. VIP will be long forgotten after next election. HL Stoutt would be so ashamed.
  • ooooo (13/02/2015, 11:56) Like (4) Dislike (6) Reply
    NDP did well here I must admit.
  • one eye (13/02/2015, 15:31) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    i love the photos the incoming and outgoing Prmeir
    • smh (14/02/2015, 19:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      If these are pictures of the incoming and outgoing Premier, why is Hon Fraser in the pictures?
  • the builder (13/02/2015, 15:39) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    Tag team at its best. Frazer and Fahie have to be the best two men opposition in the region. These two guys really working....Kudos to both of you, I really admire you all.
    • Governance (14/02/2015, 08:05) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      I agree. Let's keep them in the opposition. Good governance I say!
  • hold up (13/02/2015, 16:22) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    So what happen to the increments for 2012???? I do believe that we missed that as well.....since the 50% we got in 2012 was for 2011..........
  • kids (13/02/2015, 17:11) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    Even though he give it they getting vote out
  • Buju (13/02/2015, 21:32) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Two parties and i'm not dancing! Dem and there politicks.


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