Mather pushes for expat government worker fee
A proposal to introduce a fee for expatriate government employees working in the BVI was raised in the House of Assembly during debate on the 2026 budget estimates, with Territorial At-Large Representative Stacy Mather arguing that the measure should be considered as a revenue-generating option for the territory.
Speaking during the budget debate in the House of Assembly, Mather told legislators that the government currently employs hundreds of workers on work permits and suggested that the territory reassess how it treats such arrangements amid rising fiscal pressures.
“There are over 500 government employees presently on work permits,” Mather stated. “I think it’s time for them… I think they should pay a fee. I think we should collect something,” he added.
Not meant to be punitive
Mather stressed that the proposal was not framed as a punitive measure, arguing that he was not suggesting the fee be charged annually. Instead, he said it should form part of a broader review of the territory’s revenue base at a time when the government is seeking to fund an increasingly large national budget.
“I’m not saying every year. I’m not saying that,” Mather told the House. “I’m saying I think they should pay something because we need revenue.”
Mather, who recently switched his allegiance from the opposition benches to the government, argued that the Virgin Islands could no longer afford to overlook potential sources of income while simultaneously absorbing criticism about fiscal management.
We can’t always give away the BVI for free
He said the government must begin to look “beyond where our laws were” and reconsider long-standing practices that may no longer be sustainable.
“We can’t always give away the Virgin Islands for free and still take the criticisms we are taking,” Mather said during his contribution. Throughout his presentation, Mather repeatedly emphasised the need for practical measures that deliver results and help stabilise government finances.
The suggestion of a fee on expatriate public officers was raised alongside calls for greater accountability, improved revenue collection, and a renewed focus on policies that directly benefit residents. Mather did not outline how such a fee would be structured or which categories of employees might be exempt, but framed the idea as one option among several that the government should be prepared to examine.
Copyright 2026 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
That’s the dumbest idea I ever heard so far for the new year.
Why not get government workers to pay into there own pension scheme?
That would save a lot
While at it cut y’all salaries and useless allowances
Can’t wait to not vote for u guys next election
The work permit fee is supposed to be paid by the employer and not by the employee! What is the point of the BVI Government paying a work permit fee to itself? Sounds like Mather makes his empolyees pay the work permit fee themselves. naughty naughty
Is that so?? Well you will be shocked to find out that 99% of employers make their employees pay the fee.
Yes, He crossed ghe floor. He should have crossed the road.
Lol
If I was being hired as expat worker by the BVI Government I would require them to pay that fee as part of my contract or I would find some place else. The BVI Govt need the expat worker…how you going turn around an impose a fee. It going to come right out from the same Goverment.
“We need revenue” really? Why not better spending habits? Kill people for that double salary. Greed just destroy this place.
They need money but they salary increase and looking for places to take
Of the taxes taken from employees but not paid to government by their belonger employer.
So you jump side to do f***ery
I thought you had great ideas. But this one is very inconsiderate to double tax the government employees who are in need by the very government.
Cut the greedy bill and save millions.
Das wha he do!!! Switch sides to talk shyt
You want to tax yourself? You charge a tax on employees paid by the government. Said employees are likely already poorly paid. Then you have to give them a raise to pay the tax. Momma said I’m not a smart man but you are already broke and now you want to raise revenue by taxing yourself.
Especially hospital workers. Long hours and under paid
They you listen or even try to understand what you wrote before you made this s**t public….your country can’t run without expat y’all should be shame people still tolerate y’all s**t and staying unpaid jobs
Boy you wicked your wife should have had to pay as a teacher
I guess tola not hard enough
He join the team to assist them to loose
For a man whose insight once made sense, you’re now a dumb duck to even consider this. Chatting bare sh*t!!
More seering perspicacity from our elected reps.
An alternative approach would be to collect taxes from locally owned businesses, spend government revenue on competent contractors so we are aren’t constantly repairing botched infrastructure and stop allowing masses of government revenue to leak out on corrupt or ineptly managed contracts.
For examples we can read the CoI Report.
Expats are already paying the work permit fee. They pay the same taxes as everyone else, but that’s still not enough for your greedy selves? Maybe take a look at how unwisely you spend the money you already collect from expats and residents alike before you put your hand back out!
They greed is yo much so much is taken from epat all in the name of building country and the country. And nothing is being done but i know them big salaries would come with a cost, epat what about going after the business
If nonsense was a person just retarded.
Like he not only switched sides, but he also switched talking ends. He is now talking out of the hole on the lower part of his body instead of the one the upper part.
