Smith calls for increased pension for teachers
Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly Neville ‘Sheep’ Smith is urging members of the House of Assembly to increase the pension plan for teachers after retirement.
Speaking at the groundbreaking and contract signing ceremony for the redevelopment of the Elmore Stoutt High School campus, Smith, who is also a Territorial At-Large Representative, said teachers are vital to the progression of the Virgin Islands’ society as they continue to produce nation builders.
Smith said most of the lawyers, doctors, contractors, businessmen and other professionals who are contributing to the upliftment of the Virgin Islands have all passed through teachers at the different schools in the territory.
“We need to remember this, and we need to pay attention to this. So, today, I am here to say I want to see us raise the pension for the teachers to make sure they are paid properly after they are retired,” the Deputy Speaker said.
“For teachers, work never finishes. It never finishes. So, we have to find a way that can compensate our teachers in a way that can impact their lives because they are always teaching no matter what happens. When you look at it, a teacher is the one who teaches the same contractors [here today] and as I said, their work never ends,” the Territorial At-Large Representative added.
Smith noted that his teachers aided in building his future and his overall development.
“They are the ones who build our future; they made us who we are today, and I am asking, and I am telling my members, I am coming to the House of Assembly when we have it again and I going to ask for increase in pension,” Smith said.
“I am not saying that other people don’t deserve it because we have to look on the pension plan on a whole but for now I am saying, let us give our teachers more,” the Deputy Speaker continued.
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Why not increase the social security pension so it helps the rest of us???
Social Security Board busy building a ghetto on the hillside with our money, but people can’t survive on the peanuts Social Security pays them after turning 65.
This needs to change!
But you made sure that you and the others received their full salary including allowances for two full years after you leave government. Now you are pretending to care about pension for teachers? You all just talking without thinking. What about pension increase for other pensioners? Is it only teachers who have to deal with inflation? Just talking for the sake of talking. It was just convenient to say that because you were at a school. I guess when you go by solid waste you will say the same thing over there. Joker!
Increments cannot be paid but you want to increase pension for Teachers only and government do not even pay in to one.
These set of JOKERS!
He already got his secured in 3 short years
He will say anything to get back in
He will say anything to retain his seat but not he again
He should have ‘urged’ members of the HOA to consider this before pension for one term legislators.
Stupes
Why teachers?
I understand that you are trying to retain your seat. I like you but where this country is now and where it needs to go I do not believe that you have what we need to get us there. I voted for you before but I can’t in good conscience do it again.
Good suggestions at least you got ideas unlike brain d**d Marlon
seniors money cut back to 150 per month
They are very lucky. The hospital pension is 70% of government and the workers contribute half of it. Over to the minister to help these poor workers because the Board will not.
oh yes please! social is important so why only teachers? reallly!!
Think teachers could use a salary increase NOW, rather than a bit of pension 20 years down the road. They need to eat once in awhile too