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Civil servants increment arrears to be paid by 2027– David D. Archer Jr

-Payments still subject to availability of funding & barring any unforeseen circumstances
Virgin Islands (VI) Public Servants who were looking forward to their increment arrears at-least by the new year 2024, may now have to wait until 2027 according to information from the Deputy Governor, Mr David D. Archer Jr. Photo: GIS/File
Mr Archer Jr said the decision comes on the heels of the now-completed Compensation Review and Job Classification Project by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) and 2024 Budget announcements by Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) that funding in the amount of nearly $10M has been allocated to effect the new salary scale in the public service. Photo: VINO/File
Mr Archer Jr said the decision comes on the heels of the now-completed Compensation Review and Job Classification Project by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) and 2024 Budget announcements by Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) that funding in the amount of nearly $10M has been allocated to effect the new salary scale in the public service. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Virgin Islands (VI) Public Servants who were looking forward to their increment arrears at-least by the new year 2024, may now have to wait until 2027, according to information from the Deputy Governor, Mr David D. Archer Jr.

In a circular seen by our news center and addressed to Attorney General, Financial Secretary, Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Constitutionally Established Offices, Heads of Departments, and all Public Officers, the Deputy Governor informed of the delay in paying outstanding increments.

“As we close 2023, I am sharing an update on the status of payments of outstanding increments to public officers and salary progressions based on the new salary structure. On Wednesday, 1 December, Cabinet decided that all outstanding increment arrears for the Public Service are to be paid by 2027, subject to the availability of funding and barring any unforeseen circumstances.”

2023 arrears to also be paid by 2027 

He said the cabinet has also decided that the ongoing increment salary adjustments for the period 2020-2022, scheduled to be completed in December 2023, should also include the adjustment of a step for the 2023 incremental work year.

“However, the arrears for 2023 increments will also be paid by 2027, subject to the availability of funding and barring any unforeseen circumstances,” Mr Archer shared.

Mr Archer Jr said the decision comes on the heels of the now-completed Compensation Review and Job Classification Project by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) and 2024 Budget announcements by Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) that funding in the amount of nearly $10M has been allocated to effect the new salary scale in the public service.

The issue of increments has been a long-standing one in the VI public sector, where public officers have complained for years about delays and. outstanding payments due under various administrations. 

