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Public Service increments will be paid by June- Gov John J. Rankin

Governor John J. Rankin, CMG has said the first round of Public Service increments is expected to be paid by June 2023. Photo: GIS/File
Premier and Minister Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) speaking on the VIP Let’s Talk radio show on ZBVI 780 AM on April 18, 2023, when he addressed the issue of increments. Photo: Facebook
Premier and Minister Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) speaking on the VIP Let’s Talk radio show on ZBVI 780 AM on April 18, 2023, when he addressed the issue of increments. Photo: Facebook
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI- Governor John J. Rankin, CMG has said the first round of Public Service increments is expected to be paid by June 2023.

He was at the time speaking during an interview on Talking Points on ZBVI 780 AM and live-streamed on Facebook on May 1, 2023.

During the discourse, one of the hosts, Elvin Grant, alluded that Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) had indicated that the matter is now out of his hands and that the monies for increments have already been approved by Cabinet and should now be made payable.

Asked whether the ‘ball is now firmly in his court’ Governor Rankin agreed, noting that he bears responsibility for the Public Service.

“If my memory serves me correctly, the agreement in Cabinet was that the first…of the increment payments should be made by June, and I’m confident that those payments will be coming forward within that time period,” the Governor posited.

Did the Governor's Office drop the ball?

Asked by one of the hosts, Damion C. Grange, if he believes his office ‘dropped the ball’ in terms of advocacy for increments for public servants while assenting to the Retirement Allowance Act, popularly referred to as the ‘Greedy Bill’, Governor Rankin made it clear that the Act was not unconstitutional nor was it in breach of the Territory’s international obligations.

“In those circumstances, as Governor I could advise as to the Westminister legislation, I could advise as to how this may be perceived by other persons but it is not a circumstance in which I would normally refuse assent. The judgment on the merits or otherwise of that piece of legislation were not primarily for me to make.

“On the question of increments, again, I will leave it to others to judge why again this was something which was left to shortly before the election, but it does depend on the money being made available and it was only once Cabinet and the Minister of Finance agreed to make that money available...” Governor Rankin stated.

VIP administration paid increments for 2016, 2017 & 2018- Premier

On VIP Let’s Talk on April 18, 2023, Premier Wheatley had emphasised that the Virgin Islands Party had to pay the increments for those years that the National Democratic Party was in power.

He reminded that the VIP administration paid the increments for 2016, 2017 and 2018, “and in Cabinet we made the decision to pay increments in 2018 and 2019 with arrears. And for 2020, 2021 and 2022, we moved up the steps.

“So when persons coming to you with nonsense telling you there has been no increments paid, you tell them that the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) in this administration made sure that increments will be paid for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 years, two of the years in arrears, Dr Wheatley had stated during the campaign trail.

34 Responses to “Public Service increments will be paid by June- Gov John J. Rankin”

  • vi (07/05/2023, 16:52) Like (26) Dislike (13) Reply
    Yeah Rite! Promise is a comfort to a fool.
    • Increments (07/05/2023, 19:51) Like (5) Dislike (30) Reply
      An increment is a pay rise for somebody that has not done a good job.
      • okay (08/05/2023, 04:40) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
        Type your full name and place of employment so that zip can personally investigate if you are performing or not performing on your job. Your comments make no sense.
    • STOP BURNING BUSH IN HUNTUMS GHUT / GREAT MOUNTAIN (08/05/2023, 07:12) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
      7am and the same INCONSIDERATE NINCUMPOOP IS BURNING BUSH AND WHATEVER ELSE SOMEWHERE IN THE VICINITY OF SHABAZZ JUICE STAND ON GREAT MOUNTAIN HILL DOWN TOWARDS HUNTUMS GHUT!!

      HAVE CONSIDERATION FOR OTHERS!!!!

