Premier eyes ‘Greedy Bill’ reset at next Cabinet meeting
The vexing issue of the Retiring Allowances (Legislative Services) Amendment Act, 2021, commonly referred to as the greedy bill by the public, will have to wait for some time before it can be addressed.
This is according to Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley, who told reporters at a press conference earlier this week, that the issue will be taken up at the Cabinet level once he returns from an official United Kingdom (UK) trip. That UK visit is expected to include meetings with the Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) and the coronation of King Charles III, among other things.
When asked whether the issue will be brought up at the first sitting of the new House of Assembly (HOA) as the first order of business, Dr Wheatley explained that this does not happen traditionally. He noted that during the first sitting, the Speaker will usually be elected, speeches will be made, and the session is then closed. Ordinary business will then resume at the next sitting of the HOA.
We don’t want to make mistakes or skip steps
With regard to amending the bill as he promised on the campaign trail, Dr Wheatley said: “Soon, at the Cabinet meeting, perhaps after I return from London, we’ll have a Cabinet paper which will put forward a decision to have the offending sections of that Act repealed.”
The premier was quick to qualify his response, however, cautioning that Attorney General (AG) Dawn Smith warned lawmakers about rushing through legislation when the House had to be recalled recently.
“So, we don’t want to make mistakes and we don’t want to skip steps,” Premier Wheatley stated. “But I can assure you that at the Cabinet meeting when I return from London – we won’t have any Cabinet meetings before – we will make a decision to repeal the offending sections of the [Retiring Allowances (Legislative Services)] Act.”
We can’t deprive anyone
When questioned as to what will happen in instances where lawmakers have already benefitted from offending sections of the Act, Premier Wheatley said this is another area for the AG to examine.
“That is something that we’re going to need legal advice on — persons who have already become entitled to benefits. We certainly don’t want to disenfranchise anyone from a legal perspective and take away rights which they have already earned,” he said.
Dr Wheatley explained that the ideal situation would be to have an independent body, such as PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), determine salaries for lawmakers that are commensurate with their roles and responsibilities. He argued that this should be fair and equitable and said lawmakers’ pensions should then be based on this determination.
Walwyn’s reminder
Meanwhile, Premier Wheatley’s comments on the issue come days after Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn urged that lawmakers should ensure that the bill be set as the first order of business once House sittings resume.
“A lot of promises were made on the campaign trail that must be held up,” Walwyn said. “I remember clearly bringing one issue, one main issue to the fore. That issue of the [Retiring Allowances (Legislative Services)] Act. That I made very clear that should be repealed.”
He added: “I recall the premier indicating that he would repeal it and I would like to see that as the first order of business in the House because the people of this country cannot afford to carry that burden with all the other social issues that we have.”
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Don’t forget Alvera. She getting a big chunk
Carvin, Sheep, Shereen and Mark will be entitled to payment under the Greedy Act. Did any of them say before the election that they would not make a claim under the Greedy Act. Are they going to take Greedy money?
Is the Government still paying for an apartment for the son to live in on Tortola?
Smile nor man!
I WANT TO KNOW WHY MR WALWYN WHO IS CHARGED WITH BREECH OF TRUST IS ALLOWED TO BE ELECTED TO THE SAME OFFICE HE BREECHED?????
I WILL NOT STOP FROM ASKING UNTIL I GET AN ANSWER!
WHAT TYPE OF OUTLAW COUNTRY ARE WE RUNNING HERE?
GOVERNOR YOU MUST ANSWER THIS QUESTION FOR THE PEOPLE!
STOP THE FRIG!
Look pon dah old Judas
CAN YOU IDENTIFY THE 2 DRUNKARDS IN THE PACK?
I am looking at two heavy drinkers LOL
Everybody, you must wear blue and black. Yet, of course one want to stand out.
Delilah yo is a hypocrite!
Sorry just want to use the blogs to get my message accross. Can someone please contact whoever is incharge of CCT and tell them that we need the propper TNT Channel to watch the NBA playoff games.Two nights now and cant see the NBA playoff on TNT and they make me switch from Flow.I switch this year because flow did’nt had it last year and now CCT dont have it either and the BVI people love to watch NBA basketball especially in the finals.We only can see games when it is shown on ESPN. Sorry for using the greedy bill section.
When dem two get drunk we will hear all the melee.
Hush Yō Rass, you people were the same people push A. Wheat_ _ on the people of the 8th District.
I spot the two of them, look in their eyes, there will be a boozy party in the UK next week
@Mr. Governor..Pressure burst pipe. Drop dead!???
Digicel show it on sportmax
Ayo going see who drop dead soon! Bop bop! ??
Illuminate your minds.
So who has been collecting already will keep on collecting. So they issue in the future will be, if you served when the Greedy Bill got into place you should get the same as the one’s collecting now. Didn’t he say you cannot compare any retirement benefits of elected officials to regular people – LOL. The Retirement scheme of the entire Government needs to be restructered and included into the Social Security Act.
He was charged not convicted. Allen who was actually convicted for stealing taxpayers’ money, ran on the VIP card, so why somebody that has not been convicted if a crime must not be allowed to run?