SS now portfolio of Hon Vincent O. Wheatley
According to the instruments, the order for the portfolio change was made by Governor of the Virgin Islands, H. E. Augustus J.U. Jaspert on April 3, 2020, acting in accordance with advice from Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1).
Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) reached out to Hon Wheatley for a comment on this portfolio change; however, no response was received up to the time of publication.
SSB & COVID-19
Responsibility for Social Security would mean oversight of Social Security Board (SSB), an agency that is now being looked at by many in the Virgin Islands to provide possible relief for Virgin Islanders who would have lost income as a result of the COVID-19 shutdown being implemented to quell the spread of the Novel Coronavirus.
According to a gazetted Order, Hon Malone will still maintain responsibility for Social Housing and Social Welfare and will also continue to oversee National Health Insurance (NHI)
The changes were made under Section 56(1) of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007, and published on the same date in the Vol. LIV, No. 38 of the VI Offical Gazette.
Under the Order and in addition to Social Security, Hon Wheatley has retained responsibilities for Administration of Crown Lands (Except Wickhams Cay), including the seabed, Coastal and Zone Management, Cooperatives, Environment, Food and Security, Forestry, Geology and Housing.
Labour & Natural Resources retained
The Minister has also retained oversight for Immigration and Labour and land issues such as Policy, Registration and Reclamation.
Under his Natural Resources portfolio, Hon Wheatley will also have oversight for minerals and mining, national and marine parks, in addition to other responsibilities such as surveys and veterinary services.
It is believed the move to have Hon Wheatley oversee Social Security ties directly into his responsibilities as Labour Minister and will allow him to address labour and social security concerns expected to arise out of the cabinet backed COVID-19 lockdown.
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26 Responses to “SS now portfolio of Hon Vincent O. Wheatley”
This is the right move to have labour and Social Security under the same ministry thats how its done in the OECS countries., However i am not sure if Vincent is the right person... the people at Social Security are much tougher....Sheep would have been the perfect man for this Job, . He has the appropriate skills and personalty to make this work....
They need help now. Please put in place legislation that will allow people who have made the minimum number of contributions to withdraw from their pensionable amount up to three months salary from social security.
This can be done. If you cant get the support of the director it is time to make a change in that position. Social Security funds belong to the people who built up those funds not to the Director who likes looking at a fat bank account.
Mr Vincent is in a good position, @Just saying...Carvin would really have one of those Sanford and son moments where Fred would freak out and grab his chest.
What they need to do is streamline and interconnect businesses information like social security, NHI, taxes and limited company renewal so that Social Security, Inland Revenue, FSC (limited companies) Labor and Trade Departments all have access to verify the good standing of a business. Labor department can refuse to issue new permits until information is up to date. Trade Department can refuse to renew your trade license until all payments are up to date. FSC can refuse to renew incorporation unless all SS, NHI, Trade and Taxes are up to date. A person should not have to wait until they get sick to know there SS or NHI is not up to date.
A key part of any business is paying all its’ expenses in a timely manner before realizing a profit. If you are unable to do so, then you need to raise revenues via marketing or reasonable fee or inventory increases or diversifying your product offering among other things. You can also restructure your business to cut or decrease unnecessary expenses. If you are unable to still pay expenses then you need to rethink your type of business.
Necessary expenses like SS, taxes, incorporation fees and NHI must be prioritized and the powers that be must equitably enforce the laws of the land.
Social security currently provides these benefits: maternity, sick , bereavement, employment injury and when you reach the age of 65. 8.5% is what is taken from you for these benefits now it won't be wise with a looming recession to further tax people. You don't tax your way out of a recession. I believe 8.5 % can be spread enough to include the Unemployment benefits, simply because the other benefits may not be as frequently used.
It would be helpful to know the SSB financial position. It should be mandatory that the audited financials be published on an annual basis. This is the People's money after all. Also I would like to see an option given for persons working 30 years to tap in to the benefits and not have to wait until 65.
In regards to the Labor Department will the current Minister Hon. Wheatley finally form the independent arbitration tribunal to hear and settle disputes? The labor department has basically been found toothless and wanting in that regard.
Labour immigration and social security board.
Social security board,is a government statutory board with the definition of a medical insurance
To qualify for any benefit,an insured person must pay a certain amount of contributions
In recent times,I am reading,that SSB should pay unemployment benefit to persons who lost their jobs.
Where is it written in the SSB laws,that the director of the SSB can pay unemployment benefit to an insured person?
Mrs Skelton has already clarified that.There is no such legislation.
Nobody is saying that they must just get up tomorrow and pay unemployment benefits as most of us are aware that the act must be amended to allow for the benefits. Why is it necessary to tax further for this? You cannot tax people more with a looming recession as that is a recipe for disaster. Just amend to include the benefits as the benefits they have now are rarely used and when they are claimed its very minimal.
Laws are made to be amended.