Walwyn refutes Premier’s ‘Greedy Bill’ narrative
Former Education Minister, Myron Walwyn, has once again refuted claims by Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley that he (Walwyn) was being deceitful over comments about a partial repeal of the Pension Act instituted by lawmakers two years ago.
Walwyn explained in a recent interview with the Cut Deep show that a report on the emoluments of legislators was commissioned during his time in government with the National Democratic Party (NDP). However, he said the recommendation from that report for lawmakers to receive a pension on both their salary and allowances was not implemented before he left office.
Under the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government led by former Premier Andrew Fahie, however, Walwyn said a number of different measures were added to that recommendation and taken to the House of Assembly (HOA) before being passed into law as new provisions in the Retiring Allowances (Legislative Services) Amendment Act, 2021 — more commonly referred to as the Greedy Bill.
Walwyn said the money he received as part of his pension after the new Act was passed, was the same received by every other legislator that had served two terms in office.
They want to ring my tail
According to Walwyn, lawmakers who serve for a single term were previously eligible for a gratuity payment, which he said is equivalent to one year’s salary. However, he explained that, with the provisions of the new Act, first term lawmakers are now expected to be paid a full two-year salary, even if they are no longer in office.
He further explained that two-term lawmakers get a gratuity and pension upon retirement, in addition to two years of salary, even if they are not re-elected.
“If you serve three terms, you get that same figure he call out for me [$276,274.50], and your pension, plus your salary every month for three years. If you serve four or five terms, you get that same money he call out for me, plus your pension, plus your salary every month for four years, as if you’re working,” Walwyn said.
“That is why I have a problem with the second part of the [law]. You shouldn’t be getting no money when you are not working,” the former Education Minister said. “It is wrong. And because I call it out and I explained it in a way that people could understand, they want to ring my tail, but my tail hard to ring. I don’t understand.”
Walwyn argued that it was nefarious for the premier to suggest that Walwyn received money that he had no role in deciding upon.
“You [Dr Wheatley] were the one who brought the bill. When the bill came to the House, I was not a member of the House,” he argued. “So, it’s almost like you pass a law to benefit other people and you turn around and cuss the same people who benefit from the law, ’tis you pass it.”
Walwyn said the changes to the law offends his conscience and argued that the mere fact that the premier said he will repeal the bill, suggests that the premier knows that the government did something wrong by passing the law.
He added that, even with the premier’s promise of a repeal, any lawmaker who is currently serving remains eligible for a provision that will see them being paid a salary for another two years, even if they are never elected to another term in office.
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VIP had ample time to correct their wrongs. They are not the one we can depend on to repeal… I trust Ronnie as Premier.
Myron all we want you to do is first get rid of Alvera and then we will fix the greedy bill together.
A man facing jail time should not run for office
How can this man with a straight face run for office facing breach of trust charges for money missing over a $1.6 m small high school wall?
The correct term is tail twisting not tail wringing. Lmao
Are you saying those who already faced jail should run for office instead?
I am tired of all of you! I wish a proper candidate will one day run for office….someone who is honest and just and not a dish**est and gr**dy person.
The people of District 6 will be a set of ……..auzz to elect a man who was charged with a criminal offense
Which is the same wigo blogging using different names / he drop Cindy ,now how on Myron and misty playing judge , jury and executioner, just like he tried in the HOA ~ before being dropped kicked out by the new kid on the block
is saying )> HEY BIG youth, EH hear making some noise , so am gonna have to set the record straight
Both the VIP and NDP do not respect the people. They bringing candidates convicted and arrested for misuse of tax payers money. Especially at this time when our governance system is needing reform.
This writer cannot believe what we are seeing here, over the last 20 years we have had every version of government in power, and, absolutely nothing of real importance has been achieved to this very day. Not a single candidate has mentioned the raw sewage pumping into the sea, the continued open burning of garbage at Pockwood Pond, the derelict boats surrounding our shoreline, crumbling roads, sub standard education and healthcare and so on and so forth. All we hear from them is a race to find who is the biggest failure from a list of candidates, none of whom are fit to run anything. Wake up people, or, just get more of the same.
A set of criminals.Regular government workers have to work for at least 25 years before they can get a meager little pension while these people only need to put in 4 years and then collect a lump sum – heights of wickedness!
6- First it was the Form 6 at ESHS
6- Then it was the legislation (he would know which one)
6- Now it is District 6
Thus saith the Lord
Myron V. Walwnlyn you need to repent. Your agenda is evil.
All ah awe u corrupt
Does anyone really believe that any of these parties are going to repeal the GREEDY BILL??? Whoever gets in will make up a bunch of excuses that it’s not easy and can’t be retroactive. Wait, you see. Criminals all of them are, not even considering the Civil Servants who haven’t got any incrominets on their salary because there is no money!!!???. What is voting going to accomplish? We are a bunch of SHEEPS!!!!
It is hard to trust the opinion of anyone who does not know that the plural of sheep is ‘sheep’ but thanks for sharing.
Myron you believe is okay for you to get a payout of $276,274.50 after just 8 years in elected office when hardworking public servants cannot do that. It is outrageous and an injustice! You and all the other politicians who received that money need to pay it back. It is beyond me how a man who was arrested and charged with breach of public trust for corruption involving the wall at the high school can be allowed to contest the election. It is like we had no COI.
K. Please give Myron a damn break you ungrateful political junky you.
why you choose to criticize the person for an ( S ) am sure we all got the message ? we don’t speak proper English so you Are just looking for faults, and not overstanding what was said and if it’s true or false ( true sign of hypocrisy
Myron hope you win your case because the Dpp thinks you going up the guth
I worked fir the goverment for thirty years and they saying i am only entitled to a gratuity not a pension. They are working for for 8 years and get a gratuity abd their full pay and a pension.
You studying grammar police. Of all the broken English she/he chose to say something about my comment? That means they got their feelings hurt. Probably a politician knowing I spoke the truth. They are not going to repeal the GREEDY BILL.
This SheepSSSSSS Not Voting.
The retiring age needs to drop! Picture this! You paid in for 40 plus
Years, your dependents are over thirty, what if skmetyhsppens to you? Where is you mono??
@Runner What about a man who was in, should he be running?
Ask TAP the accidental premier why VIP passed legislation to pay him that amount and then ranting and raving about it.
My vote will be for the leader that will 1. use NHI money to make Olando Smith Hospital more efficient, effective, and affordable to those who use its services. 2. Pay less NHI money to the Private medical centers. 3. Repel the ‘greedy bill’ 4. Stop the corruption in the awarding of contracts 5. Put in place an efficient mechanism to help with the social problems of housing, and meals for children and elderlies. 6. Invest in e-government. Make government services to the public more efficient.