We welcome expats but must treat locals well! Premier notes pay gap
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has urged that locals must be treated well, regardless of whether the territory has to outsource some of its labour needs in order to accomplish its goals.
Premier Wheatley was at the time speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony for a public school building that was commissioned on the island of Jost Van Dyke.
During the ceremony, Premier Wheatley credited CEO of the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), Anthony McMaster, for the job the CEO was doing, and noted that he must sing McMaster’s praises.
“He (McMaster) is delivering recovery for the people of the Virgin Islands. He was given a task and he has delivered,” Dr Wheatley said.
“In fact,” he added, “I wish they could brag a little more about all of the accomplishments, all of the times that I’ve had to stand at a podium, at a contract signing, at a groundbreaking, or when we’ve actually delivered and finished the project and hand over the keys. There’s been countless occasions that the RDA has brought us to this point.”
But the Premier was also keen to reflect that things did not commence this auspiciously at the institution.
“When the RDA started, no disrespect to anyone, but the RDA was paying all kinds of $300,000, $400,000 salary, and I know Brother McMaster, they’re not paying you that $300,000, $400,000 that they were paying to persons who came from elsewhere,” the Premier said.
He continued: “Which of course, we welcome persons from elsewhere. We have nothing to do with elsewhere, but we have to make sure we treat our own people well.”
Premier Wheatley was referring to the remuneration of the Agency’s first CEO Paul Bayly, a New Zealand national that was receiving some $300,000 as a base salary at the time.
Premier Wheatley recalled that the RDA’s rent was astronomical when it started four years ago and said the organisation was much bigger and probably took about $4 million dollars to cover its operational costs.
“Now Brother McMaster has cut that down by more than half and he’s delivered way more projects,” Dr Wheatley stated.
He added: “The next time I come at a RDA forum I’m going to bring the statistics for you so you can understand how the RDA has been delivering.”
Dr Wheatley also argued that the agency has been building capacity under McMaster’s leadership and has been implementing procurement processes which are international in their scope.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Now let me get this straight, Mr. Bayly was not even being paid out of funds locally so why was this an issue? Who is it that decides the RDA pay structure now? How does this organization even operate? Is it fulfilling its original task of getting value for money from works done to the benefit of the country? Who is funding the RDA Mr. Premier? If its local government then why haven’t you sought to “properly” compensate Mr. McMaster?
Collecting a $3-400k salary, prob tax free, to help a place that has been wiped out by two Cat 5 hurricanes wouldn’t be my definition of charitable. Or was it that that’s what it took to get anyone competent to come here then?
We’re not seeing any willingness to provide US$400m loan guarantee finance or other big loans though, are we?
Given that the BVI wasted the billions of revenue the Government received since the 1980’s our infrastructure and public education will remain third world unless we get funding of that scale with competent technical expertise to execute.
Small dollar projects, done badly by local contractors, won’t cut it. Any one seen an incinerator? Or a functioning high school; it’s only been 5 years, that’s a whole high school intake thrown away, except for a diligent and lucky few.
Can MacMaster hold this position in New Zealand or is he qualified at all?
Bayly set up a good organisation but McMaster has delivered.
The BVI does NOT welcome expats from anywhere if they desire to work here!
The BVI grudgingly welcomes visitors who spend money.
Face the facts!
The remit of the RDA when it was established was ambitious, but what the RDA is delivering now is a very diluted version of that vision.
I do agree, equality of salaries based on role and experience is essential. There’s no place in the modern world for pay discrimination based on where you’re from, what sex you are, or where you got your education.
Ok now you’re in charge so why dont you pay him the 300 thou? Ayo so is just pure old talk
Wondering whether Mr. Bayly would have approved a 1 Million Dollar Elevator for the Admin-Building. That they then got it for $ 900,000 is beside the point since it is still way to expensive.
Pardon me. If your assertion is true then please explain why the BVI major population is overwhelmingly populated by immigrants from allover. To its detriment quality of life ,education,family structure is now on par with the lowest of neighboring islands, emos especially those that declare themselves to be Independent island nationswith Blessings of every God given natural resource and a curse that has hindered their ability to partake of their Blessings .The prison in oth the BVi and the VI,is overstocked with they and their children as inmates and employees. The BVI Police force has increased a thousand fold more and these policemen are immigrants.Tourists rarely encounter a BVIslander during their stay.
You and your ignorant ingratitude and parasitic behaviour is a demonstrated sample of what has degraded life in the VI. More bad Karma is in your future BIG Time.
This is hilarious, since we all know that outside financial services and a few other industries, the majority of expats in the BVI are exploited for minimum wage.
It does NOT matter where he was being paid from. If a qualified local was being paid that amount of money from UK, Russia or wherever, it would have been a f**king problem. Let us stop pretending here!! Everything is too good for the local black man who is always looked at as a gangsta, drug pusher or corrupt.
Perhaps the government needs to understand the basis on which salaries are determined rather than making such loose statements.
Companies normally takes into consideration experience, qualifications, market demand, risks, etc.
You are a delusional “Resident”! This place was progressive until the 90’s! You are dating back to the 80’s? There was better management of the Peoples’ Treasury during the 80’s rather than the 2000’s come forward! Get Real!
You probably say that cause your work permit took too long or was not approved. The latter is highly unlikely cause of the open the door policy for may years. There needs to be a 5 to 7 year cap just like Cayman and Bermuda!
How much do they make in their home country?
