Premier still pushing for allowance for retired legislators
Premier Andrew Fahie said he remains committed to paying an allowance to retired elected officials and their families because of their sacrifices and service to the Virgin Islands.
Speaking at a media session on Friday, the territory cannot turn its back on elected officials who have served in various capacities are living a life that is less than citizens who are just starting out in the territory.
“That is wrong, and I stand by that. I don’t know the cost yet in terms of what it is they will get but they are working that out from the House of Assembly area but at the end of the day, they have allowed us to have a better life,” the Premier said.
“I am standing on the shoulders of them and the greatness they have done and the work they have put in and I know that whenever the time comes to give any elected officials anywhere in the world any kind of funding or allowances, it is always looked upon in a negative light. But they have served and quite a few of them in the past are deceased and their families were sacrificed, in terms of life was sacrificed to give us service,” Fahie added.
The Premier noted that he could not bear to see the struggles of some past elected officials and consequently, his government has decided to address the issue and try to provide for them.
“Still persons want them to don’t have anything and want their families to live in a subservient manner because of the sacrifice made. I think that is a far stretch and I cannot subscribe to that sort of thinking. I know I’m going to get some knocks for this by some persons when they do respond in the public domain but when people serve at that level – not to give them the whole treasury – that’s not what I am saying. But compared to what they were given, it was not measurable to the sacrifice that they made. So, I am one of those who stand committed to ensuring we honour their sacrifice,” Fahie said.
Unfair legislation for spouses being fixed as well
The Premier said while completing the exercise, it opened his eyes to some unfair legislation that are currently in place for the spouses of legislators. As a result, he said there is a lot of amendment to the laws needed.
“A lot of women are affected by this. In terms of public service, if the person dies, the spouse gets the benefits until she dies or until she remarries. If she lives and she doesn’t remarry then she gets it and if she lives and remarries it stops. That’s antiquated, that’s wrong and I found that out through the whole service and the legislation that we have,” Fahie explained.
“So, that now is an area that we are working on amending. Because no spouse, whether man or woman, but mainly it is a lot of women who suffer from this. If their spouse dies and they want to remarry after five or ten years or even 15 years and they are still living, that allowance is supposed to be theirs until they die. We are going to amend that and are working on that in the House of Assembly,” the Premier continued.
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Honourable Premier leave this alone man l. You are too distracted and greedy. People out here starving you talking pure hogwash right now. Take care of your people and not all you self.
Ahhhh yes….
Pay the people for their “sacrifice.” Pay the people who were your friends, collaborators, cronies, who received kickbacks and spent taxpayer monies to better themselves. Pay them even more to keep them fat and flush as they can be bought.
Enough
But who send them to run, who they sacrifice for, only themselves. Nobody out them there, you volunteered and ask for votes and you got them. What more you want?
Elected officials are paid well for the work that they do. They also qualify for retirement benefits after a mere 5 consecutive years of service. They also have private insurance in addition to NHI. This is paid for by taxpayers. The premier wants taxpayers to foot funeral expenses as well.
Let’s not kid ourselves. They are better paid than most taxpayers. Many also engage in contracts with government using their private businesses. There are many who do little are nothing for the territory during their time in office. How much more could we as a people possibly owe? SMH!!!! We are in serious trouble.
But who send them to run, who they sacrifice for, only themselves. Nobody put them there, you volunteered and ask for votes and you got them. What more you want?
My Sentiments EXACTLY! All this focus just demonstrating pure Selfishness. Do what’s capable of aiding the Lives in the Territory. How many of 1st District Constituents are living off the Land, much less in Other Districts. Stop with this Obession for now. Man mey head dey spin.
I challenge Andrew to bring this when he win the next election. Whets the rush. He probably running scared with all these suicidal moves.
Hello, if anyone is asking why the BVI people have a reputation for being lazy:
These type of extensions are the issue.
JUST GET YOUR WORK DONE!
Mean while he is behind the scene he is looking out for himself and the existing ones
Can someone please explain to me why the people of the BVI are responsible for funding our retired legislators so lavishly when some of them only served for a few years. I think the ones that spent most of their career as a legislator should be compensated based on public service retirement rates for their salaries. Why do we have to pay a man and his wife for the rest of his and her lives when they only served for 8 years that is not even half of their working life. As the current legislators seem unwilling to do what is in the best interest of the country COI and UK please get the rid of these legislators soon before they destroy what little is left of BVI
WHEN YOU CHANGE IT FOR YOURSELF MAKE SURE THE CHANGE IN LAW ALSO INCLUDES SOCIAL SECURITY…
That is the point. SS has the same type of law but he though it was necessary to change it for them and not us. THIS IS JUST DISTASTEFUL.
Well I think all government workers who spends 25 years in service should get the same. A politician comes for one term and gets all that, but the people who been working for 25 years gets nothing
Is this man for real. He should know by now that people are opposed to all the changes he wants to bring to benefit legislators. Why is somebody only serving for 8 years getting retirement benefits? And now they need more? He wants to go out in style feasting off the piggy-bank for the rest of his life.
Some all yah go die before all yah get them benefits cause Jah don’t like ugly. Come for me now.
“ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES!”
While the voters thought they were spiting the tall bald head man and others they had no idea what they were doing to themselves. Vote with common sense and not dirty minded nonsense and you will be better off. How does it feel three years later voting based on bitterness instead of common sense? The real question is whether the voters learned anything from this and I’m hoping so but in reality they will probably be fooled once again by the bright lights and fear mongering. The irony is that the biggest campaign last time was that we didn’t want an island man as our Premier, we wanted a pure local and look at what our own has done to us and the Territory.
He did already. Some got between $75,000 upwards. This guy l** so f**king much. Andrew Fahie paid huge checks to legislators who served from lappy a** time last month. Check treasury. Lying mf.
Sounds like he plan on being a retired legislator come next election.
@×
That is why he forced through the money for past legislators, and what he put in place will line his pockets handsomely. Trust me, even if he is not elected, he won’t be hurting. He will be living lavishly off our backs.
Well you need to let charter guest come in so that revenue can come in the government treasury. See how all the restaurants and so on will ball out soon cause there is not enought charter boats in the harbour to support their business. Ask Rite way how many already cancel their orders.
Whatever allowances former legislators receive must be held until that person reaches age 65 plus their years in the HOA. No early retirement for these failed politicians; go back to work in the private sector. A two term 8 year elected then defeated politician must wait until age 73 to collect any government allowance.