BVI News

Here’s the reason gov’t hasn’t paid some increments

Deputy Governor David Archer, Jr.

Although the government promised to pay all public sector increments by the end of June 2023, Deputy Governor David Archer Jr has stated that the process is not yet completed because some government departments have not submitted performance reviews for public servants.

The Deputy Governor said the government has requested performance reviews to ensure increments are paid to public servants who are performing well.

“It (increment payments) require department heads and individuals to not just submit increment requests but to also submit performance evaluations to make sure persons are performing well and are being held accountable. The reason for that is, if you’re not performing well, then you’re not eligible for an increment. The only way we can ascertain that is if you’re able to demonstrate via your performance evaluation,” Archer explained.

Archer added that progress is being made as the government has already paid increments for just under 1,000 of the 2,400 public servants that are eligible for increments. He said eligible persons will be paid even if they have left or retired from the public service.

It’s not just a click of a button

Now that the increments payments are underway, Archer said government workers must recognise that the process takes time and that’s why the government has not met the end-of-June deadline that was previously given.

“It’s not just the click of a button to pay these increments,” Archer explained. “For example, for persons who’ve had changes in between years, it takes about 30 to 40 minutes to calculate just to ensure persons are being paid correctly.”

Public sector workers have been calling for their increments to be paid for some time now. The government previously stated that some of the payments that will be made this year will cover a five-year period extending as far back as 2018.

It is not clear why the increment payments were delayed as leaders continually shift the blame whenever the question of delayed payment is raised.

Recently, Governor Rankin questioned why the increments were left to be rolled out after the April 2023 general elections, noting that this is something he will leave others to make a judgment on.

The Governor also said the delayed increment payments, “depend on the money being made available and it was only once the Cabinet and Ministry of Finance agreed to make that money available that actual decisions could be made to make those increments payable.”

 

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14 Comments

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  1. Eye in the sky says:

    Mayson these people playing games wid ayo money!

    Like 15
    Dislike 1
  2. SMH says:

    Those Department Heads needs to stop being petty and personal. Submit the darn reviews and make sure you can substantially defend your submission. It’s not your (Dept. Head)money. Stop being so darn selfish and unethical.

  3. Shame on you!!! says:

    Any supervisor or department head who is complicit with this – including Mr Bow Tie – should be reprimanded for failing to perform their duties.

  4. TurtleDove says:

    Give the employees their increments and hold the Department Heads. No accountability at any level….what a mess.

  5. My run says:

    I agree with the esteemed somebody got to come clean

  6. Hi loon says:

    Government says one thing the DV saying another. Documents are sent out and he doesn’t know what’s in it or rewrite/reframing the info. You’ll have those little minded big headed peeple a shank and shame y’all system. Looks like there’s no consequences for failure. The top can make heads roll, shuffle staff around fail to meet basic markers and are excused.

  7. Agree says:

    Regardless of what have been submitted or not THE PEOPLE WORKED FOR THEIR MONEY…PAY THEM!!! ONLY IN THE BVI MEHSON…SMH
    This whole scenario about how they doing the increments needs to be revised. Selfishness

  8. To Agree says:

    No. It needs to be adhered to by department heads. There should be a frank discussion with staff about their performance. If satisfactory, recommend increment. If not, no increment.

  9. Blah, blah, blah says:

    Yes, but do not forget that should be done 5 years ago. Still needing more time???? Sooo the Head of the Departments had been on vacation during that time??? Money available or not , those calculations must be done, that is why you have those officers on place and paid. This is ridiculous! Insane!

  10. only in the BVI says:

    all this injustice and victimization and still the people don’t go on strike to get their voices heard and get results. this is so sad, this is why nothing will ever change the political leaders know the people they are leading and that is why they make no effort to make decisions in the best interest of the country and its people.., the political leaders know that the people they lead will only talk talk talk about all the problems and do nothing about it

  11. Scared.. says:

    The possibility of victimization runs rife in this system as it is. Workers are not unionized or have any bargaining power and therefore have no recourse if they believe they are not evaluated fairly and objectively.
    Technically the government can literally drag its feet indefinitely under the pretext that the calculations are onerous.

  12. Anonymous says:

    Those already retired from teaching especially should have have been afforded first priority. But no.

  13. Stop Playing Games says:

    Archer stop playing games with our increments. You were responsible for ensuring appraisals were done over the past five years. You have failed. What is your penalty? Why should employees continue to suffer because you can’t manage the HODS and PSs. When will you take responsibility for your own failures. Accountability starts at the top.

  14. Talk truth says:

    Mr Acher what happened to the hospital staff 10 year
    And not a cent the some of the staff ever get , the doctor are the one getting raised regularly but like the evs,orderly, nurses and other workers who they think are not worthy getting raised don’t get I know why there are a lot of expat there and even tortolian that just come get more than expat that are there for many year’s

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