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Treasury broke? HLSCC staff not paid today – Sources

-Officials of the territory’s only tertiary institution tight-lipped
October 15th, 2015 | Tags: HLSCC not paid Dr. Karl Dawson Dr Bryan Penn
Reports are rife today October 15, 2015 that some members of staff of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) did not receive their salaries and may be paid tomorrow October 16, 2015. Photo: VINO/File
PARAQUITA BAY, Tortola, VI – Reports are rife today October 15, 2015 that some members of staff of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) did not receive their salaries and may be paid tomorrow October 16, 2015.

Upon receiving the reports, we contacted President of the HLSCC Dr Karl Dawson and Deputy President Dr Bryan Penn, both of whom declined comment on the issue.

However, persons with whom this news site has spoken, all of whom asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue, said that some persons had received their salaries while some had not.

In addition, this news site was told that the persons who had not received their pay were reluctant to speak with the media as they hope they would receive what is theirs tomorrow and do not want to do anything to potentially jeopardise that.

Economy in dire straits?

At a press conference on October 8, 2015, Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith dismissed suggestions that the economy is in a crisis.

In response to reporters’ questions, Premier Smith said that the reports on the state of the economy were not justifiable as the main sectors of the economy were doing well. He spoke of other sections of the economy such as construction and fishing as sectors that will continue to grow.

He acknowledged that there are periods when any economy will take a dip and that the VI was no different. He also denied that the Treasury had been frozen.

The Treasury Department has been without a head since the departure of Dr Sandra M. Besson since July 31, 2015 and so far no replacement has been named.

We will continue to follow this issue and provide updates as information becomes available.

40 Responses to “Treasury broke? HLSCC staff not paid today – Sources”

  • bam (15/10/2015, 19:47) Like (50) Dislike (6) Reply
    They raid the treasury to campaign now the chicken coming home to roots
  • wize up (15/10/2015, 19:58) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
    Ok then
  • Yes (15/10/2015, 20:08) Like (55) Dislike (3) Reply
    Where the $90 million they bragged about during elections
    • gaskin (15/10/2015, 21:27) Like (25) Dislike (0) Reply
      It was a big fat lie
      • Yes (16/10/2015, 07:31) Like (28) Dislike (1) Reply
        Like everything else they said. If they would have lost that election, they all would be in jail right now, their time is coming though.
  • one eye (15/10/2015, 20:34) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    Where is the press release on this from barns and mvw?
  • Hope (15/10/2015, 20:56) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    as of 7:30pm hospital didn't pay also
  • VGA (15/10/2015, 21:02) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    Wait till NHI comes we will see how they will pay all them thousands of claims daily.
  • College Worker (15/10/2015, 22:31) Like (5) Dislike (12) Reply
    I got paid and so did my co-worker.
    • u (16/10/2015, 20:40) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      Where is your sympathy for those that didnt get paid. I got paid but lawd have mercy for those that didnt I have rent obligation etc
  • over charge (15/10/2015, 22:50) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Do you know the amount of money government get for over charging us for electricity? Investigate. Paying salaries shouldn't be an issue.
    • MAUDY (16/10/2015, 10:03) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      They are over charging us because we will not get together and demand we are not paying so for oil they are robbing left and right could you imagine you are paying more than half of your bill for oil if this isn't thief I don't no what you will call thief please GOD send help to release us from this turmoil.
    • @overcharge (18/10/2015, 06:43) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Electricity have nothing to do with government as they have to pay electricity bills also.
  • THE ACCOUNTANT (15/10/2015, 23:01) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
    What is frightening is all this is happening before the Premier goes to London in November when he will be read the riot act. No wonder the man from the Port is resisting being transferred to the College. The grass is greener where he is. Only in the BVI.
    • @The Accountant (17/10/2015, 21:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      What will he do if he is transferred to the College? It already have a lot of dead weight that needs to be cut loose from up there.
  • Take notes (15/10/2015, 23:37) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply

    The British Virgin Islands Ports Authority next
    That's the plan MD got for the money money for he and he crew to done it who ain't buy house build house and s..t truck