      MINISTER OF HEALTH DO SOMETHING!!!! IMPLEMENT LAWS AND CITATIONS!!!!
  • hmm (07/05/2023, 17:08) Like (14) Dislike (2) Reply
    Every month its gettin push back
  • Stop the nonsense (07/05/2023, 17:49) Like (43) Dislike (11) Reply
    Get rid of the silly “increment” nonsense. Go to a merit based pay system and empower managers to reward performance. Stop rewarding mediocrity and useless staff who only turn up for a paycheck. Be fair but for gods sake make the public sector and meritocracy
    • hater (08/05/2023, 04:41) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
      The increment is performance based momoo.
    • @Stop the Nonsense (08/05/2023, 13:28) Like (10) Dislike (3) Reply
      " empower managers to reward performance"

      Woah there. Some of these managers and higher ups dont want to see people benefit or live comfortably. facts
  • tola (07/05/2023, 17:53) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    When I see it I will believe it for now nope
  • Outsider (07/05/2023, 18:00) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    The same PS who making more than the ministers and getting hand outs from the same people's purse will be first to get. GREED IN HIGH PLACES!!
  • 1st district original (07/05/2023, 18:07) Like (28) Dislike (11) Reply
    Why would the police be looking for increments? They have had several pay rise from the previous commish and we domt see them patroling. And as a matter of fact West End station was refurbished, high tourist area and NO police presence. They can be seen doing security work at private establishmentsat nights. Is that CONFLICTOF INTEREST! "FORWARD EVER BACKWARDS NEVER"! fool the foolish!!!!
    • nail on the head (07/05/2023, 19:52) Like (18) Dislike (10) Reply
      I was waiting for someone to say something because I don't see any police out and about. BVI feeling unsafe with these highly paid police officers.
    • tola (07/05/2023, 22:15) Like (5) Dislike (8) Reply
      @1st district you see them working supermarkey, clubs etc small man with no job can't get none.
      • @tola (07/05/2023, 23:01) Like (12) Dislike (3) Reply
        Tell the Governor & his UK Commissioner of Police to pay the local & Caribbean Officers the same high salaries they are paying these numerous UK Officers they are constantly bringing in for wicked purposes but stating otherwise.
  • D (07/05/2023, 18:09) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    More lies
  • While You're At It (07/05/2023, 18:39) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Please ensure we bet our arrears for the other three years. We have worked our butts off for that money and it is unfair that they are even thinking or stating that they are not giving it to us. A word for the wise:

    Make sure we get our arrears for the other 3 years. Don't say I didn't warn you.
    • @While You're At It (07/05/2023, 23:03) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      Agreed. The Governor has failed the public service.
  • Gud 4 dem (07/05/2023, 19:05) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I hope i get mine bcuz i stop working for Gov 4 yesrs now i think im intitle to it but dem soo buyars here dem only who dem fah
  • Katrina (07/05/2023, 20:46) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    Please,remember the police department because the HR unit is very ineffective and inefficient. Send someone from The general HR to deal with the police.
  • HMMM (07/05/2023, 21:45) Like (8) Dislike (7) Reply
    No one with sense believes anything this conniving man says. He has no good intentions for us. At least the VIP Government allocated the money to have the increments paid, so we thank them for doing such.
  • one down (07/05/2023, 21:48) Like (9) Dislike (6) Reply
    Promise made by our new VIP government and a promise kept. It is now for this man who is trying to enslave us to go and do his work in the public service so the payments can be made seeing the public service is his responsibility other than trying to destroy us as a people with his abuse of power.
  • facts (07/05/2023, 21:55) Like (26) Dislike (1) Reply
    I know we can govern ourselves well and do not need colonial powers to be over us with a whip. They cannot run the UK properly as it is in chaos. Nurses, Doctors, and many other public officers and health and emergency officers are striking in the UK over low salaries and no raise or increment from the UK Government for years, but they spend over $250 MILLION POUNDS on the ceremony to install their new king but saying they have no money to honor the request of the public service. Lately they told them outright they are not paying them an extra penny. Stay tune to UK news. Talk about a set of hypocrites now coming abusing their powers on the BVI and other Caribbean Overseas Territories acting as if they can run governments better than us. The Governor position should be an elected position. They need to be held accountable by the people.
  • His only interest (07/05/2023, 22:10) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    As far as I am seeing the Governor has an agenda that is not in the best interest of the people of the BVI. His main interest seems to be the following:

    1) Give away Belonger status like crazy to his own kind so the BVI people and our Caribbean brother and sisters can be outnumbered as voters and residents in the BVI thereby championing their Global Britan mission to take over the politics with their numbers and turn the BVI into a little UK. This is not what the people of the BVI want but he could care less.