52 Responses to “Civil servants increment arrears to be paid by 2027– David D. Archer Jr”

  • Interesting (30/12/2023, 15:54) Like (38) Dislike (1) Reply
    So arrears held off until 2027 which just so happened to be election year. I guess this is a playoff political move that VIP will do to woo the electorate just before election, except instead of using their party funds to win over people…they now will be using tax money. Genius move by cabinet!
    • Hmm (30/12/2023, 19:16) Like (35) Dislike (2) Reply
      What a Blow for the Civil Servants of the BVI. Hope they all live to see 2027. Life can be so unfair.
      • Comment (02/01/2024, 09:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        The blow is the new salary adjustments...an extra 1 to 2 thousand dollars a year increase ($100 monthly or $3.57 daily). When the average paid public servant applies for a bank loan the banks reject the applications sighting that the government's salary is not sufficient to afford a small home loan. These crooked jokers will never get my vote not VIP nor NDP1 and 2 BET!
  • one eye (30/12/2023, 16:02) Like (50) Dislike (0) Reply
    Archer must go!!!
  • Deputy (30/12/2023, 16:24) Like (37) Dislike (1) Reply
    DO YOU KNOW WHO WILL BE ALIVE WHEN 2027 COMES AROUND ? ( NOT
    EVEN TOMORROW HAS ANY GUARANTEE ) THE PEOPLE WANTS WHATS THEIRS WHEN THEY ARE ALIVE , THEY WORKED HONESTLY FOR IT - DIDN'T THEY ? , NO WONDER THE YOUTHS RATHER DEAL WI5H DRUGS BECAUSE THE EASY MONEY IS TEMPTING AND QUICK
  • lol (30/12/2023, 16:27) Like (40) Dislike (1) Reply
    Just in time for elections. What a weak gimmick
  • The Frig… (30/12/2023, 17:33) Like (82) Dislike (1) Reply
    Something is definitely rotten in the state of Denmark, ie, the VI. Something is definitely wrong with the budgetary planning process in the VI. In the approved budget employee cost should be a fixed cost, an above the line cost., should it not? Government know or should know during the budget process how many employees it is carrying for the fiscal year and the approx salary. So the increment cost should not be a surprise. Is increment a discretionary cost based on funding availability in the applicable fiscal year? What fiscal years have government operated in a deficit? Is human capital the most important resource? If yes, it should be treated as such. Is government employee cost too high ? If yes, does government needs to cut back on staffing ?? Do politcians have the courage to cut the bloat?? The trick is cutting cost without cutting services. Did our politcians not run on this premise?? Should government be a major employer or have just enough employees to manage the governing process? Are retired employees entitled to increments? Why? When an employee retires his/her pay should be brought up to speed before they walk out the door? Does employee contribute anything to their retirement? If no why not and what the frig? Should there be a retirement sinking fund? Yes. Every function in the VI seemed to be a damn frig. The Frig out…… feasting on a piece of bag ham, some guavaberry, and coconut tart and a piece of black cake.
    • Quiet Storm (31/12/2023, 07:26) Like (90) Dislike (0) Reply
      To The Frig…, you are a damn frig but a useful frig. Lol. Indeed, employee cost is an above the line cost; it is a vital cost to deliver the services which make government functions, the services that residents disparage until they need it. If increment is included in the budget every fiscal year, why is it not paid on time? It is convenient to blab that human capital is the most important resources. But the actions are not matching the words. But no surprise here, for the words of politicians on both government and opposition are self-serving. But we are deserving of the way we are treated, for we put up, accept, and embrace the poor services, letting ourselves be bought off with trinkets for our silence. Here is a news flash. Politicians like to be elected and re-elected for the perks, influence, and power, so let’s make them work for election and re-election. That is the only thing they understand and fear. Hold them accountable and responsible, including the parasitic colonialists. Kick the poor performers, fakers, and opportunists to the curb; put the good( notice the absence of excellent or outstanding) on a short leash. An old maxim says, talk is cheap, money buys land, and force/pressure push water up hill. Tortola has nuff hills, so nuff pressure is needed. The non-aggressive dog starve to death. What Harry say…..you will hear.
    • Rattler (31/12/2023, 18:06) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      To The Frig….., you got the Rattler swag when you get engaged and fired up. Clearly, you know a few things about the budgeting and executing. The increment fiasco is a government unforced error. The increment process eae poorly structured. Perhaps, increment should be performance driven, not an apparent entitlement which everyone seems to get. The increment process should be separate from from Cost of Living Allowances(COLA). In the mean time, employees should not be punished for Government’s poor performance and inefficiencies. Appropriate funding now to pay bring employees up to speed for increments due now. The pay process for Civil pay and other compensation is as f’ cked up as Hogan Goat. The administrative process for Civil Servants is also as f’cked as Hogan’s Goat. The government is the recipient of the service and funds the provision of the service but civil service falls under the Governor who does contribute a red copper towards delivering the service. It is about control; Governor controls personnel, security services, ie, internal security, including RVIPF, jail, etc. The colonialists have always been a frightened group, a threatened, ie, thus the strict, strict, epic control.
    • @ Frig…. (03/01/2024, 13:04) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply

      To the Frig…, the people have spoken and are speaking, so is the Governor and Deputy Governor listening. Or they don’t give a rat’s @^$ for their bread is buttered on both sides and along the sides.

  • This is so wrong! (30/12/2023, 17:34) Like (58) Dislike (0) Reply
    Give the civil servants what is due to them! How can humans be so wicked, heartless? Life is already hard in the BVI.
  • Told y’all (30/12/2023, 18:19) Like (21) Dislike (1) Reply
    They are going to dangle the carrot on a stick until election rolls around. They are telling you that right in your faces. That is beyond insulting and insane. 3 years?
  • ASDA (30/12/2023, 18:53) Like (32) Dislike (0) Reply
    WOW!!
    How about civil servants work from home until 2027?
  • Styler (30/12/2023, 19:08) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    Who guarantees that there will be a 2027, nonsense you all take people as poppy show, what goes around comes around Archer you just a DAM waste of time all about self your pocket butter on every side has no shame for the public servants. 2027 will come but God forbid many hot heads may be cold.
  • de silent one (30/12/2023, 19:09) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wow! If $10m has been allocated to pay up these outstanding monies, why should the suffering people have to wait for another three (3) years to be paid. It really seems like a political ploy. Lord help us????
    • @de silent one (30/12/2023, 20:24) Like (12) Dislike (4) Reply
      The answer is because the people voted for incompetence. None of those persons in that very ignorant, incompetent, irrelevant party (viiip) should have had a fighting chance during the last elections. Maybe the people will march against right now or will make a loud statement using their votes at the next elections. Simply put. No votes for incompetence. No votes for snakes. No votes for party planners, travellers or clowns. That's the only way.
  • DEDE (30/12/2023, 19:16) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    Dear Deputy Governor:

    I have a few questions that you and the other governmental officials need to answer. This is ridiculous.