Expat voters would be pushing to vote you out next election. Smh!
As a strong VIP supporter, I firmly believe the party must strengthen its vetting process. When this young man first decided to sit on the government side, many of us welcomed the move. Unfortunately, his recent speech in the House of Assembly has exposed his true character to the public.
There was no HOA since he crossed. Isn’t the house on break?
Good observation. Why is this just being reported on?
lolol
Here goes Myron and his BVI News paid Stories…… Stories from the budget debate (What date was this?) Desperation makes the mere run….
Are you obsessed with Myron or something? What does this have to do with him? Mather said what he said. The news reported it. How Myron get in this? This is crazy.
Hear who is talking,, wow,life is funny a Son of expat is the one asking for more fees for expat.. hahahaha,, you should be the first one to contribute.. where you From ??? You born but you do not belong … check youself honorable..
I agree with him 100000%. Most of them don’t keep their money in the territory. They send it back home
Shut your duty skint.
Are you not keeping yours at home
The same is also heavily taxed
You can hardly get quality professional workers to come to the BVI to work right now and this nincompoop talking crap. See the hospital imping on its side right now and can only offer basic services. Mi Son, when last the government increase land and house tax. No, they will not do that because Belongers will have to pay tax. You all just want to tax Expatriates to death to run the country while Belongers live free. Expatriates must get tax to get the job, Get taxed when they are paid and are taxed if they send a little money home. Have you no conscience. I can see you are suffering from the Trump Syndrome.
This is dumb! You need the expats because your labour force cannot support your economy. Maybe you should consider better spending habits, and fiscal management by the Government…no, the first thing out of your mouth is to tax the people you employed to come here to work for you because you need them. How about first try collecting the revenue that is out there which you are deliberately not collecting. How about cutting your greedy salary.
Hi Stacy Mather you are DU**ER THAN YOU LOOK.
That’s a pretty big challenge.
It’s about time we start putting things in place. To much is given away
The last person who tried to impose a fee on hard-working expats’ incomes turned out to be one of the most disingenuous individuals to walk this path. To refresh your memory, he started taxing expats’ money transfers, namely MoneyGram and WU. Little did he know that God doh like ugly. The expats are doing a hard, honest day’s work still in order to eke out a living, while he is languishing in Federal prison.
You live and you learn.
So, you, Mather, keep on keeping on!
Let us face reality
1. The work permit fee was already spiked
2. Rent is hiked
3. Food price going through the roof
This is the best you can do and say?
It is only a matter of time when you self might be begging workers to come hee This is senseless!!
This is what you should be saying :
1.
Let business men and eomen pay into the institutions their SS and
2. NHI tax them for dishonesty.
3.
Middle and upper class property owners paying $10.00 per year for taxes for years
4. Business places working exp overtime and not paying ( tax them)
Stop sounding like the PHAROAH who was oppressing the children of ISRAEL.
Your political life and Role for power just gone down the drain
See what the party did to Myron . He is left high and dry
The leaders of government taking politivs like a joke
You are not pute bred indigenous either They setting up rach othet you
Are next
Thecrumbling. Financial cost to these Vi by the presence of an overwhelming low quality Expat population is staggering and does not warrant their presence. Therefore they should shoulder the additional expense to these Vi …An international Police force in great numbers, an overburdrned Hospital,cost of maintenance to an overburdened legal artery of legal and legalities associated with expats,a overoccupued pris where murderers let themsekves out at will to never be ” captured”ona degraded education system, destabliz family strucure these are of the sinking mechanism that have these VI crumbling.
The price we are paying,outpriced for our demise and has paid monetarily,socially, educationally can never be recouped nor can it be justified. Retun the devil angels to Satan an/ or have them pay monetarily to support their prince and the c ramifications to which we are subjected as a result.
Whoever this is go to the hospital and see who is it burdening the hospital you have BVI ISLANDER LIVING IN THE FACILITY FOR 4 YEAR ,8 months and 2 year no expat live there and the same expat using there little money to buy soap , pamper,lotion and other necessary things for the live in bvi island in the hospital and I bet you never go and give a sweetie to none of those person this is god earth when you all go to America and spend 20 30 years did they try you so only because trump in a lot a y’all running
“results and help stabilise government finances”
Bro you don’t think all the parties y’all having would help with that?
You don’t think all the blows nhi taking could be looked into for that?
You don’t think that big pay increase all the ministers and opposition give them self to be at the top of the scale!!!
