AUDIT: Lawmakers quietly double their salaries; Premier’s pay soars to $176K
Members of the House of Assembly (HOA) more than doubled their salaries in 2024, according to a special report from the Auditor General. The increases, approved by lawmakers themselves, pushed the annual bill for their emoluments from $681,000 to nearly $1.5 million.
The audit found that while a wider public service salary review was underway, legislators approved changes to their own pay.
“The salary increases were approved by the HOA members in an informal meeting on 19 December 2023, where they considered PwC’s recommendation and decided to amend their remuneration to the maximum range of the PwC scale,” the report stated.
Salary hikes above PwC recommendation
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), contracted to conduct a public service compensation review, had suggested new salary ranges for HOA members. At the minimum range, the change would have added $465,000, representing a 68 percent increase. But lawmakers instead chose to adopt the maximum range, resulting in a 119 percent rise.
This pushed the Premier’s salary from $72,000 to $176,243, a 145 percent jump. The Deputy Premier’s pay climbed from $65,000 to $152,015, while ministers’ salaries rose from $60,000 to $127,788. Regular members’ pay nearly doubled from $36,000 to $71,230.
The Acting Clerk of the House informed the Deputy Governor’s Office and the Financial Secretary of the decision in a memorandum dated 21 December 2023, confirming that the new salaries would take effect on 1 January 2024.
The report concluded that while provisions had been made in the 2024 budget to cover increases, the full cost was never disclosed. “Despite this, increased emoluments were provided for within the initial 2024 authorised budget without full explicit disclosure of the actual cost. This ensured that the increases were covered financially, but subsequently led to concerns about fiscal transparency and public accountability,” the Auditor General wrote.
Excluded from original review
The report highlighted that Cabinet’s 2021 approval for a public service compensation review did not include HOA members. Their salaries were considered separately, as their compensation is governed by law. PwC’s final report in November 2023 included a separate structure for lawmakers, but it was not initially part of the consultancy’s mandate.
The audit also warned of long-term implications. “Further, the significant increase in HOA members’ salaries was implemented without any form of public disclosure. The potential impact of these new salaries on retirement benefits and pensions under amended legislation for HOA members have not been discussed or addressed,” the report stated.
Recommendations
The Auditor General recommended that the Deputy Governor’s Office and the Ministry of Finance explain why Cabinet and the HOA were not fully informed of the likely higher cost of implementing salary increases. It also urged public disclosure of the increases to lawmakers’ pay and the effect on their pensions.
The salary adjustments come in the wake of public protests in the territory over government spending and transparency. In recent years, debate has intensified over how public money is allocated, with criticism that spending priorities have not always aligned with the needs of residents.
Copyright 2025 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
I examined the report. It somehow concentrated more on legislators salary when in fact that accounts for the smallest percent of the overall increases. The increase to regular members from 36k to 72k is reasonable. After the salary review a starting teacher would have been making more money than a legislator. That wouldn’t make any sense to me.
Incremental adjustments based on our financial situation and territory-wide situations. The timing is based and aspects of the act are wrong
Wasn’t it recently reported that the exodus of teachers from the schools, apart from the retirees, or maybe including the retirees, was due to not getting paid enough, their salaries were not considered adequate?
Base salaries have always been low for legislator, hence the large allowances they got to compensate them for the shortfall. What is the total compensation – salary + allowances?
See why you got so many thumbs down? You type like a fool and every sentence is a bit of misinformation and comical nonsense.
The Feast in the House
While mains run dry and pipes decay,
our leaders choose a different way.
Eighty percent of water lost,
yet they rejoice and count the cost.
The schools are cracked, the roads are torn,
the people tired, the people worn.
But in the House they clink their glass,
and vote themselves a wage to amass.
PwC spoke with measured hand,
a modest rise across the land.
But greed ascends without restraint,
their pockets swollen, without complaint.
The Premier’s purse, a swollen beast,
while families beg for crumbs, at least.
The Deputy dines, the Ministers preen,
while gutters flood and streets stay mean.
