Is Sonia M. Webster a hypocrite? Her salary scale rose 77% with new increase
In her recent Audit Report laid in the House of Assembly (HoA) on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, regarding a 20 million shortfall after the salaries of all public officers and elected officials were raised, she only pointed out the salaries of the House of Assembly, but never the civil servants'.
In fact, some top brass in the public service are making much more than some of the elected members of the HoA.
Under the old salary scale (2024), before the salary increase in 2025, Ms Webster's salary range was at grade 18, $68,764 -$100,744.
Big money for Auditor General
Under the new salary increase, while she only pointed out salaries for Members of the HoA, her range in grade 18 jumped to $115,550-$196,430, which is a higher range than even the Premier's.
What is alarming is that it increased by 53% at the bottom to 77% at the top. In other words, the start of her new salary scale is higher than the top of her old salary scale.
It is unclear if the Author General was part of any lobbying efforts for such a big increase to carry out her constitutional role.
A short review of the new civil service salary increase scale from grade 18 to 21 shows the following: Grade 18 - 53% to 77% increase, Grade 19 - 47% to 84% increase, Grade 20 - 43% to 85% increase, Grade 21 - 31% to 84% increase.
Many in public sector making more than Premier
While some sectors of the community are criticising the small HoA members' wage increase, many Managing Directors in statutory bodies are making more than elected officials, with two statutory boards making more than the Premier.
The Financial Services Commission, National Bank of the Virgin Islands, BVI Airports Authority, Social Security and Shipping Registry are just some of the statutory bodies that see their Managing Directors paid more than or, in some cases, the same as elected officials. Statutory bodies are government institutions.
One elected member of the Opposition told our news site, “Without the Assistance Grants to help residents, most of our salaries are given away to residents, but I understand the public's concerns over the increase”.
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8 Responses to “Is Sonia M. Webster a hypocrite? Her salary scale rose 77% with new increase”
why cant the people have some clue in advance when the politicians and other department staff getting these substantial amounts of tax payers money
Elected officials don’t get increments so why was their a wage scale for them. They have been at the same salary for almost thirty years. Salaries for elected members is one figure not on a salary scale because their evaluation is every four years by the people.
The informal house that she spoke of as secret. How was it secret when it had top ranking civil servants at the meeting that should have given guidance to the members?