Them don’t need no appraisal for good works to get a pay raise again..they done put them self to the top of the scale!
Election coming soon and them out in media showing them face begging for chance to get next to the people’s purse.
Hope them wake up and fire all ah dem! Change is needed.
The Greedy Bill and the recent raises are clear reasons why.
Resind the both the GB and roll beack the ridiculous raise and use that money to take care of things of more importance.
Is this the same government
That paid 500k to build a small bathroom and land they had alrdy own? Like them buy the land nad build a two bedroom all over lolo
Y’all need look into that not add but fees and taxes go people
Y’all enriching y’all self and greedy friends and family and despite y’all big profits year after year and big money being their year after year.you decide that’s not enough you want to increase taxes and add more fees to fund y’all bottomless greed
I pray God serve justice soon!
Coi was just the start!
The only think epatis not paying for at the moment is a fee to breath.you talking about the bbi should not be given for you wait. Ee pay NHI social permit high rent judt because immigrants fees.for a people the bvi hate yet they bring in all the money that is not being used to better the country. God dont sleep
Mr. Mather I’m so disappointed in your statement, I loose all respect for you. I thought you were a man for the people. We will definitely vote you out next election. Have a heart for Gods sake. Everyone in this bless land is trying… Cost of living is high, why don’t your find ways for the supermarket to stop increasing prices and landlords with the sky high apartments???
God don’t sleep I hope you turn to him for, forgiveness.
You need to make your argument more believable. Why are you quick to jump on the landlords? Jump on the thousands that the insurance companies are charging, the banks with their inflated interest rates, hardware store that charge an arm and a leg for the tiniest of things which by the way is often of poor quality, the construction labour force that turn around and steal your material and OVERCHARGE for every damn thing then give you shitty work which you have to continue to pay for for a lifetime, the renters some of whom go in your apartments and trash them then run off with deposit by not paying their last rent and utilities bills. Then you want landlords to give you a place for a few hundred dollars? How is this going to happen? Where will they get the money from, out their @$$e$??? If you sit and think on what is required of homeowners, you would be VERY quiet and take SEVERAL seats. I am not even joking! Homeowners from they begin to build the cistern, they out of pocket tens of thousands bc of overcharged rates.
It’s always, “How can we squeeze more money out of the population?”…
Never, “How can we get more bang for the buck?”
Never, “How can we pare down egregious government spending in certain areas and reprioritise those savings?”
Good! Dem here getting away wid murder for far too long
Oh boy it touch a nerve
You look at numbers not emotions and opinions
Facts
Businesses need to
Pay into monies they take from expat for SS and NHI . They sholid be taxed or pull before a judge for their crimes.
This country has a population that
sit by thr road side
Cut bush
Depend on their aging parents or get in illegally actives to make a living
Another set of the population does not have the qualifications and want to be in high positions and make havoc of the system
Another set highly qualified but are racist, prejudice and treat the public like crap
The minority are courteous, accommodating and respectful
It is all because they dislike outsiders even though one is married, become belongers . It is ingrained in their DNA . No
Matter how much of a good citizen you are , you are never part of the system .
All grin teeth laugh is not genuine…. When they are cornered “
Go home” when you know no other home but here.
Yet they run to the US for a better lifeb
Mather is a sn**e
What’s the MATTER with you??????
so the government pays the government….. and just adds more paperwork … so they can hire more people to process pointless paperwork….. seems sensible
Boy KCUF UOY!!!!!
Expats come a dime a dozen. There is no shortage mist notably in the caribbean region of Xentury old Independent CARICOM group of varied desperate hungry humanity. Some are proven to be consistent in their Godly humanity while others are predictable in their Satanic behaviour of destroy mashup.at home and abroad.. These BVI have both groups but the population is indicative of an ovewhelming affinity for the latter. All Expats are not the problem,it is simply the BVI choice of expats ,despite knowing and seeing,exoeriencing first hand result of the choice an resulting effect on life in these BVI. Do better BVI. You have a choice in who should be permitted to be a part of the BVI Community. Possibly a residual psychological effect of the notably human enslavement of our forefathers. The consistent and overriding preference for the group that enables your Self Destruct mechanism is your problem that is enabling the self anihalation. Do better BVI. You are now master and massa of your destiny.
What a c**t!
Mather you at absolutely Corey when you made this statement during the December 2025 budget debate!
So as an expat government worker you get these OVER what local hires get:
Gratuity
Housing allowance
High salary
Return airline ticket to your home country (in some instances)
Among other perks and benefits. They should pay a nominal work permit fee as do other workers in private sector do.
