Hon Fahie baffled over NDP’s non-payment of public service increments
It’s a matter that has employees, especially at the Peebles Hospital, frustrated even though, according to Hon Fahie, when the NDP took up office as the government of the day they did say they were going to hold on the payment of increments.
“…And I want to say that everyone is thankful that they have a job, because sometimes when you ask about these things you hear, ‘leave that alone, thank God you have a job’ with all the economic situation that we are facing but we are thankful,” said Hon Fahie.
“But increments are earned from the year before so in 2011 when the administration came in those increments, when the budget came for 2012, they were already earned by the public service …. It’s nothing that you have to go and give them, they have already earned, it was already recommended to them.”
Hon Fahie explained that due increment payments to public servants were held by the NDP government but he could not understand the concept behind it as since then the increments have not been paid as far as the VIP’s keen eyes have seen. The former Minister for Education also doesn’t believe money is the real problem for the non-payments.
“Now I have a problem with it if you tell me that you don’t have the money to pay them because since then I have seen consultants hired to the tune of two million and change and more and many other persons have been hired for way more sum of money, when you add it together, than what is being owed to the public servants for their increment,” according to Hon Fahie.
He further explained that increments are not that automatic but which would have seen employees completing an evaluation and recommended for the increment. “So these are things that have been earned.”
The First District Representative reasoned that putting all the increments together may not amount to more than three million dollars and therefore should have already been paid to the public servants. “And I understand that coming out of the budget session the Premier (Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith) showed them that it is safe with him. I don’t want it safe; I want it in their hands. It needs to go to the public servants [because] they already worked for it and it should be in their hands. If it is safe it should already be in their hands. It is simple as that.”
The other mind boggling matter on the same issue, according to Hon Fahie, is ascertaining whether the “safe” increments are going to be paid from 2012 or if it will be paid from 2014. “My answer to that is whatever is due to them for the work they have done, that they have earned, the increments from 2011 to now needs to be paid, it is simple as that,” argued Hon Fahie.
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14 Responses to “Hon Fahie baffled over NDP’s non-payment of public service increments”
Not that these group don't deserve payment, but what about the interest of the public at large. The public wants competent management of the public finances to which it contributes in the form of taxes, fees, fines etc. This is our money and we want wise spending decisions made by the people entrusted to manage our budget. Some recommendations are made below:
- The civil servants deserve their increments but the greater question that is being avoided - is the civil service too big, and if it is, what can be done to right size it (without significant layoffs)?
- The petty contract system has been abused and legislative changes need to be implemented to correct it, including perhaps an independent body to monitor / manage it.
- all tenders over $1,000,000 must have an open tender that is advertised.
- all tenders under $1,000,000 must at least have a selective tender (three or more firms invited to bid).
- financial protocols - The Protocols for Effective Financial Management should have been signed with the people of the Virgin Islands and not with the Government of the UK.
I am sure that there are several more recommendations that can be proposed and I invite the Public to make those recommendations and ultimately demand of our decision makers to implement them.
The Public DEMANDS better management of the public finances (our money).
The majority of civil servants don't deserve the pay they are now receiving. When on the job they try to do as little as possible, some HOD is on their phones all day gossiping (like my own), always stepping out, is rude and lazy. What Increment? Some of them pay needs cutting. Now you supporters of non-performance take to the blogs and talk your @#$%, I don't care. The truth is the Truth.