Increments were withheld to deal with 'other things’ – Premier Smith
He was speaking at an NDP community meeting in Capoon’s Bay Tortola to launch the campaign of Shaina M. Smith who is contesting the First District under the NDP banner, seeking to upstage incumbent Hon Andrew A. Fahie of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP).
“…We recognised that we had to be thrifty. Remember what our mothers thought us to be thrifty and not spend spend spend? And so we held back on the civil servants’ increments just for a little while because we needed that money. But now those increments are being paid,” said Premier Smith.
He, however, did not go into detail as to what was financed as a result of the increment being withheld. He mentioned that the VI did not have to go the route as to cut civil servants salaries or send them home as has happened in other Caribbean countries.
Opposition pressure
What the Premier did not say is that the payment of the increments came as a result of heavy agitation by members of the Opposition, primarily Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) and Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3).
It was in February 2015 that after three years of pressure, questions in the House of Assembly and speeches by Hon Fahie and Fraser that the Smith led NDP Administration 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.
Hon Fraser first raised the issue
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.
It is fitting to note that while the Premier gave the reason of belt tightening for the withholding of the increments, expensive consultants during the same period were being hired to work on Government projects.
In a brief statement 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 were no layoffs despite the global economic crisis hitting hardest at the time.
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57 Responses to “Increments were withheld to deal with 'other things’ – Premier Smith”
JACK @$$....THE BVI INVESTMENT CLUBS IS MADE UP OF LOCALS. WHO DO YOU WANT THEM TO ENRICH ?
BI-WATER? WHO ARE WHITE PEOPLE ? I SWEAR YOU NEED TO GET PUT BACK ON THE SLAVE SHIP AND SHACKLE YOUR NAKED BACKSIDE, TO GET SOME COMMON SENSE, GOSH!!!!
Wicked people
This man is a real puppet on a string! Whatever his associates say he go to the podium and say. He too soft,get him out of here. They don't care about the small man. They care about theirselves and what they can get out of ppl hard earn money. Ppl working hard for them to go out and do sh!t with it. Imagine that. Can't raise ppl pay check because of what "other things" please list out those other things let the public know. In the HOA mark said he don't have to account for 7 million. Ummmm YES YOU DO!! Get them out vote VIP ALL THE WAY!!! I've had enough of the corruption and wicked ppl who all for themselves.
The VIP spoil you'll citizens to much that you'll get so comfortable with the government doing everything for you and not trying and help yourselves. They had to put the country first to generate revenue before they really start helping everyone. And they have done for the country to generate revenue and will continue to do so and can now help people more. They had to put the country first in mind then they people considing the site the VIP left it in.
Are you saying that it was government who worked for the increments and are just doing the people of the VI a favor by giving them an increment?
I would also like to highlight the fact that it is so strange or should I say convenient that government is all of a sudden paying increments on the eve of them calling a snap election.
I guess the country's financial state got "good" right before the call for elections. Don't be fooled people think logically and wisely, these are political ploys to influence you into voting for them under the pretense that they did something nice for you by giving you an increment.
When in reality its not because they should have been giving these increments all along.
Employees make things happen in an organization; they make things happen and are king and queen makers. As such employees should be valued, treated with dignity, recognized and rewarded for top performance, treated equitably and fairly, provided needed support, delegated tasks and empowering them, engage in participative planning and problem solving, provided clear expectations and performance standards.....etc. From this list, money is not the only motivator but it is a great motivator, especially with the skyrocketing cost of living.
How you as a big minister of finance could go up on a podium and tell people that increment money that they earned was used for "Other Things".
Dr. Smith are you a sensible man or are you a puppet? An intelligent man will go up there and list these "Other Things", to give the people a little bit of confidence in what your administration did with the money owed to them.
Its almost like you rob the civil servants of the Virgin Islands and then come and say don't worry my good people we know we take your money but we put it to good use. However we cannot give details on what these good things are but just know they went to "other things".
Who is this government believe they are fooling? You really going take my money and tell me you use it on "Other Things"? See them votes I owe to the your government on election day? Guess what?
My votes will be used for 'other parties’ – My 3 Cents
I hope Public Officers are not fooled because if the NDP is elected once again please know that you wouldn't be getting your 2014 increments. They are using pure tactics on black people hence the reason we have so much stealing and dishonesty going on in this country. When persons can't afford to put food on their table they have to write to these same ministers seeking assistance from them.
u gasso @$$
Things take time and we have to learn to appreciate the current things that we have.
I don't see any reason for changing the current government
Hospital workers. No increments for four years.
Not even a promise. I think they are voters too.
Who is going to ensure they get pay?