Skelton presses government over pension payment delays
Territorial At-Large Representative Ronnie Skelton has urged the government to expedite long-delayed pension increases for retirees, arguing that elderly residents should not have to wait any longer for payments that have already been approved.
Speaking in the House of Assembly recently, Skelton said pensioners had still not received their cost-of-living adjustment despite assurances that the increases would be paid.
“I think that is wrong,” Skelton said. “Whoever is responsible for paying the little allowances that increase in pensions that these people deserve, they need to do it, and they need to do it now.”
The At-Large representative said he had raised the matter with Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley, who indicated that instructions had already been given for the payments to proceed. Skelton argued that retirees, many of whom rely on fixed incomes, continue to face mounting financial pressures as they await the adjustment.
“The country cannot make progress taking advantage of the old and the little children,” he said. “We who are in this House, we have gotten an increase from last year, January. And we can’t see it fit to make sure the pensioners of this country get their little allowance.”
Rising living costs
He said rising living costs had placed additional strain on pensioners, particularly those still servicing mortgages or who had borrowed against their homes to finance their children’s education.
“The cost of living has increased since the hurricanes… they’re hurting because they are on a fixed income. We need to help. That’s what we’re here for,” Skelton argued. Appealing directly to the Premier, Skelton added: “Premier, please, push some more, please.”
He also expressed concern that the increase would reportedly be applied only from January 2026, saying he had not yet seen any official documentation confirming the arrangement. Earlier this month, Premier Wheatley apologised publicly for the delay in processing the pension increases after an internal review identified errors in the calculations used to determine the revised payments.
According to the Premier, Cabinet had already approved more than $6 million to fund the pension increases. However, payments were delayed after officials discovered discrepancies during the implementation process, requiring the figures to be recalculated before payments could be released.
He said the government had budgeted for the increases in 2026 and expected the revised payments to be processed as quickly as possible once the errors were corrected.
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Election close so he is pretending to care. All the time when the pensioners were crying out we heard nothing from you Hon. Skelton. The time coming close and now all of a sudden you care.
In fairness to him, he has spoken up on this matter before. Maybe not loud enough or consistently enough though.
We still sending you home. Time to retire.
I totally agree. The premier finds money for all kinds of everything. His salary is good and he seems to not care about anyone else, the epitome of selfishness. And he needs to also PAY the outstanding INCRENENTS… Otter nonsense.
Do better Premier Wheatley.
Cost of living is so high. His bread is well buttered both sides while some people have no bread. I don’t know if people can’t see what a selfish leader we have. I hope you all don’t plan to re-elect him and his selfish crew… NONSENSE
Is he alive? I voted for him and I have not seen him in person in almost 4 years. Never once seen him in my area. Never. I’ve must be one of the 13 to go.
I don’t see any at-large representatives
He turn up again. Must have been let in past Airport security.
It’s hitting Ronnie conscience that he and Marlon and John cline and natalio as part of the entitlement indeginous elites club got rid of Myron and now have nothing to fight in defense of the people, the aim was to get rid a Myron because he will go to the UK and fight for the people themselves instead a joining natalio to get more power for politicians over the governor.
The NDP is a lame duck with Marlon, all they going UK for is to give the premier more autonomy to do as he please without answering to the governor or the people.
The best thing the voters could do this time is send Ronnie home for good. Give a younger, more vibrant person a chance. What has Ronnie done for the past 3 years? Nothing! Nothing! Nothing! It’s time to end this legacy politics. Give other people who really want to serve and help others a chance.
It seems Rip Van Winkle has finally awakened. But pensioners shouldn’t have had to wait for him. These increases were approved long ago, and the Seniors who built this territory deserve timely action, not years of administrative slumber.
If we keep electing the same tired politicians, why do we expect different results?
As the saying goes, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
Perhaps it’s time for Ronnie to retire and enjoy the same pension he’s now lamenting over and experience the same financial pressures that everyone else is expected to live with. Sometimes the best way to serve the public is to step aside and allow new leadership with fresh ideas to take the reins.
Sad, But A Large Number Of Virgin Islands Voters Are Either Blind, Ignorant, Jealous Or Plain Dumb. Hon. Skelton Can Easily Go Home because He Don’t Need The Peoples’ Money To Live. Hon. Skelton Was The Best Finance Minister This Territory Has Ever had. Hon. Skelton Was The One Who made it Possible For Virgin Islands Students To Have Free Admission Into HLSCC. Hon. Skelton Was The Minister Who Initiated The 10K Payroll Tax Exemption. Hon. Skelton Was The Minister Who Initiated The NHI Scheme But Because Of The Players Who Had Different Motives Not In Favour Of The People, It Ended Up The Way It Presently Is With No Sign Of Modification At Least Not With This Present Bunch. If We Are Honest, We Would Admit The Chaos This Territory Is In With The Young Group. Every Sector In This Territory Is In A Mess… Kudos To Hon. Skelton And Hon. Julian Frazer!! Two Distinguished Gentlemen..
He doesn’t need the money but he would do anything for the power. So since he doesn’t need the money and he isn’t doing one thing to help people or the country let him go home with his bag full of money. He is useless
This comment is true but very lame coming from a multimillionaire businessman/ politician just coming out of hybernation. Didn’t even remember you were alive until this post. How do you really propose on garnering the funds because your not taking it out of that cement company, so let us know in the nearest future if your reading this….Thanks!