    1. What do you propose we tell our families when we don’t have enough to go around? As it stands right now, food prices increasing and many of us have to dip into our little savings to pay them.

    2. Can we tell the electricity, water, phone and our landlord that we cannot pay any increase until 2027? Can we say to same to banks concerning loans?

    3. I would like to know if any civil servants agree to this? As it stand we are anticipating this for many years and every time the date get close a mysterious circumstance arise. You all got more tricks that Houdini.

    4. For those who retire before that date, will they receive pay and any back pay on their gratuity and pension? What if they pass, will their next of kin get it?

    These questions needs answers. I now many civil servants cannot wait that long.
  • Give the people their monies (30/12/2023, 19:37) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    Stop the game playing, why should they have to wait until election to get their money? That is just not right.
  • ludacris (30/12/2023, 19:41) Like (129) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr. GOVERNOR please before you leave these beautiful virgin islands send home some civil servants at the helm because they have lost their minds. I wonder if the people at the helm of this territory are going to share their pay checks with the poor people who are already suffering and are in dire need of that increment. You could imagine waiting 3 more years for the 2 cents. Mr. Premier a question for you tell me who is running this territory? 2027 is craziness please revisit this immediately and pay them people now.

    We finding money for everything else except for the people who make you look good daily.

    Seems like you are setting up those people to call a no confidence or a strike on your leadership. This is madness pay them people now. What are you waiting on. Stop this madness.
  • Pioneer Greatness (30/12/2023, 19:44) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yawn! Titles no substance.
  • resident (30/12/2023, 19:53) Like (19) Dislike (2) Reply
    Apparently some increments are being paid...2023 arrears. So what happened to the two years before? This government is full of it. They have money to travel but not to pay their workers what they owe them. Workers need to start taking action. Also want to pay all workers of a certain status the same starting salary regardless of qualifications or years. This government is WICKED and EVIL.
    • @resident (30/12/2023, 21:07) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      I do agree this is a political tactic. They waste money on all sorts of things and yet when it comes to giving the people what they need/ worked for, they refuse to meet it only to their own benefit. It is also unfair that they are paying people who are lower on the totem pole, all the same starting salary. What happened to the years of service and experience? I feel they are ripping people off by giving the bare minimum - like look, here, be satisfied that we even gave you something! Feels like a swift kick...!
  • HMMM (30/12/2023, 20:18) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    You have funds available for everything else except to pay people who walk in hard to make you look good. It is not fair for people to put up with this BS all the time funds are always ready and available for Government personal needs, but to actually pay the people who walk hard, it is not available ??
  • March or stay quiet (30/12/2023, 20:19) Like (20) Dislike (3) Reply
    No words. March or stay quiet.
  • How About (30/12/2023, 21:08) Like (146) Dislike (1) Reply
    No money for travel available until 2027.
  • Asha (30/12/2023, 21:15) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    All I’m gonna say to David is KARMA IS REAL!
  • Four years down the line (30/12/2023, 21:38) Like (185) Dislike (2) Reply
    "The government has reportedly set aside more than $2 million in the 2024 budget for travel expenses, Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn has disclosed."

