HOA rejects secrecy claims over members’ huge pay rise
The House of Assembly (HOA) has defended its decision to increase salaries for legislators, following criticism in the Auditor General’s report on the 2024 adjustments.
In a five-page statement issued late at night on September 21, the HOA insisted that “the adjustments to members’ compensation were neither arbitrary nor secretive.”
“They were based on professional advice, tied to a broader public service salary review, and aimed at restoring fairness, parity, and sustainability for the institution of the legislature,” the statement read.
Transparency and oversight
The HOA noted that the review was led by senior public officials under the direction of the Deputy Governor’s Office, with findings produced by PwC Advisory Services Limited. It said the $11.1 million estimate for salary reviews was properly captured in the budget and passed in the House of Assembly.
“There was no secrecy surrounding the adjustments to Members’ compensation,” the statement explained. It added that oversight was provided by the Premier and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which requested an investigation into the reported salary overage.
House explanation
In its defence, the House argued that legislators had not received a pay rise since 1995, unlike public servants who benefit from periodic increments. Before the adjustments, the base salary for an ordinary Member was $36,000, which the House described as one of the lowest in the region.
According to the statement, “the adjustment appears large when expressed as a percentage increase because Members’ base salaries had remained unchanged since 1995”.
The statement said the review also sought to restore parity, pointing out that Permanent Secretaries, Department Heads and Managing Directors of statutory boards were earning more than legislators, even though lawmakers carried “higher constitutional responsibilities”.
Findings of the Auditor General
The Auditor General’s report, which was completed in May but only laid in the House in September, found that Members of the House more than doubled their salaries when they voted to adopt the maximum of a new pay scale. PwC had estimated that implementing its recommended minimum range would require about $465,000. Instead, Members opted for the maximum, raising their total emoluments from $681,000 to $1.49 million – a 119 percent increase.
The audit also detailed that allowances, previously a separate part of compensation, were merged into base salaries during the transition. This move significantly raised overall costs and blurred the transparency of how legislators’ pay was structured.
What the HOA left out
Critically, the House’s response made no mention whatsoever of allowances, despite its reported central role in driving up overall compensation. The Auditor General specifically flagged allowances as a cost driver and transparency issue, but the House avoided this subject entirely. This omission leaves a major gap in the official explanation and raises questions about whether the public will ever be provided with a full and honest account of the increases.
The audit further highlighted other issues not addressed in the House’s statement, including the effect of the higher salaries on pensions and retirement benefits. These long-term financial implications were never disclosed when the increases took effect.
Financial impact
The House stressed that legislators’ increases accounted for only 2.9 percent of the $27.7 million salary package across the public service. “The bulk of the funding was directed toward increasing salaries across the wider public service,” it said.
The statement closed by pledging “accountability, transparency, and due process” while assuring residents and the international community that concerns about the increases were being taken seriously.
Copyright 2025 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
they chose to take the Maximum of the scale. They could try all the damage control they want, but they chose themselves before us.
Can’t wait to vote dem a** out.
UK Prime Minister’s salary is approx. $226,350 USD
Bermuda Prime Minister’s salary is approx. $207,285 USD
Trinidad Prime Minister’s salary is approx $155,364 USD
Barbados Prime Minister’s salary is approx.$113,163 USD
St. Kitts Prime Minister’s salary is approx. $100,000 USD
Jamaica Prime Minister’s salary is approx. $57,545 USD
WHY ARE THESE CROOKED BVI MINISTERS RAPING THE COFFERS RECEIVING MORE THAN BIGGER COUNTRIES.
(…a five-page statement issued late at night on September 21)
thank u bvinews for your urgent reporting – lets see what the yellow-site makes up???????
Based on what is reported by the Beacon last week and the AG’s report, it seems that the real story might be how much this is going to increase the pensions liability.
Taking just the Premier as an example.
The Beacon reported that his annual pay including allowances is now around $253,000. So from 2024 – 2028 he will be paid around $1m. The so called Greedy Bill means that salary + allowances is used for pension calculations (previously it was just salary).
If the Premier is voted out at the next election, he will have at least 5 years’ service so will quality for a pension for life from age 50 (everyone else has to wait until 65?).
Based on what has been reported, the Premier’s pension will be 2/3 of his final salary + allowances ($253,000) which at the current rate comes to around $167,000 per year. If the premier claims a pension to age 85, he will be paid a minimum of $5.9m in pension payments (35 years x $167,000).
That means the Premier’s total current package following the increases and the Greedy Bill is worth around $7m. This does not take into account any lump sum which he might claim on retirement, any annual pension increases (which will compound and could significantly increase the liability) the burden of tax, social security and NHI, any other benefits / perks he will be entitled to after retirement, and pension which could be payable to his spouse.
And that is just the Premier. There are 13 members of the HoA. So imagine the sums we are talking about and then remember that this is just one election cycle – there will be many more future members who will qualify for this level of compensation in future.
