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Gov’t seeking to end cheque payments to vendors by close of 2023

- Some vendors already being paid directly to bank accounts
The Government of the Virgin Islands is seeking to do away with the issuing of cheques by the end of this year and will be making payments to vendors directly to their bank accounts. Photo: VINO/File
According to Accountant General Arnold J. Ainsley, the Treasury Department is aiming to end the system of cheque payments to vendors by the end of this year, as it has already commenced online payments. Photo: GIS/File
According to Accountant General Arnold J. Ainsley, the Treasury Department is aiming to end the system of cheque payments to vendors by the end of this year, as it has already commenced online payments. Photo: GIS/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Government of the Virgin Islands is seeking to do away with the issuing of cheques by the end of this year and will be making payments to vendors directly to their bank accounts.

This was revealed at the Public Service Transformation Programme Press conference at BVI Finance Conference Room in Cutlass Tower on May 28, 2023.

According to Accountant General Arnold J. Ainsley, the Treasury Department is aiming to end the system of cheque payments to vendors by the end of this year, as it has already commenced online payments.

Mr Ainsley said the department is currently working with the banks. “From the treasury standpoint we are working with the bank to have that side ready, we are almost at that point…On the technical side on having everything ready to go, we are actually right there.”

The Accountant General added it will actually take about five years to have all of the government’s systems on board. “The plan is to start rolling out later this year.”

Reducing the use of cheques

Among those that have started to take effect and to be completed by the end of this year is the online payment to vendors.

“We have also begun the process of paying online where the government can now pay everybody online.

“So most of our vendors in the country are now being paid directly into their bank accounts, so we have started reducing the use of cheques and hopefully by the end of the year we will do away with that thing.”

On the other hand, Mr Ainsley said persons doing business with the government will also be able to pay into the government system via credit cards.

“Nobody has asked for Discover Cards, it’s an option if anybody asks. So, we are definitely going to do the major ones and so we will be able to collect from everybody from anywhere in the world.”

14 Responses to “Gov’t seeking to end cheque payments to vendors by close of 2023”

  • Hotmess (02/04/2023, 13:42) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    The private sector need insurance payment please. My employer can't pay my full salary because insurance not paying
  • Outsider (02/04/2023, 14:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hope the government pay in to MASA, life insurance etc after civil servants deductiond!!
  • Easy as 123 (02/04/2023, 14:18) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    By going that way, no more paper trails.
    • Oh boy. (02/04/2023, 15:26) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
      Another talking point. Making things happen is not this govt strength..They are better at talking... Won't happen.
  • Rowdy customer (02/04/2023, 14:51) Like (2) Dislike (8) Reply
    I want my check in my hand! What they want my account number for, to check my balance?
    • Database (02/04/2023, 21:32) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Their database needs to be properly secured because hmmm hackers work all over.
  • Hmm (02/04/2023, 15:28) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    So the vendors are being paid to do a business and make a profit??
  • yay (03/04/2023, 01:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Excellent. Anout time this happens.
  • WOW (03/04/2023, 07:25) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I still would like to know why are vendors being paid? Vendor is someone selling something, are they working for the government as a vendor selling government stuff and didn't get paid. Please tell me I don't understand.
    • Slow? (03/04/2023, 11:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Are you slow? The Government has to purchase items/services to function; paper, ink, equipment, maintenance of equipment, drinking water, I mean....
      • @slow? (03/04/2023, 16:39) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        I am really slow, I still don't understand lol
        • @wow (04/04/2023, 13:10) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
          Instead of issuing cheques to make payments to vendors who provide goods and services, the Government is moving to direct deposits to save money and time.
        • Vendors... (04/04/2023, 19:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          The Govt purchases from the vendors. So the vendors need to get paid. The vendors don’t work for de guberment dem
  • Andrew promises (03/04/2023, 08:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Whatever happened to all those promises the Head Coach made in 2019 about doing business with government and ecommerce? Where are we with that in 2023?


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