    2) Pass the police Act with laws that will infringe upon our democratic rights and democracy and turn the BVI into a police state because it is another means to cripple us as they truly believe all of us in the BVI of Caribbean decent are crooks, criminals, and thieves. With the passing of what he wants in the police bill and having a likeminded Uk Commissioner of Police in the BVI, they do not need proof to come at anyone and go in their accounts or a warrant to enter homes and search. Many innocent people will get caught up and some jailed but that is the plan especially if you speak out against them. If they get want, they want they will turn the BVI into a war zone under the false pretense that they are fighting crime. Please note I am 100% against crime but I am also 100% against abuse of power with no laws to protect citizens rights. They have organized a BLOODLESS WAR to aid their intended unjustified takeover.

    3) He wants to have all the COI recommendations implemented without discussions with the people as not all of them are in the best interest of the people of the BVI. Also, the deadlines given to implement all those many COI recommendations are unrealistic and will broke the treasury where nothing meaningful will get done for the needy people in the BVI. He will then blame the leaders and use this as his reasoning for enforcing the order in council to run the country and trust me, it will only get worse. WHAT A SET UP!

    Save these three and check back in a few months and you will see this is accurate.
  • Come on (07/05/2023, 22:12) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    There needs to be another method and system used to reward public officers than increments as this is a failed system and unsustainable.
  • It is time (07/05/2023, 22:16) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is time for the Governor and all UK public officers working in the BVI to register all their interest worldwide locally and keep updating it yearly like the elected officials and now local public officers. No one should be exempted as there have been many rumors of ill-conceived gains by them, but no one has the authority to look into them as they control law enforcement in the BVI. This is not right and it does not reflect good governance.
    • To: It is time (07/05/2023, 23:05) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      I could not have said it better. There cannot be two different rules.
  • time (07/05/2023, 23:19) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    The true colors of this Governor is coming out more and more.
  • YOU AT IT AGAIN (08/05/2023, 07:15) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    BOY YOU SEEMS TO HAVE A PERSONAL VENDETTA AGAINST THE GOVERNOR , BECAUSE ALL YOU PROMOTING IS RACISM , / YOU WRITING AND BLOGGING TO WHATEVER SH*T YOU WRITE USING DIFFERENT NAMES TO DECIEVE THE PEOPLE , YOU NEED TO WEAR YOUR WIG FULL TIME AND DO SOME MORE BLEACHING , YOU STILL LOOK LIKE MIDNIGHT ????
  • Forbidden Truth (08/05/2023, 08:51) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    Lots in the public service get FULL PAY every two weeks z
    and do not perform their work to earn it.. And supervisors and Heads of departments entertain the bull shit every week. Even they don't do what they supposed to but yeah, it's the government baby...Dam shame.
  • DEDE (08/05/2023, 09:07) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    When will Health Services Authority start paying theirs. We have received one in years but management constantly getting. Hard to survive on the same salary for more that ten years in some instances.
  • Socrates (08/05/2023, 09:29) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Y’all know I asked tunana ??? Are increments a COLA? Are increments merit based? Does everyone get increments including poor performance? The UK is in charge of the Civil Service and does it supervise and fund the civil service? Is this the best arrangement? Should not civil service be under government control? If everyone is entitled to increments, is this an incentive for outstanding performance? Should not increments be performance based with verifiable facts?
  • HLSCC (08/05/2023, 11:29) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    COLLEGE employees needed an increment too. it has been like 13 years since we got one. We have families and bills too!


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