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Cabinet to soon make decision on repealing sections of ‘greedy bill’ - Premier Wheatley

Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has affirmed that as soon as he returns from a planned trip to London, offending sections of the Retiring Allowances Legislative Service Amendment Act 2021, nicknamed the ‘Greedy Bill’, will be repealed. Photo: Facebook
The Retiring Allowances Legislative Service Amendment Act 2021, nicknamed the ‘Greedy Bill’, became a hot topic during the 2023 campaign trail. Photo: VINO
The Retiring Allowances Legislative Service Amendment Act 2021, nicknamed the ‘Greedy Bill’, became a hot topic during the 2023 campaign trail. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has affirmed that as soon as he returns from a planned trip to London, the offending sections of the Retiring Allowances Legislative Service Amendment Act 2021 nicknamed the ‘Greedy Bill’ will be repealed.

The Premier was at the time speaking at a press conference and General Update today, May 2, 2023, on matters in the VI.

“Soon at the cabinet meeting, perhaps after I return from London, we will have a Cabinet paper which will put forward a decision to have the offending sections of that act repealed.”

He added, “But as the Attorney General [Dawn J. Smith] reminded us, and when we had the recalled House of Assembly, it's important for us to go through the legislative process, so we don't want to make mistakes and we don't want to skip steps,” he added.   

He assured, however, that as soon as he returns from his trip, a decision to repeal the offending sections of the Legislative Retirement Allowances Act will be made, in keeping with promises made in the 2023 elections campaign trail in the VI. 

Ahead of the April 24, 2023 Elections, a decision was taken to not repeal the bill at a recalled House of Assembly on advice of the Attorney General.

Problematic parts of the bill

Problematic parts of the legislation, according to critics, included sections that specify if a legislator has served three terms in the House of Assembly, that legislator receives a gratuity in the amount of $250,000-300,000 immediately upon retirement if they are 50 years or older. 

Further, three-term legislators would receive his or her current salary per month for a fixed number of years as if they were working.

The Premier added that for persons already entitled to benefits, legal advice would be sought since those persons cannot be disenfranchised. 

“That is something that we're going to need legal advice on, persons who have already become entitled to benefits. We certainly don't want to disenfranchise anyone from a legal perspective and taking away rights, which they have already earned. 

He added, “but for me, the ideal situation is to come up with salaries from an independent body... Pricewaterhouse Coopers is currently conducting a review of salaries and we would want for them to recommend salaries for legislators, which is commensurate with the roles and responsibilities and also takes into consideration all other professions,” he said.

19 Responses to “Cabinet to soon make decision on repealing sections of ‘greedy bill’ - Premier Wheatley ”

  • hmm (02/05/2023, 13:02) Like (9) Dislike (15) Reply
    He got two terms now so he dont care about Sheep and carvin them
    • @ lol (02/05/2023, 13:52) Like (3) Dislike (8) Reply
      Or flax-Charles and alvera
    • School children are saying that ... (02/05/2023, 14:29) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
      ... the repeal will not be retrospective, and that Carvin, Neville, Mark etc who lost their seats, or did not contest them, will be entitled to Greedy money.
      Did Carvin, Neville, Mark etc say that they would not take the Greedy money or did they keep quiet?
  • D6 (02/05/2023, 13:38) Like (10) Dislike (13) Reply
    is myron going his greedy money back
    • 6th district (02/05/2023, 15:06) Like (11) Dislike (9) Reply
      As much as Myron say he is not in agreement with this bill I bet he would not give back the money he received... just there fooling the low lever thinking persons of the 6 th
    • @D6 (02/05/2023, 18:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Wait for it!
    • Hmm (02/05/2023, 19:28) Like (1) Dislike (5) Reply
      He spend it on he campaign to win
  • He looked (02/05/2023, 14:05) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Like he was not feeling well during the press conference, He looked like he was sleep deprived, know that feeling well.
  • explain (02/05/2023, 14:05) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am totally confused though. He said he had to write to the Attorney General to get legal advice. How it now becomes a cabinet paper? please explain
  • WTF (02/05/2023, 14:18) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    To right this wrong, all who got money from this atrocity should give it back. The planning was covertly done and those law makers knew it was wrong in the first place. Addressing it now is trying to save face. IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.
  • WHAT!!! (02/05/2023, 14:19) Like (14) Dislike (2) Reply
    His pre election promise was to repeal the “greedy bill” I don’t recall anything being said about “sections”
    • ? (03/05/2023, 13:22) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      EXACTLY! He said he was going to repeal the bill not remove sections. The lying and trickery has started in the first week!
  • Political analyst (02/05/2023, 18:08) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    This bill was initially based on self-interest, selfishness, greed, using public position as a passport to personal gain. . They all voted for what is now referred to as ‘the “greedy bill;” it was in their personal interest and was hoping that the electorate who has short-term reaction would fuss a little and then forget about it. Did some legislators get a conscience? No. They don’t give a rat’s ass about anyone but themselves. The election campaign exposed the greed, self-interest, greed and grift. Now some legislators conveniently find some conscience and promised to repeal portions of the bill. However, some who are to benefit tremendously don’t want to repeal the bill, preferring to adjust, not repeal. This bill is akin to deliberative leaving the goat pen unlock and the goats bolted and the owners are up in arms to goats bolting.

    Moreover, some legislators wasted no time in collecting. Those legislators who are eligible and have yet to collect should not be harmed and should be made whole. The bill should be repealed but with a sensible balance. New Legislators would not be eligible. Paying legislators for years as if they are still waiting is a farce and the fleecing of the taxpayers. Some may argue that repeal in whole or part is unfair. The reality is laws are retrenched all the time and newer people may miss out on benefits received by older people/workers. No grandfathering of monthly payments as if one is still waiting; it is not a retirement system. Legislators have not contributed a penny towards a retirement system. Politicians like to overpromise and underdeliver. Voters should stay engaged as to who keeps their words and promises.

    Further, this greedy bill is unfair and a slap in the face to civil servants, the workhorses, not showhorses, of the civil service. Civil servants are the lifeblood that carries oxygen that makes civil service works. The civil service is often maligned until their help is needed. Let’s try getting through a day without civil servants contribution to our daily lives. Civil servants tiled tirelessly for at least 33 years before they can go on a well-deserved retirement at 65 years, receiving a small annuity. They don’t get allowances, severance pay, etc. Hell, getting increments is a challenge.
    • civil servant (03/05/2023, 11:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Civil Servants rock. Yes, civil servants are often caricatured and maligned as lethargic, self-serving, bureaucratic and lazy. Truth be told in irony is that civil
      Servants are indispensable and live woukd be chsitic without them.
  • Oh yes! (02/05/2023, 20:00) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Showande looks like head coach in that picture
  • HAHA (02/05/2023, 20:36) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Clown! Legislators disenfranchised? The PEOPLE have been disenfranchised. Let the disenfranchised legislators benefit under the old bill like everyone else did. No disenfranchisement there. Repeal the new bill NOW!!
  • JL (02/05/2023, 22:02) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Election finish let's talk about the people business and all the promises you made time for action
  • resident (03/05/2023, 00:59) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    A promise is a comfort to a fool. People on this site doing what they do best, whine and complain. We all need to shut up. People went to the polls and reelected this same unscrupulous government. They should pass another ridiculous bill. We never learn. Four more years of the government that brought you the greedy bill, private insurance, fake famers and fishermen millions and more. Congratulations voters, you did well. Standing ovations. Please keep quiet now.


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