  • Tha Dog! (16/10/2015, 00:16) Like (28) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who took the Cookie from the Cookie Jar...Who Me? Yes You!!!...Couldn't Be?...Then Who???
  • political snitch (16/10/2015, 01:42) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    Doc is running a tight ship and the money that suppose to come from FSC later this year is already spent, even before central government collects it.
  • Me (16/10/2015, 04:11) Like (28) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Premier continue to lie to the people. It is time to go back to the pole. The country is being destroyed.
  • parent (16/10/2015, 06:52) Like (19) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is what happens to the College after they get accreditation? How do they expect the teachers to teach when they are worried about paying their bills? Just terrible.
    • @parent (16/10/2015, 15:50) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
      Of course as part of the accreditation mandate, HLSCC has to report financial irregularities such as this to the accrediting institution. Is Dr Dawson breaking the rules already or has he reported? Dammed if he does, dammed if he doesn't. Accreditation will be pulled before long, sure bet!
      • parent (16/10/2015, 20:45) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
        You sound like one of the bad minded people who thought that the college would not get accredited. My children went there and got a great start from great teachers. I am grateful to HLSCC. We need to treat the college as good as we can it is OURS!
  • college worker no 2 (16/10/2015, 06:57) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yeap the rest of us will be paid today
  • peace out (16/10/2015, 07:33) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    We at hospital didn't get paid and heard for BVI Trust workers were told no funds available.
  • Simmer (16/10/2015, 07:48) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Vino ask them about the non existing education board who is holding up college students applications for loans. Simple s..it can't get done in the BVI unless you have $$$$$$$!!!
  • imagine (16/10/2015, 07:55) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    There is money to show off in support of other islands (Nothing is wrong with that) . But somehow they can't find money to pay persons who live and work right here in these islands.

    Support your own before you support somebody else.
  • wize up (16/10/2015, 08:06) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    I don't know if it is due to the fact that we have so much media around these day BUT I have not personally heard about such mismanagement in the territory
  • JACK BE STILL (16/10/2015, 08:23) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    After the 2015 elections the NDP LEFT THE COUNTRY BROKES FOR REAL HO TALK THAT!
  • Too late baby (16/10/2015, 09:23) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Tucker's bird says, who don't hear will feel with their pocket books and their lifes The chicken have come home to roost. The people were not listening. The bad part, everybody is in the same boat and the majority will be going down in that shinking ship.
    • Yes (16/10/2015, 09:35) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
      How many would vote NDP again.
    • ...... (16/10/2015, 13:57) Like (5) Dislike (4) Reply
      I would vote for NDP again. This is like the 5th time I'm asking this question now.... WHAT WAS OUR ALTERNATIVE???? A group that is fighting over leader of the opposition and not talking to each other??? Can you imagine how much worse it would be if they actually had to run a government/country??? You all please spare me with this nonsense. Things are rough all over the world. We have been spoiled for many years. Maybe now that things are getting hard, our money will be spent in a responsible manner.
      • Yes (17/10/2015, 15:00) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        I told you before vote none of the above. No confidence in either party. Start voting for people and not psrty
  • voiceofthevoiceless (16/10/2015, 10:58) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Government seems to be playing games with People's careers and livelihood. My business is owed an extraordinary amount of money and last week we were told that the treasury shut down. Now how could that be? Treasury cannot shut down? It seems that it shut for some and open for others. The 90 million in the bank was always a political gimmick no different to the amount of money that they pumped out before the elections to fool the masses. I was not fooled. There is an obvious cash shortage and the Government is waiting for the FSC money to address that.

    We need comprehensive campaign finance laws and legislation that demands transparency in Government financed projects and consultancies. It is just ridiculous what is happening in this country. The greatest impediment to a country's evolution from developing to developed is corruption.
  • Ugly Mills (16/10/2015, 13:18) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply

    Captain the ship is sinking, do we jump aboard or come to shore....TELL THE TRUTH CAPTAIN THE BVI IS SINKING
  • The Auditor (16/10/2015, 22:08) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    What options does our hopeless Premier have in dealing with this financial crisis. He would be well advised to apply stringent measures to reduce the out flow less we become insolvent with unthinkable consequences. He may wish to consider the following.
    Impose a freeze on the glob trotting which Ministers and civil servants have become used to.
    Introduce a "travelling allowance" which would be paid to "all" civil servants. Dispose of Government vehicles, other than service vehicles, which are being abused and miss used by all and sundry. Service would be closely monitored.
    You cannot borrow yourself out of debt. You are deeper in than you think. Limit expenditure to "needs." Life is real and not a dream.
  • Wendy (17/10/2015, 18:45) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Raise house and land tax to a realistic amount. The pittance paid now is sillines.Exempt BVIslanders whose families have owned the same land for a period of 75 years or more.
    Impose an additional tax on expats and their children from countries which use the BVI judicial and prison systsem in excess for crimes they commit
  • lawdamussy (20/10/2015, 19:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I bet our elected officials never have this problem though. poor people suffering, drinking the water from the vienna sausage can while the government and their people eating fillet mignon and drinking champagne.

    Fix it Jesus!


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