So the question is, can we really afford this?
All 13 are NOT eligible for the greedy bill. Only those before this last house that have the continuous years.
Can we all say along together: Contingent Liabilities!!
Not quite correct.
You are correct that all 13 are not entitled to the lump sum payment, as this part of the Greedy Bill was partially repealed after public outcry.
However, the Greedy Bill also gave a life pension from age 50 after 5 years service (previously 10 years service was required) and to have this pension based on salary PLUS allowances (previously it was just base salary).
So all 13 are in line for a much higher pension as a result of the Greedy Bill and the recent salary increase.
Helping themselves as usual, claiming to be church going Christians while taking maximum advantage of the public purse, no morals whatsoever.
the retired and scrunting pensioners, former teachers, clerks secretaies and others, from months’ beginning to months’ beginning for a few measely dollars, coontinue to suffer under the greedy abuse of men and women in political office, rediculous greey food, rent and other prices, while the elected bourgeois fill their greed to the max.
The excuses presented are nothing more and are equivalent a murderer feeling remorse after cutting off the hesd and limbs of his victim.
The state of politics have been completely corrupted where greedy men now oonly lok. after themselves throoughusing the goovernment purse as their persoonal piggy bank and retirement account.
The people on the other are seeing it all and coontinue too remain silent.And so they will continue to be used right through the next election.
We are not buying the speeches. Premier, are you not overseeing the Ministry of Finance? Did you not examine the processing of these payments? Stop trying to shift the blame onto the DG; this conduct is both disgraceful and greedy. Return the taxpayers’ money!!! I will not cast my vote for any of you from either side of the House in the upcoming election. How can you all associate the term “Honourable” with your titles?
The BVI Beacon presents the figures more clearly as they have incorporated allowances in their total payment detailed below:
Premier: $154,000 to $254,283
Deputy Premier: $138,000 to $224,627
Ministers: $133,000 to $200,400
Junior Ministers: $115,000 to $173,748
Opposition Leader: $115,000 to $173,748
Other elected HOA members: $99,000 to $134,446
HE DONE EMBELISH IT ALREADY TO MAKE NAT-AL-EO AND HIS GANG LOOK LIKE ANGELS , YOU KNOW HOW JUDGE WIGGIE IS . HE TRYING TO GET IN WITH NAT-AL-EO TO RUN FOR THE 3RD DISTRICT
part hair knows that wiggy should not be in our house.
Cindy has no interest of running leave the poor girl alone plus the esteem will give her licks down sea cows bay
First, the fascinate the fools, give oothers a gift in a white envelope, make oothers feel good wit friendship, lull them to sleep then rob the taxes blind.
That is the M>O>of a crook. And tht is what we have running aroound here foor political leaders, mere crooks.
There were 3,655 public service employees that were part of the salary review.
The 13 members of the House of Assembly make up 0.36% of the total number of employees.
Therefore, saying that the cost of the House of Assembly increases is “only 2.9%” of the total is not a very good argument.
That 2.9% statement they made PROVES THEY HAVE THE VOTING PUBLIC FOR FOOLS.
I DID NOT VOTE FOR THEM AND DO NOT PLAN TO FOR NEXT ELECTION.
None of the 13 should stay after the next election – I for one will vote for none of them- and the newcomers better fix that greedy bill to the people’s requirements
Where is the mouth champion leader of the opposition in all this mess? I guess his mouth is filled now…LOL
It gone cabinet yet?
Whooaaa. These figures are what caused the Alliance to be formed. Now I get it. I couldn’t figure out why Hon. Walwyn was laser focused on moving the way he did and forming this new Alliance. He used those two stooges for that money, yo. He wanted that Leader of the Opposition pay and said Hon. Skelton don’t need that. I do. Oh, this is priceless, most of these dudes are just like show me the money, honey. What are we going to do as a country with this huge bill that we have, including pension? They have no idea how to bring in new money except taxes on us, the people. For instance we have to pay a disposal fee for our vehicles. Hopefully if I sell and the person buying sells it, they do not collect three payments for the vehicle. Is there going to be some kind of record that this specific vehicle was paid for before despite the new owner? And there will be more taxes coming soon because we can’t afford this. Rents through the roof. Can’t fix the Complex. Our retirement monthly fee already through the roof. Help us, Jesus.
@ I wondered – what a retarded synopsis your single cell bran imagined up! Ronnie was fast sleeping nothing and the PUBLIC wanted him gone from that post. Now if the VIPers had any gonads, they would’ve removed their so-called Moses since he hasn’t a clue about running a country.
You’re head so far up Natalio behind you can’t see the sh!te he has been doing since he got in the drivers seat!!!!
The Opposition are the ones with egg on their face especially the Alliance who continued to badger the premier sitting after sitting for months, meanwhile their salaries were doubled and nobody knew anything about it. So it’s wasted money when it’s spent elsewhere but they got their nice raise which extends to their pension after being voted so all is well. “Premier you does shop?”. All smoke and mirrors after making their secret backroom deal.