They hid the truth in budget lines,
in secret memos, whispered signs.
No honesty, no bold redress—
just smoke, deceit, and fiscal mess.
The people’s cries are drowned in rain
that leaks through pipes, all poured in vain.
The water wasted, the lights that die,
while promises rot and hope runs dry.
So write their names in ash, in shame,
a legacy of greedy claim.
For when the island’s bones collapse,
their empire’s gold will turn to scraps.
And history’s verse will make it plain:
They sold us drought, they bought their gain.
A House of wealth, a land betrayed,
their riches built on trust decayed.
They’re setting you all up like kids in a candy store. If you can just give yourselves such high salary increases, there are no checks and balances. This gives the UK a reason to empower the governor more, and with this kind of behavior, the people won’t support independence. You all this Checkmate!
All thirteen are now politically bankrupt. They’ve maxed out the public’s goodwill and defaulted on integrity. They held an informal meeting and quietly doubled their pay. Myron, Mitch, and Mather strutted through the headlines, playing sanctimonious sentries of accountability, all while drawing down secret salaries they never disclosed. They exposed everything but themselves. Now we understand Ronnie and Marlon’s abstention, not principle, but plausible deniability. They all took us for fools and laughed all the way to the bank. When it came to the eight on the government’s side, the bar was already low, and they walked comfortably under it.
This is with the UK still represented, can you imagine what the legislators would do when the BVI would be independent?
They would literally walk into the Bank and grab the peoples money for themselves!
No wonder CSC wants independence. He’s seeing the bank balances and wants his share.
TRANSPARENCY
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ……
INDEPENDENCE
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha …
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha …
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha …
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha INDEED
Laaaa, laaaa la la, wait til ah get mah money right.
vote them all out
Now THIS is what the media is for — shining light on what would otherwise stay hidden.
This just may be the straw that breaks the camels back…
Ayou leave de man. De man builling. I agree with the salary increase. Ayou paying the representatives so little. What ayou want dem to do, tief.
you can’t even speak english properly, please go and find a book to read then come back and make a proper comment we can understand..
Ur understand ebrey word else ur won’t ah understand whether ah speaking bull or calf
The year almost end and now is when we hearing about what happened in 2024, and calling it “News”.
so you agree?
Transparency public debate , minimum wage no we can’t afford that but HOA yes of course we deserve it just farcical.
YOu all can argue this and that VIP NDP etc. These people hearts full of darkness greed, an insatiable greed.
They argue about minimum wage and raising it, The businesses supposedly can’t afford it. These are nasty people. That is selfish wickedness done in shadows.
May God almighty make sure these greedy humans have to spend that money on legal health issues and big C treatments.
Is this a prank? Can’t be, we don’t have water to bathe, proper roads to drive in, no drainage.. the list goes on.
This has to be a prank.
Imagine these same people who doubled their salaries voted against minimum wage increases. Yet they use God in their sentences. Wickedness!
Pension schemes greedy bill 1 will now cost the public more than double as it rises in line disgraceful.
But yet its taking public service officers years to receive increments, regular pay, back pays and bonusss. but by all means, continue to make the rich richer…..
No frigging surprise here these dam criminals need locking up. But who will stand and do what’s right they making sure the packing that money for when they get voted out
and this same premier had a hard time to increase the minimum wage but happy with this increase. the premier of the bvi salary is that of the usa president. watch a thing. when you see disasters hit the bvi all i do is sit back and smile .the only sad thing is that it hit all of us.this country would never move forward with these greedy politicians. the only progress you would see in this country for yrs to come is in the private sector. Mark my words.
A set up to get more money after the Greedy Bill is repealed. The new Constitution will have guidelines for salary for legislators. If not, forget about development of infrastructure going forward. All the revenues will be paid out to them in salaries and pensions.
YET THEY BALLING TO GIVE NORMAL WORKING PEOPLE 40 THOUSAND A YEAR LIKE IS WAR YALL WANT
Greed is a bomb! It is no longer about service when people put themselves up for elected office. It is about self, greed and power. Go ahead! Hope you can all run from the powers that are higher than HOA can every give you.
