Lettsome vows to tackle ‘greedy bill’ if elected
Territorial At-Large candidate Levor Lettsome has pledged to tackle the controversial law governing retirement benefits for legislators if elected to the House of Assembly.
Lettsome, chairman of the Virgin Islands Innovative Association (VIIA), criticised provisions that allow legislators to receive pensions at age 50 and payments after leaving office while other residents must wait until 65 to collect their pensions.
The legislation, formally known as the Retiring Allowances (Legislative Service) (Amendment) Act, 2021, became widely known as the “greedy bill” after attracting public criticism over the benefits available to former legislators.
Before the 2023 general election, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley had promised to repeal the law. The House of Assembly subsequently passed further amendments to the territory’s legislative retirement allowances framework in 2023.
Lettsome raised the issue while expressing support for recall legislation during an appearance on the Talking Points radio programme.
“I’m very much in support of it,” Lettsome stated when asked whether he supported a system for recalling elected representatives.
He then criticised the difference between the pension arrangements for legislators and the retirement age applying to other residents.
“I see that they have this thing where they’re receiving their pension at 50, have us working until 65 to get a pension, then they’re working three years, getting paid for doing nothing,” Lettsome said.
Asked how he would repeal the provisions if elected, Lettsome said the VIIA had discussed the issue with its legal team and had been advised that changing the law could prove difficult.
“They’re saying, oh, it might be a hard battle to fight because of legal this and that,” Lettsome stated.
However, he said the payments received by legislators after leaving office must end. He also argued that the same pension age should apply to legislators and the wider population.
“If you have yourself receiving pension at 50, every man jack should be receiving their pension at 50,” Lettsome argued.
Lettsome further criticised the use of Social Security funds by the government and called for greater benefits for contributors.
“Give the people their Social Security money. The only people should be lending money against Social Security is the people of the country,” Lettsome said.
He maintained that residents should not have to work until 65 while legislators qualify for pensions earlier.
“We have to work until 65. And there are talks of extending the retirement age,” Lettsome added.
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Boy you sound stupid already, please stop talking S**T!!!!!!! So simplistic and low level!
That greedy bill not going anywhere the people who created it and voted for it and benefit from it not willing to give it up.
Sounds like a case of “ saying anything to get elected!” Fully well knowing he won’t do anything about it if elected. These are the type of aspiring politicians you have to be aware of. They sell you a dream to gain power .
Boss, you had BVIHSA in one state. Try to sit down.
Hard to believe someone who promises this cuz one they get elected they will be entitled to it.
how many people you know would deny that big money?
only person i can see doing this is cindy or cr**y kishma as wild as they sound their strong opposition towards many controversial choices made by government does impress me.
i see some comments mentioned this man was head of BVIHSA. if that is true then i wont trust you as far as i can throw you. BVIHSA has been in poor state for quite awhile now man like you and vincent and managment team of bvihsa i pray karma strike you all hard. those workers and clients get treated very poorly . i feel sorry for anyone who uses our public health care system while politicians are allowed to have their own private health insurance smh
Well if Walwyn the full time lawyer and the exposer of this greedy bill ting didn’t seem to be able to do anything about it (whether willingly or forcefully) then why should anyone bet a penny on this guy when all he saying is that he speak to legal team (allegedly) who say it will be difficult. So if it will be difficult, why he on these streets talking like he have a made out plan. This trick caught people last election and it won’t work this time. Searching for topics to pull on the heartstrings of voters will not work on the majority in 2026. Better to get the old skool political shenanigans from here and come with something fresh because this is just a joke at this point!
By the way, when Sowande making 50? Happy Retirement in advance because this unjustified, should-be-illegal like a daytime robbery of a bill ain’t going a where.
another guy lying so he can get the greedy bill in his pocket
Will he f**ge signatures if they aint willing to sign? …. Fu**y man got his cases thrown out?
Did he make his own family take out loan and give it to him? What he would do with contracts?? Shak boy go sit dung ya hear.
Born long look cr**k!
Job.
Relationship.
Marriage.
Children.
Vehicle.
All the above have one thing in common. He just cant k**p one.
More greedy or less greedy?
It will be a good thing to leave that alone LEVOR….Let the conscience of those who created it deal with that.