So no Alliance Press Conference to clarify? Ok.
No matter how you cut it. It seems like an exorbitant increase especially with a country with limited resources. a better way would have been with a gradual annual increase.
This CRIME SUMIIT for 2025 is a great initiative…but why have a CRIME SUMMIT and talking about gun violence alone..Financial crime is CRIME too!
This is going to bring us to our financial knees.
I want to tell my people something, these same politicians are going to come back and say to us, they got the raises but the people them always coming to beg them for the money so we giving back the raises to the people/beggars.
Cut this crap out! Stop begging politicians for money.
Priemer Wheatly once stated that base salaries for legislators were inadequate thus, the intiall implementation of Allowances to help address this disparity.
Now that the legislators base salary have been adjusted and the disparity in pay addressed, would the amount of Allowances paid out to each legislator each month be reduced?
I doubt allowances will be adjusted. The Premier has two vehicles, one inherited from Andrew and the one he has from the beginning of his political journey. So adjusting allowances is not his forte. He is a 40-odd year old young man who fell in a sweet spot and he is enjoying it and bilking it for all its worth.
As a people we have to get together and take them out of there. They are not performing like they needed 100 % increase. I think they were underpaid for their portfolios, but after the greedy bill this is a bit much. And if the Minister of Finance knew how to crunch numbers he would understand that we cannot afford this. Not while everything needs to be fixed and brought back to livable conditions. But, power corrupts and corrupts absolutely so we are doomed.
.
Thieves and greedy minds have no morals, scruples or honor.
That, as have been said many times over, was their original intent and aim for running and getting elected.
That scheme was concocted and engrained into them by their now jailed leader.
We now shall await tosee what transpires between noow and election for pensioners, minimum wages and the struggling retirees who live from month to month on crumbs.
YOU BUNCH OF USELESS, GREEDY POLITICAL CROOKS AKA PROSTITUTION ISLAND GANG
Kick their a..es to the curb with a swift steel toe boot kick. We the people is their employer, they work for we the people. Why should we the people continue to allow our employees to hoodwink and scam us. Send all of those useless greedy bums packingASAP.
We have a sleeping useless Goveenor, Brirain needs to recall him, he is a very weak man, look all whats going on undwr his watch…Britain please take this useless man back and send us a woman…
What damn press conference you tools asking for from the Alliance?? Do they have the NUMBERS to have rejected this without the GOVERNMENT members voting with them -yeah just like the Vote of No Confidence!
Ask the DG why he making $300k and seemingly hasn’t been doing diddly-squat apart from his B$ self-promoting!!???
Ask Natlaie and the A$$ clown Brigade for a PRESS STATEMENT before you try cut the Alliance members. Ask the former UNITY government members and the current ministers of Cabinet how it go so!
Remember – Natalie, FracZar, Vinny, Kye, Scary Sharie & Marlon (yeah he too) all sing from the same Sankey!
it wasn’t a secret. All the members of the HOA knew about it and no one else.
We best see a major improvement in how our country is run and better decisions for the people.
We are not out of the woods yet!
If you increased your own salary to help reduce the chance of you being persuaded to be corrupt just say so. What about the teachers!!
The only secrecy I need tune in on now is Brent and donellie situation
Who wrong who and which Christian will come out victorious
When the facts are presented who will be the fake non believer or fake commitment person before the alter
How these Bammers sleep ant night? God.
It’s high noon at the Treasury, pistols in the air,
The HOA’s got pie charts saying, “Folks, there’s nothing there!”
A minuscule percentage, just crumbs in the tin—
So where did all the millions go, who pocketed the win?
Not on the roads, still full of holes,
Not teaching Immigration how to mind their roles.
Not fixing derelict cars left to rust in the sun,
(We’re still paying that fee—ain’t corruption fun?)
Maybe Vybz Kartel dropped by for a show,
Or allowances for Ministers—they always seem to grow.
Maybe youth offending schemes swallowed up the stash,
Or $36K a month for some office rent in cash.
No street water flowing, taps still run dry,
But pensions and perks reach all the way to the sky.
They say it’s all “transparent,” tied up with a bow,
Yet the part about allowances?—they forgot to show.
Move the money here, shuffle it there,
Like a card trick magician—“Now it’s gone! Where?”
The Greedy Bill lurking, pensions fat for life,
While taxpayers juggle inflation and strife.
Strange timing indeed for the Order to be lifted,
When scandals run rampant and pockets look gifted.
Perhaps a Baroness visit, tea cup in hand,
Could sprinkle some honesty back on the land.
So Lord, hear our prayer, from Road Town to East End,
Our coffers are bleeding, we need you again.
For at high noon the bandits don’t wear masks, they wear ties,
And rob us with budgets, excuses, and lies.
HOW THIS PLACE HAS CHANGED..,,,