A boycott of Public Service Week was just the beginning as public officers will continue to take steps showing their disapproval of some decisions taken following the salary review process. Photo: Team of Reporters

One of the events boycotted by public officer during Public Service Week 2025 was the awards ceremony on October 9, 2025. Photo: Facebook

The public service falls under the supervision of the Governor of the Virgin Islands. Governor Daniel Pruce is the current Governor of the Virgin Islands. Photo: British Embassy

Mr David D. Archer Jr. is the Deputy Governor of the Virgin Islands. Photo: Office of the Deputy Governor

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) encouraged public officers to go through the proper channels to address their grievances. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

Public Officers have allegedly boycotted the week’s events as part of showing their disapproval of the revised salaries for the public service. 

Speaking to Virgin Islands News Online on the condition of anonymity, one public official informed that the Public Service Week flyer was circulated on WhatsApp with the word boycott written across it. 

“But what we're boycotting in particular is the different events, like the basketball game, volleyball, track and field, dominoes, whatever events that they normally have, we're asking employees to not attend, and that has been taking place so far for the week. So it started on Sunday and it's ending [today].”

According to the public officer, the awards ceremony held yesterday, October 9, 2025, was poorly attended, from what he was told. 

Politicians are entitled to a raise but others are too

The public officer said they embarked on this boycott as a response ot the salary increases disclosed in the recently published 2024 Audit Report. 

“A lot of senior officials, including politicians, received hefty raises, up to $100,000 in some instances, and many civil servants did not receive a raise,” he told our news centre. 

We asked him his views on the House of Assembly members’ salary increases being justified since they were among the lowest in the region, to which he responded, “I feel that the politicians are entitled to a raise, everybody is entitled to a raise but I think their raise was excessive, given the fact that some civil servants did not receive a raise. Some did, and some didn’t. That’s the problem.”

He revealed that public officers who fall in the middle grades and those who have been working in the public service for many years “barely received any noticeable increase in their salary”, adding that there is a clear disparity with the raises given. 

Also of concern following the salary review is the issue of employees being paid the same despite experience. 

“In some instances, a new employee is getting the same salary as a civil servant who has been there for, let's say, 20 years. Two people with the same qualifications, one's been there for 20 years, one just entered a year ago, and they're both getting the same salary. So that is also a concern, that’s a problem.”

Discontinued increments for a performance-based scale

The public officer also informed that, following the salary review, increments were discontinued. 

“As part of the new salary revision, they have discontinued increments, and we are still owed increments from past years that we haven't been paid as yet, which they have promised to pay us in 2027, which coincidentally is when the next elections are due,” he said. 

While increments were discontinued, the public service moved to a performance-based scale, which, according to our source, is almost unattainable. 

“It's almost impossible to get an increment under the new structure…because the bar is set so high, most people won't be able to make it, and it’s going to take several years to get to that point. The bar is unrealistically high…It's almost like, by design, they're going to make sure very few people get increments.”

He said that with this new scale, most employees will be locked into the new salaries indefinitely

Action continues

Our source informed that public officers also plan on writing to Governor Daniel Pruce “with all demands and all concerns” as the next step. “It doesn’t just end with Public Service Week,” he said. 

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), when asked about the possible boycott of this week’s activities, during a press conference on October 3, 2025, said he was unaware of plans for a boycott. He, however, encouraged public officers who may be disgruntled to go through the proper channels to have their issues raised and addressed. 

Our source added that some public officers fear repercussions for voicing their displeasure with the current issues they face. 

“I just want the civil servants to understand their rights. A lot of them are timid, and they are afraid of so-called victimisation, but we have a right to do what we do once it's respectful and once it's lawful under the Constitution. Some people are even afraid to contact the governor. The governor is the head of the civil service. How can I be disciplined for contacting the head of the civil service and sharing my concerns?”

He said many are voicing their concerns privately but are afraid to do so publicly. 

Teachers, the public officer added, are also planning to reach out to Governor Pruce. “The Deputy Governor has been avoiding their correspondence; he has been unresponsive.”

The public officer said that if their demands are not met, a sick-out is being considered. 

When contacted, Deputy Governor Mr David D. Archer Jr. did not comment on whether or not he was aware that public officers had boycotted the week of activities.