People need jobs – n money. Infrastructure a mess – no money, water issues – no money, but they somehow find money to enhance their own lives – travel, parties, salary increase, benefits – there is never a limited budget for these things.
Youall go ahead. The people might not be able to bring youall down, but life waiting on all you dirty people
If the people of the bvi really wanted to shut them down, they can. But hey they family is the ones that raping the country so they not going to say a word.
Not a person here have the balls to stand up against this dictatorship VIP Government
WHEN THE RAS HAD THE MARCH TO GET ALL A THEM OUT WHO WENT
Does the Premiere get additional salaries for the other ministries in his (ever growing) portfolio?
“This pushed the Premier’s salary from $72,000 to $176,243, a 145 percent jump. The Deputy Premier’s pay climbed from $65,000 to $152,015, while ministers’ salaries rose from $60,000 to $127,788. Regular members’ pay nearly doubled from $36,000 to $71,230.”
These are the same people who want to sever the BVI from England, and trust them with expansion of the Beef Island Airport, among other things, and to this day cannot explain how $5M was deposited into the Bank of Asia when it was known to be failing. How anyone can vote for any of these people in the nexet election would be “appalling” and that’s an understatement.
Mitch was on the radio and all over blasting businesses receiving $20k for compensation because they were inconvenienced for over 10 months with the Hodges Creek delayed road works. He made it seem like the BVI was coming to an end because businesses but $2k per month of compensation. His salary has doubled and you haven’t heard one word from him. These people are snakes and worms, you guys can continue believing that they are the answer to any of the BVI’s problems. Where is Mather, Walwyn etc.?
Same thing Kishma was speaking on last night…this is an atrocity to the BVI as a whole. In light of every thing happening; why do you think its fair to do such a think amid your low performance and missing funds, civil servants underperforming, hospital barely functioning etc,.
This will continue to happen because we, as a population, refuse to take our grievances to the streets in protest, and we choose to continue to talk behind blogs year after year
The alliance member like Myron and Mather just come to the house and met Andrew instructions to natalio been implemented, natalio following his former boss Andrew fahie to the tooth and nail.
Number one natalio Wheatley is not a person with no finance degree but he imitating Andrew fahie and hold on to that position.
If Myron was to be the leader he would never give himself the financed ministry which is not his field, he do allow someone in the team with that background qualifications to do that.
And this is what Marlon like to be in the entitlement lineage club of secrecy and robbing the people, Ronnie not looking to thief but his entitlement and xenophobic ideology makes him distasteful.
This needs a person like Myron as opposition leader on their tail, to speak out vociferously on the ills in government, and Ronnie and Marlon and a whole bunch a them wanted Myron to hush and let the $5 million USD to bank of Asia go down the drain, and Lorna hush and let Vybz Kartel quarter million USD go quietly into his pocket off the old people tax that build this country.
Natalio is not no finance person but is hiding under the title he has as a PhD, which may probably be in poems are something else(lol) and destroying the finances for the country infrastructure.
Myron! Myron! Please continue to raise your voice because I see John cline wants to imitate you.
And the Claude is a Detroit gangster, I been to Detroit it’s one a the most conning set a people who can hoodwink you out of your monies, like Claude did under both government and did not work.
I notice the yellow site isn’t seeming to concern themselves with this matter…
what do you expect?
And what will be done about this? Absolutely nothing.
We constantly hear complaints about UK interfering in this, colonialism blah blah, but the reality is a complete failure on the part of the UK to hold those in power to account and protect ordinary working people.
No surprise at all.
This was their numober one item on the agenda under their fomer now incarcerated leader.
This bunch had a singular objective from day ne, and that was to loot and enrich themselves.
Voting has consequences, for better or fœr worst.
Sadly hwever, they will continue voting as usual and the people’s curse will remain the object of thieft by elected criminals.
yes, “voting has consequences”
Behold your BVI Moses.