It is a fact that BVI people are not welcoming to outsiders.
Visitors tell me over and over that they find local people to be rude and don’t understand why – from I Immigration when they come in, especially, but anywhere around. I can’t explain except that we BVI people just don’t like to be seen to be too nice to wyppl.
And so many complain the expats don’t mix but many would like to, they just find local people unfriendly, uninterested and often prejudice against them because of their skin or accent. And how many locals make an effort to meet and make friends with the expats? Invite them over, to events, etc. Hardly any. So you all complain about them but it’s a two way street and I believe we have failed just as much as them.
Well atReally. Not Really always looked At like that… but there are a few shining examples right now that are not helping your case. I wish it were not so.
BVI Government must take the stance for all BV Islanders and not just a few. People have been crying out about the unfair treatment in the financial services industry for years.
The headcoach had a problem with staff been taken from the civil service and been renumerated at a higher level when moved to the RDA as he thought that would set a bad example, his words and as usual the current Premier was in agreement.
“Grudgingly welcomes “ visitors? Come on lets not get carried away. From endless taxes, unfriendly immigration and customs staff, long queues, armed raids at 6 in the morning ,junk roads and rip off taxis the BVI extends absolutely no welcome whatsoever to anyone.
But McMaster was appointed and Bayly left under your government. Weren’t you supposed to make sure he got the same pay if you were this concerned? Or were you fast asleep as usual?
Bienvenido. Estas Hablando mierda.
Go Trinidad Jack Donkey
As such these islands will remain as backward as they are and they will continue to get leaders who will use and abuse them. In this era this policy about belongers and non belongers is absolute garbage. Look at every advanced societies, including your mother country, they embrace immigrants and the skills and competencies they possess. No one country or territory will possess all the people they need to meaningfully develop that space.
Respect earn .not given.Mr man
.you ain’t elected by a soul.Your just a fill in sunny Jim.So relax and take you and your cartel and sit down.You just like to be in things…you don’t no xhi$ about.Leave the heavy lifting to the pros.duncy like he guru
Coach.
Nobody holding their heels. If they can get better than the BVI minimum wage womewhere else, then they should go there. Instead they stay, have three jobs at minimum wage and then complain. We all have choices. If you won’t want to be here, don’t stay. Simple. Since the BVI and BVIslanders are the worse on God’s green earth, move on. Heard Cayman is hiring. Oh, sorry, you won’t get minimum wage there, maybe, but you will get three months. Ungrateful, biting the hand that feeds you and yours. In fact, things have to be great as persons are leaving their policing jobs in places like Jamaica and heading here. Not to mention everybody bringing their brother, sister and uncle. So we read the crap you blog, but we don’t believe you. Your quality of life here for most of you is better than where you came from, minimum wage and all.
P.S. If you want more than minimum wage, go up to the little tiny community college we have and study something. That is if you don’t want to go back home and attend one of your big universities. Hypocrites, ugly hypocrites. Green is all you care about and all BVIslanders know it.Our children are suffering because there are no entry level positions to be had and even a mid level position is now hard to come by. So sorry I am not sure who is being exploited here.
Wow. So much nastiness in one post!
I bet you go to church, but look at yourself writing cold, heartless, self-centered, arrogant words about fellow humans.
You are high on being from the BVI. Your patriotism has gone overboard and made you actually believe in your own superiority, and demean the humanity and circumstances of others.
“Our people are suffering …” No they are not! They are extremely rich compared to 90% of people on this planet. They are extremely rich in terms of family wealth in the form of land, buildings earning rent, and business advantages of every imaginable kind compared to outsiders, civil service jobs for life that require many to do very little work, then retire on a full pension when it suits you. And of course, all that fast boat cash that feeds into most families here.
And yet you want to claim to be oppressed by outsiders coming here desperate to earn money for their families back home in real poor countries. And you say they have choices. As your forefathers will tell you – desperate people only have bad choices. Even when BVIslanders exploit them as slaves, taking 1/2 their wages, holding their passports, making them pay rent for crowded rooms in small apartments, etc.
And you expect to get jobs in financial and tourism that people have trained and competed for in the big wide world – just because you are from here? And pretend it’s racism when your lack of skill or experience compared to outsiders is clear for everyone to see?.
I could go on but reading your cruel words I feel like you sum up the really nasty side of BVI culture that in one generation now literally believes it is superior to other humans. Let’s stop this attitude right now because history shows us nothing good ever comes out of this.
And don’t tell me to leave – I am you, which is why I see you so clear.
Now let me add my few pence, mr take off that heading,change it,you all treat expats so freaking bad ,like dogs now u have the guts to say they are welcome, not even your people u treat well ,now see the picture u sending out to the world.you should be ashamed
@Inside, What a load of CRAP.
Do these obvious truths make you feel uncomfortable?
Every sentence in that post is true and your emotional reaction, with no facts, points or argument, suggest it made you feel very insecure.
Which is exactly why we are so nasty to outsiders -because we are insecure about our own culture, so we tell each other we are BETTER than anyone else. This is typical insecure behaviour.
“ We have nothing to do with elsewhere”. There is the problem in a nutshell. What a mindset!
At GREG.. ENGLAND EMBRACE IMMIGRATION? EFFING REALLY? AND THEY SENDING HOME PEOPLE LIVING THERE FOR OVER FIFTY YEARS AND REVOKING CITIZENSHIP WITHOUT REASON.GIVE ME A DAM BREAK.