‘No secrecy’ surrounding Members' salary increase- HoA
“Contrary to the Auditor General’s report and public speculation, there was no secrecy surrounding the adjustments to Members’ compensation,” the HoA said in a statement on Sunday, September 21, 2025.
Review conducted on the Deputy Governor’s Office direction
The statement also reminded members of the public that the compensation review of the Government of the Virgin Islands was delegated to senior public officials who had care and control of the process at all times.
The Deputy Governor’s Office (DGO) is responsible for human resource policy within the public service, and, therefore, “the review itself was also carried out under the advice, recommendation, and direction” of the DGO.
“This provided a layer of independent oversight and accountability. The House of Assembly had no direct or indirect input in the process or the findings of the report, which was produced by PwC Advisory Services Limited,” the HoA added in its statement.
2024 Estimates documents increase
The increase was captured in the $11.1 million estimate for public sector salary reviews, and the decision made by the Members was on the strong recommendation of officials.
“At all times, the process followed the normal legislative and budgetary framework, and the discussions took place in forums designed for such deliberations. The amount of the Members’ increase would have been documented in the Estimates for the Year 2024.”
These Estimates were passed in the HoA and made public in January 2024, and the matter of salary increases “was locally circulated in the news, to which Members spoke publicly on the topic".
HoA salaries were among lowest in the region
The HoA also clarified that before the adjustment, the base salary for an ordinary Member of the House of Assembly was among the lowest in the region at $36,000 per year.
“By comparison, legislators in other Overseas Territories (Bermuda, Cayman, Turks & Caicos) and small jurisdictions receive salaries comparable to or above their senior public officers,” the statement continues.
It explained that this low salary risked “disuading qualified candidates from seeking office”, especially those who might face financial difficulty having to step away from their current careers.
According to the HoA, “Bringing compensation in line with regional benchmarks was thus considered essential to sustaining a strong, representative legislature.”
Increase is a small amount of overall increase
The HoA justified the salary increases even more by saying it represents a “small portion” of the salary review package, as Members’ adjustments account for approximately 2.9% of the total 2024 salary review package, which is valued at $27.7 million.
“The bulk of the funding was directed toward increasing salaries across the wider public service, rather than being concentrated on Members alone.”
The House added that the decision to increase Members’ salaries was in line with the recommendations made by senior officials and financial information provided by the Office of the Financial Secretary, “which they believe to be an informed decision at that time”.
In the report, Auditor General Sonia M. Webster said the "significant increase" in HOA Members’ salaries was implemented without any form of public disclosure and that the "potential impact of these new salaries on retirement benefits and pensions under amended legislation for HOA Members has not been discussed or addressed.
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26 Responses to “‘No secrecy’ surrounding Members' salary increase- HoA”
The BVI Beacon presents the figures more clearly as they have incorporated allowances in their total payment detailed below:
Premier: $154,000 to $254,283
Deputy Premier: $138,000 to $224,627
Ministers: $133,000 to $200,400
Junior Ministers: $115,000 to $173,748
Opposition Leader: $115,000 to $173,748
Other elected HOA members: $99,000 to $134,446
The whole idea of employees, including B.V. I government leaders, that have raised their salary without first seeking approval from their employer, the people of the B.V.I, is in my opinion political robbery. There is no justification for the continuing disrespectful behavior among any people of any community worldwide. Why should it be allowed in the B.V.I void of confrontation, and any disciplinary action taking by the people of the British Virgin Islands, why? why? why? You all think that all of us are ignorant of your greedy tactics? No. We are not all ignorant.
Deputy Premier: $138,000 to $224,627
Ministers: $133,000 to $200,400
Junior Ministers: $115,000 to $173,748
Opposition Leader: $115,000 to $173,748
Other elected HOA members: $99,000 to $134,446
Thus, we this new Salary scale that has been implemented and the adjustments made to legislators base salary, would the allowances collected by each legislator be scaled back? If not why, as the salary disparity has now been resolved
Meanwhile, all this is distracting from the unanswered question as to why the DG's office hid the real cost of the raises. This needs to be answered.
I have to check my Asian friend, Sum Tin Wong!
We need to start looking a issue from different angles and stop letting people rile us up with bias narrative. The Auditor General fully well know this is the case and not our politicians given themselves raises. She herself making more than some of them.
Anyone been to bermuda ? Perfect roads, excellent infrastructure huge annual budget ( I believe 1.4 billion..might be incorrect there) population to govern 64,000 oh and a MINIMUM WAGE OF 17.13 usd equivalent!!!¡!!!!!!
Yes, let's bring everything up to bermuda levels please
Turks n c. Minimum wage..9 usd per hour population 46800
Cayman. Minimum wage usd equivalent 10.50 per hour
namely Bermuda, Turks and Cacos and Cayman
anyone been to Bermuda ? perfect roads, excellent infrastructure, 65K population and I believe that they have over a 1Billion dollar budget - I may be way off there, found that online. anyway, they ALSO have a MINIMUM WAGE OF 17 USD equivalent !!
Turks n cacos ? MINIMUM WAGE OF 9 USD per hour
Cayman MINIMUM WAGE OF 10:50 USD equivalent
so, whats good for the goose is good for the gander right ??? HOA raise their own wages to match that of other OT , then the minimum wages at the very MINIMUM should be equally raised to be in line with other OT
government, you are a sham - lining your own pockets without any consideration to the people who put you there.
oh, and by the way, these crooks will continue to get this level of wages once they retire after they hold office for 3 terms ( or is it 2?) how can we the people stand for this and alow this to happen. it is open theft with laim justification.
shocking !