The UK Prime Minister’s salary is £ 172,153,00, roughly $230,000.00 but tax and national insurance is deducted at about 50% leaving a net income of around $115,000.00. While the BVI Premier only runs a village for $15.000.00 a month
the UK leader also has a bigger population and would have stepped down with this mess
I can just imagine the thoughts going through the workers at port authority the workers at water and sewage the workers at the different ministries the public works department. all the government workers and workers under statutory bodies. my gosh I can only imagine your feelings this morning. you don’t want to work but please show up and get paid.do less.take a day work and turn it into three days work .don’t stay home please show up.its stagnation until thy kingdom come.if this happens in some Caribbean Islands it will be protest until fresh election is called. the vip government has done more harm to this country than what they are trying to make us believe Britain is doing. in 2001 this same greediness cause the now opposition to be out of government for 25 yrs in st Vincent. how can bvi landers allow these things to happen??,how,??so help me God if this dependable island get independence.i hope the governor is taking notes. something have to happen and happen very fast.andrew started it and natalio continues. why is right thinking bvi landers allowing it??
If you voted for the VIP and corner lady, I glad for all ayo.
And I hope ayo ain’t getting not one kick-back. Make ayo see red fire.
Watch moses wuk babyyyy.
Where is the Alliance or Opposition Press Conference against this? OHHHH!!! What? So you are saying their salaries were doubled too? OHHHHH, MAKES SENSE!!………..
Exactly right; one really sees who is principled and who is not when money can be used to corrupt both sides of the aisle. Funny how this was the ONE THING that they were able to agree on…
Be patient, it is coming!!!!
it should have come upon immediate knowledge. they will come now, and they should walk with checks to pay back the overage too
will we also hear a statement on what really happen with the high school wall?
People go to church to repent their greed seems some people go to church just for show. And people wondering where all the money has been going.
This is for the VIslanders, this is grounds to riot in the streets, bout your money while your gov laugh and kiki in yal face. Nepal Justice! this is NOT RIGHT
the governing party and the opposition has not even thought about the implications of such greed.is it that these politicians trying to play catch up with the drug men and women? , the young people is watching what is taking place and are not satisfied. what i forsee happening is that they would use the expatriate police force to crucify the young men .politicians it is not you alone want to get rich.your children and grandchildren are not the only ones that’s going to live in big houses and drive fancy cars.no not at all.we all are going to have the same luxury as you one way or the other.this is reality. for the reading audience the greedy bill was never repealed.read what the attorney general said about that. representative for the 8th district i will never vote for you again. once money is involved you up for it.the members of the opposition you are shameless. within six yrs the vip government made themselves filthy rich from tax payers money.this is on par to the days of slavery. civil servants could hardly pay their monthly bills. the people of the bvi is struggling to even buy food and you politicians giving yourselves what ever you want.we the people will take it back we will.
At this stage of my life I do not give a rats backside.
It’s infuriating that the same HoA that can’t even manage to increase a basic minimum wage to an acceptable level is now allowed to hike their salaries by more than 100%! This is nothing short of outrageous and downright wickedness in high places! How can they justify this blatant greed? It’s absolutely sickening! But let me tell you, karma is real, and God does NOT tolerate this kind of ugliness!
Martin Luther Walwyn didn’t speak on this!
After giving themselves a self-approved salary increase, shouldn’t elected officials have to go through a general election before the increase kicks in?
THIS IS CRAZY…. THE SAD PART THAT NOTHING WILL BE DONE AND THIS WILL BE THE NEW NORM THE NEW SALARY FOR THE NEXT GOVERNMENT.. WASNT THAT PENSION ENOUGH GOSHH MAN YOU ALL OVER DOING THIS S**T NOW.. NO MEW PREMIER GOING COME IN AND CHANGE THAT.THIS IS PROBLEM FOR OUR FUTURE.. MATTER OR FACT I TAKING SOME PAID DAYS OFF WHAT THE HELL I AM WORKING FOR GOVT GOT MONEY FOR DAYS!!!
it has to change because it is not sustainable
Well I hope so!!
After existing on a teachers meager mogger salary for forty years, and now a very meager can’t stretch far enough pension, this news is heart breaking.