The freebies have to done!
Myron trolly trolls out in force – is he still LOO? Is he still an NDP? Qtna….
What do qualified locals get when we most of the dang time do the work?!?! Other countries charge for the same work visas whether or NOT you working for the government!
Government departments and statutory bodies employ temporary workers all the dang time – contracts! There should be a cost even to government expat workers to work here and all the benefits that come along with that opportunity. That fee should be paid by the employee as part of accepting to work in the Government as they would not have to obtain time to stay.
Most of these expat government workers are paid higher than us locals for the same work. Pay the damn fee and stop griping about it should this ever be allowed.
Everything you all want for nothing yet complain the country run down. Trump need come for some ayo and enlist to send Venezuela on the front lines when the time comes….
Yep!
The fact that the UK is part of our existence is what have us floating otherwise the ” barges as preference guarding” our waters would have been dust long time ago..Fact is that the involvement of these BVI seas and shores facillitates illegal drugs to the USVI and mainland USA openly.
That is areality and Trump is not dumb..He will get at us indirectly one way or another..and it will be well deserved,
ave beene dust
These whiners and complainers minds are of parasitic nature.Handouts are their idea of existence. Gratitude is a profane concept. I remember when, tek dis and gimmee were words of humiliation. Hence they will forever be in the mud begging and expecting handouts even demanding such while wallowing in the deserved title of second class and no class….Without pride, hated and be pitied. Their existence mek their own people shame and disgusted. This is a system/mechanism which has kept Black Americans as second and below with an innate feeling of unworthiness with an expectation of being ignored and scorned. Welfare and Food Stamps..a mechanism of cultural anihalation paid for with tax dollars.
This dishonorable needs a reality check.
He wants to be a little Trump of the bvi.
I agree with Mather. Expat GOVERNMENT employees get more perks than regular private sector work permit employees.
Let them pay a fee when they get their cushy Government job!
They all show their true colors eventually!
TRYING AH TING ON THE EXPATS , TO TRY FIT IN , AND IN DOING SO , HAS EXPOSED THE FORKED TONGUE WITHIN. THATS ANOTHER DANGEROUS ANIMALS ON THE LOOSE HERE
In my opinion he gained insight and a different perspective now having a real glance at the whole and with his own eyes,inside and out.
It’s called personal growth. A vital necessity when making decisions.
He has a tight to his twisted opinion. That won’t fly.
Especially them in the police force them run to be police for them not to pay work permit . The police force is a extended family thing going on in there .
Mather’s mother is from Anguilla. His father is from England. Mather was born in England. Will all 3 of them pay the fee?
He should be the first to pay those fees.
Why not advice them to go collect all the money the locals taking from our salary and not paying it to social security,,,Nhi,,,inland revenue.
Seems like REALITY has hit the brother.
BAM!!!
And he is bold and brave enough to express his new found truth.
Much Respect!!
Why people so obsessed with what expats do with their money, they clock in to work every day like everyone else, they are harassed and treated poorly by their employers because their expats, they pay taxes just like everyone else now you talking about making them pay another fee???? Man watch out. You don’t hire people then charge them a fee for being hired, you obviously hired them because you needed their labor tf wrong with these people in government.
Actually insane…
You all realize that the people who oppressed expats their parents are all expats, they just born here.. Ungratefulness, is a slave disease that still affects our mental state.
I was once told by a BVI Islander that for every one of you expats here if y’all don’t like how we do things y’all can pack up and leave our territory. Because for every ten of you that goes we have 50 new people that want to come in so go…. Unfortunately,that’s ghetto mentality of many of the locals. They don’t appreciate us being here,no matter how long we spend here they will never see us as an asset to their businesses or economy… We are all expendable… So,continue to send your money money,don’t build their nation,strengthen your own back home. They don’t like us,they just use us. Wake up people…..
Thestatement you quoted was made to you as information that is evident truthfully and plain common sense. Rather than growing your tail longer,focus on reality and act accordingly. Whereveryou originated certainly it is a place ten or more the size of these Vi and naturally subsidized endowed and supplied amply ..but you still wagging your tail and being a critter rather than showing your human side ofthankfullness and gratitude whole looking inward . Common sense itis obvious that these Vi people are far from no way near Ghetto but of course ,it is obvious that you are to be pitied and be recognized projecting your feelings of inferiority . Do better! Rise! Take a page from the BVIslanders and copy@ Good Luck and Best Wishes. Sadly,you are on hence the vonsistent murdering and criminal offenses in your country if origin and without exception all the criminal abd criminals offenses are by and against those who are your mirrored image and culture.