    This news report was carried on BVI News just last week. Some of those funds could have been put towards increments, but who really cares about the Civil Servants?
  • de silent one (30/12/2023, 23:49) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Since it seems to be so much of a political ploy with this party, one can only blame Lorna for giving them the Government with all that they did prior to the election. So in essence they are continuing from where they left off in effecting some of their policies and screwing people.
  • WOW (31/12/2023, 03:05) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    What a bunch of shameless evil people. The ones that is making the decisions is not hurting so why should they give a F. Take to the damn streets or better yet shut down Road Town during rush hour and block everyone from getting to work.
    • @wow (31/12/2023, 11:27) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      Agreed 100%. Shut Road Town down during rush hour and block everyone from getting into Road Town for a couple of hours down to the vehicle the Premier is driving in.
  • Never See Come See (31/12/2023, 08:09) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is how they operate when they get the opportunity to lord it over others. Shameless evil is joke they will put you in your grave and then come to your funeral and cry.
  • Gfj (31/12/2023, 08:24) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr. Deputy, can you allow the civil servants to get a loan from NATIONAL BANK now And they start paying in 2027? We have a set of unproductive minister who travel every minute on the tax payers bligg. Take that money and pay the civil servants their increments.
  • just watch (31/12/2023, 11:09) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Watch as soon as 2024 hit they will be in first class seats dipping somewhere.
  • 250 000 (31/12/2023, 11:23) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    All ah ayo tek dat foh voting VIP
    • @250 000 (31/12/2023, 14:15) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      And you are so correct. If something is not right, you correct it and do better. If you go to the dentist and the dentist keep messing up your teeth will you continue to go to that dentist and continue to let him/her continue to damage your teeth? I would say no right?
  • Will say (31/12/2023, 11:36) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    They are playing the Civil Servants big time. They are telling them in their faces that they are playing them. Don’t fall for the BS about 2027 take it to the STREETS.
  • lol (31/12/2023, 11:41) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    2 million set aside for more first class tickets and five star accommodations. I wonder where the next junket is schedule for. Cairo, Egypt, Germany, Scotland…………
  • smh (31/12/2023, 12:37) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    You all set of wicked people!!!!!!! I lose respect for each of you every day!!!!!
  • Styler (31/12/2023, 13:31) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    We need and demand our increments. The Charters company who have not had a raise on taxes since 1979 and paying next to nothing in taxes, tax them they bringing in yachts and paying next to nothing also. The amount of money approved in travel expenses pay us man. This is serious business we need our monies
  • Upset Civil Servant (31/12/2023, 20:20) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well you think this arrears thing bad. Civil Servants they are not telling us the whole story with the New Salary Structure. For those of you who are planning to retire sometime next year 2024, please bear in mind that you will NOT get your pension off the New Salary Structure. You will have to work three (3) years in the New Salary Structure to benefit when you retire. You all please take note. Deputy Governor never mentioned this to us at all. Just like how he make sure his Salary is increase by over $20k. Civil Servants open up your eyes. This New Salary Structure was designed just for them. Them too GREEDY, but them better remember that God don't sleep.
  • Really! (31/12/2023, 22:52) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    To be honest, when I saw the headline, I thought the date was a typo!
  • justice (01/01/2024, 07:45) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well when 2027 come I will be patiently waiting as well with my extra 20 voters by then and any politician who is in now ain't getting a vote from me and mines because they sit back and let this nonsense go on, I rather give my votes to the new ones and give them a chance
  • guy hill (01/01/2024, 07:55) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is tantamount to going to court for a whole year and everytime you attend the case gets adjourned. This is bound to piss off somebody at some point.
  • civil servants (01/01/2024, 18:09) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    These people taking y'all for fools playing you like a fiddle. When 2027 comes if the world last so long we most likely are gonna be in a serious economic crisis. They just buying time hoping someone else will end up with the problem but at the end of the day there is none of you with the guts to do anything so they know that they can get away with it.
  • Serious (03/01/2024, 12:01) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Is This Guy serious. Three years time?
    This is crazy.
  • Corey in the house (03/01/2024, 14:29) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I guess all them teacher strike, ports strike and air port strike ain teach these guy nothing.. The whole civil service should give you a surprise but sadly they may not have enough backbone
  • SOOOO DUMB DUMB! (05/01/2024, 17:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    WHAT IS IN THESE PEOPLE MINDS! THAT IS AN ADDITIONAL FOUR YEARS AND THE DEBT KEEP RACKING UP. THAT IS A TERM FOR SAYING IT WILL NEVER BE PAID. GOVERNMENT CHECK YOUR ADVISORS, THEY ARE EITHER STUPID OR DUMB OR MORE SO, DON'T CARE ABOUT THE CIVIL SERVANTS. PAY THE TWP YEARS NOW AND PLAN THE REST. LOOK WHAT TALL BOY NDP MINISTER CAUSE.


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