These are shameless morals less empathyless individuals who masquarades as honorable persons with a heart. In fact, they are not.
Why do pensioners have to exist on a pension that cannot meet their bare minimum responsibilites that come with aging, an every expensive cost of living, high daily expenses and medical nesscities?
Have they lodt their minds, soul, heart conscience and humanity morals?
This is simply despicable!
More, but to do more of nothing!
I think its time we vote persons with their own money, that way we dont have to worry about them being greedy and stealing tax payers money!
we did that with a few; same greed
Well, well, well. Somebody better open that door and let that sink in.
The biggest organised crime gang in the Virgin Islands at it once more. No, not the people with guns or drugs, the ones who profess to be “for the people” but instead take the food from your plate and siphon off your hard earned money for themselves, without you knowing.
They will blame everyone but themselves.
I’m sure they’ll still find a way to blame it on us Brits or the COI.
The slogan on the coat of arms should be changed “CORRUPT”.
The increase was started by Head coach and team before his untimely demise. The process had been wrapped up by the Unity Government in Dec 2023 and Jan 2024.
The ‘newbies’ – Luce, Karl, Lorna & Mather had no say in the matter. The base salaries were low but the allowances is what bumped them up at that time.
My question now is, what is the total package with allowances for the ministers? I recall Ms. Parsons and other former legislators moaning about the paltry pension they got (who remembers Riel George?). Not against a structured increase that aligns with the economic situation on the ground, but more than DOUBLE!!!
I’ll await the Alliance statement on this hot topic before I taint them with the same brush.
They speak fancifully about caring for the youth and seniors because they know it’s what appeals to our emotions. Ignore their programmed images and speeches, but scrutinize their actions. Only God sees and knows all.
Heritage and friends simply demonstrated that the people could stand and oppose the broken system. Perhaps if more of us showed up that day, we would have all been messengers instead of staying comfortably in the shadows criticizing the messengers who were willing to stand bravely on our behalf. The King’s loyal opposition had the prime opportunity to stand with the people, but they march to their own egotistical beat.
How much less can we accept? How much lower can we go?
Wow look like more people goin jail
When can we take to the streets???????
This was meant to be a ‘cost of living’ pay review aimed at lower grades who was struggling, not those already earning good money.
If that was in France..the whole place would have rioted
Now we know where that missing 12 million went ha
What’s with the outrage?
can you believe the leader of the country was only getting 72000. No wonder Fahie was saying the UK don’t pay him. ridiculous!!
you forget all the perks that comes with that %72000.
Say what you want about Trump but he ain’t taking no salary. That is why Rymer calling this Lucifer, Moses?? If is one thing, he can’t lead nobody to no promised land. The prostitution over money in the place is disgusting! Anytime anybody fail to speak out against that evil government or anytime anybody in support of the greedy government, they got a cut too.
COI… look like UK need to come and rule us for a bit.
Myron voice
MOTHER’S MAXIM.
When you do what you do, you get what you get.
These jokers have no heart! Ahhhhhhhhhh boy! No wonder minimum wage could not even get a decent increase…they are eating richly on our heads! No whistleblower amongst them, just the faithful auditors at work.
BVI, this is what happens when you spit in the sky.
Not one of you…not one of you! Ahhhhhhh boy!
They gotta limit these post comments
This too much hahahaha
No wonder Chubby Cheeks has a big smile
The Governor will stand by and watch Ayo destroy the country
1. That is why they crying for Independence
2. That is why the country is not corrupt
3. $10, 000.00 pet month and poor peoplr cannot get $ 1,000. 00 per month
4. Pensioners living on 1500.00 per month some even less
Wicked
Vote them out
5. They know what they are collecting
6. You see why the UK is not lifting the order of council
Who enslaving their own people through injustice
The BLACK Man
Any white politician? I do not knoe
Any expatriates pilitician? Meeee I dont know
So who are the politicians? Locals ????