Human side of thankfullness and gratitude!!! What are you talking about. I didn’t say all VI people are ghetto,I was refering to the ones that put us black expats down and have this expoiltative way towards us. You’re so ignorant,what you think will happen in the next 20 to 30 years? The same people that you expoilt and treat like sh_t will be the majority that will have the voting power. You can stop them from being in power or government with your laws but they will still have the overall voting power to get the government they want in. Hence,the politicians will be trying their best to to get their votes. It’s inevitable,time longer than twine. Let’s see how things workout for your expoiltative kind when the chickens can hoe to roost.
There are lots of expats I knew from growing up and had no idea they were expats. They were friendly, kind and acted with respect and sense. Lots of the new expats moving to our shores spend their days critcising BVIslanders in the most insensitive way. They will even be mean and speak these things in front of our children. You are treated by the way you treat others and God knows all of our hearts.
I will say this also, the buzz word around Ton is that we are using expats. That needs to stop. You are here and being paid to work. You have one legal job and several illegal ones that you pay no tax for because we know your hustle. Yes, the same, so called dirty houses you clean and get paid. You offer to iron our clothes when we do not ask. And then there are the men. They fix cars, build fences, plumbing, electrical work, cutting bush, etc and pocket that money, no taxes. And all of that is in addition to the construction job that they pay tax on. So we are not using you. You are using us and our children cannot find entry level jobs because our own prefer to hire you. So you can stop the sob story. Some of you being here is costing us a hell of a lot. We now have unemployment in our country and most of the unemployed are locals. Because, yes, there are unempoyed expats as well and you are still here. We may be quiet, but we are not stupid.
Power exposes people- Mather has simply revealed his true intentions- he needs to return to YEP
Non-Government expats have to pay the fee, so why do Government ex-pats not have to pay the same fee? I agree with Mr. Mather 200%. He is the only one being analytical and thinking outside the box.
Did his parents paid ?
Wet behind the ears. He wants to single out a particular demographic for double and triple taxation. Sick ruck.
Wickedness don’t prosper, see what happen to Fahie!!
Tax them extra at money gram. We voted for you guys to help the people, not trample us down. Stop thinking from the White side of the family, used the Black side of the family brain. (2) set of taxes. (YEP) VIP give you stupid bush to drink.
Dude, the math is not mathing.
So you want get revenue on Fking ppl. You all should be taking care of the ppl on thw country the one who voting for you all. Sir I thought you were smart but you are d**b as …..
A slave is bought and owned by the buyer
as a laborer sane as yo woukd by a saw and use it cause it is yours. You dished out the lotto have right to yse him/ her. Keep it that way. The buyer must totally in charge of his tool the worker is a human commodity to be used.
Tatoos man you better don’t come in front of my place next election….s. You are an id**t. Greedy bill is there why don’t you ask your colleagues to to stop oppressing the poor people. Your idea is factor of crime increasing.
just a bunch of expats or those that hire expats so its to their best interest talking. other countries like Bermuda, T&C, prioritizes THEIR OWN if you want to hire outside work (there’s no skills shortage) or benefit then pay higher fees. should cost more to bring in an outsider to do “customer service” jobs than a local.
vibe
Very idiotic. The employer pays these fees.
YEAH KEEP THINKING , WIGGIE , BUT WE KNOW YHAT THESE GREEDY LANDLORDS ARE LIKE SHARKS JAWS CANNOT TOUCH THEM ALMOST ALL THE RENTERS ARE EXPATS , SO THEY ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THEM , PLAIN AND SIMPLE , BUT AH GOT NEWS FOR THESE DIRTY MINDED RATS , AND IT GOES LIKE THIS ( WE ALL CAME INTO THIS WORLD WITH TWO EMPTY HANDS ,AND WE ALL WILL LEAVE WITH THE SAME TWO EMPTY HANDS, SO ENJOY IT WHILE YOU CAN , BECAUSE Y’ALL WILL GRAB & GRAB UNTILL YA’AL GRAB YOUR OWN CASKET , ( SADLY ) YA’AL WON’T BE TAKING ANYTHING THAT YA’AL HAVE RIPPED OFF FROM OTHER HUMAN BEINGS •
you got one of the most blogs for your stupidity
I’ve never felt so sad and emotional in my life about this country. The only thing I can think of is that these politicians have a psychological condition because none of this makes sense.