The financial noose is pulled by your own
Ok… So what now? Cuz all WE finna do is come on here, read the news, spread the news, STILL hail em up when they’re seen, come on here n blog til we drop n then…. NOTHING! THIS IS WHY THEY DO THESE THINGS AND GET AWAY WITH IT! CUZ WE NAHHHH FI DO NTTN!! WE WON’T EVEN CALL FI GET EM OUT!! …… St. Vincent, Guyana, Dominica… Dem man showing up with rock stone.. hmm… Ayo stop the noise n let’s continue scrolling…
To Whom It May Concern,
Where is the UK? Why are you allowing the people of the British Virgin Islands to be subjected to this?
I wish Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II were still alive—she cared about us. Today, we are watching our country fall into ruin while our leaders push for independence, not out of love for the people, but so they can avoid accountability while they rape, pillage, and plunder the resources and wealth of this territory.
It feels like the UK is giving them enough rope to hang themselves, but in the meantime, it is the people who are suffering.
• We have no reliable running water.
• Sewage is left untreated and flowing in our streets.
• Our roads are destroying our vehicles and livelihoods.
• Our schools and hospitals are severely underfunded and in desperate need of repair.
• Crime is on the rise, and there is a growing sense of fear and insecurity.
The politicians we continue to elect have shown, time and time again, that they do not care about the people of the BVI. It’s the same set of names, over and over, playing musical chairs with power while the country crumbles beneath their feet.
We are crying out. We need help. We need a break from these corrupt and uncaring leaders. The BVI is on the road to destruction, and the people deserve better.
Please, UK Government—it is time to intervene.
We are still a British Overseas Territory. That comes with responsibility. The people of the BVI are being neglected and betrayed, and we are asking—no, begging—for oversight, support, and action before it is too late.
What we should all be concerned about is how are we going to pay these hefty salaries, their pay out after voted out as well as fix the issues now plaguing our country. I can see the headlines now. The Virgin Islands, we are small islands in the Caribbean, and are speedily on our way to bankrupting ourselves since the greedy and gravy train, brainwashed crew obviously do not understand what representation means and being fiscally responsible means. So what we have now are well paid politicians who are lazy, unfocus as to the needs of the country and unproductive but are well paid. They have a group of tigers and tigeresses behind them giving them Xs every four years to bury us all. The Bible says you can’t talk sense to a fool and it is impossible to speak the King’s language without a few choice bad words when trying to do so. So I quit. I will now do what our ancestors did. I will pray for my country and continue to vote responsibly before I lose my salvation. I repent for the thoughts I have even now. That’s the only way to go. God will figure it out.
This just goes to show—every single one of them is fueled by greed.
Not even a good month gone, and Myron tries a vote of no confidence. But the moment a pay raise hits the table? Not one of them has a problem with it. Not a single one stands up for us—the people who put them there to work on our behalf—and says, “This is WRONG!”
There are far more urgent issues that need attention, but clearly, none of you care. NONE of you are for the people anymore. You’ve shown your true colors.
But leave it as it is. There’s a saying: blinded by greed. And that same greed is what’s going to land every last one of you behind bars. Wait and see.
Ever stop to wonder why the UK so quiet? Why they’re not saying a word? It’s because investigations are already happening. Quiet doesn’t mean nothing’s going on—it means the walls are closing in. JAIL is waiting for your greedy behinds.
Time longer than rope. And when the rope tightens, it’s we the people who will have the last laugh.
And to the one at the top talking ‘bout independence—go ahead. Just… don’t drop the soap.
Just seeing your comment:
This morning was speaking of this same thing:
“Ever stop to wonder why the UK so quiet? Why they’re not saying a word? It’s because investigations are already happening. Quiet doesn’t mean nothing’s going on—it means the walls are closing in. JAIL is waiting for your greedy behinds.”
Moses parted the seas to double their salaries.
How come the BVI is the only place where public servants – government workers’ salaries are not published and a big secret? You are paid by tax payers therefore it should not be top secret what the people we employ are paid. Publish those salaries from the top to bottom, each and every department including the politicians too. But they know why they will never let that happen.
With some simple research you can find it but whats it to you? mind yours!