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Tola radio VI host questions sustainability of public service increments

-Floyd Burnett aka ‘Heritage’ reveals that unlike folks who receive increments he has to ‘hussle’
As teachers continue to cry out for an increase in salaries and payment of performance increments due, Tola radio VI host Floyd Burnett aka 'Heritage' has questioned the sustainability of the increment system in the Virgin Islands public service. Photo: Facebook
Education Minister Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL) has disclosed that just one 2018 increment due for all public officers was $7M and that a total of five increments were due. Photo: HoA/Youtube
Education Minister Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL) has disclosed that just one 2018 increment due for all public officers was $7M and that a total of five increments were due. Photo: HoA/Youtube
FAT HOGS BAY, Tortola, VI- As teachers continue to cry out for an increase in salaries and payment of performance increments owed, Tola radio VI host Floyd Burnett aka 'Heritage' has questioned the sustainability of the increment system in the Virgin Islands public service.

Speaking on the International Morning Braff show on Tola Radio VI last February 10, 2023, one teacher who was a part of the conversation said he was happy to see the local teachers' union standing up for the rights of local teachers to get their money.

“At the end of the day, we are seeing all kinds of things happening… but we the people who doing this work, they can’t give we nothing, we here we struggling.

“I am a teacher for 15 years, I am so happy that we are standing up now… people might look at it in the wrong way,” he said.

Burnett, who revealed that he hustles for his money, questioned the sustainability of the system in the VI, not just for the teachers but for the public service.

Is increment system sustainable? - Burnett 

“I pray I don’t come off as a hatter, me ain’t got no increment to get… we’ve come to learn over time a lot of the things we practice is unsustainable. Do you think that given these challenges is the increment system sustainable?” 

He at the time was questioning Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL) who was given a March ultimatum by teachers to remedy the situation. 

Hon de Castro revealed that just one 2018 increment due for all public officers was $7M and that five increments were due. 

An increment usually represents a portion of what the employee earns per year. Employers use increments to increase or decrease base salaries or to award bonuses for performance.

The owing of increments to public servants started mainly under the National Democratic Party (NDP) after it came to power in 2011; however, the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) started to pay outstanding increments when it was elected in 2019.

18 Responses to “Tola radio VI host questions sustainability of public service increments ”

  • one eye (13/02/2023, 18:36) Like (7) Dislike (4) Reply
    The man is on to something
  • Good Point (13/02/2023, 19:01) Like (12) Dislike (10) Reply
    It is not sustainable and should be discontinued.
  • Youth (13/02/2023, 19:02) Like (23) Dislike (4) Reply
    This increment started out as performance based now it is given to everyone. This is wrong.
  • reality (13/02/2023, 19:03) Like (26) Dislike (2) Reply
    Increments need to be stopped immediately and made strictly performance base where it can be measured and not subjective.
  • Okay now (13/02/2023, 19:03) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
    Heritage you're on like popcorn.
  • blows (13/02/2023, 19:39) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Everyone working in the public service departments taking blows and when you try to branch of to be an entrepreneur they still want take long to process your paperwork. Keeping you trapped in the system. Yea mehson that’s blows
  • Increment is not a right (13/02/2023, 20:09) Like (32) Dislike (2) Reply
    As you correctly state in the article, an increment usually represents a portion of what the employee earns per year. Employers use increments to increase or decrease base salaries or to award bonuses for performance - in other words a pay rise. There is no contractual right to an increment, and the public service should only get an increment if the circumstances require it. No doubt some public servants deserve an increment, but there are lots of others that do not. Absent any proper form of performance review, it is difficult to justify an increment, even one to take account of inflation, for anybody.
  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands (13/02/2023, 21:09) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    To be honest, it is hard on Hon. Sharie de Castro. I do believe that she means we'll, but she is not the financial Minister, the Premier Natalio Sawande Wheatley is. It is my opinion that if she in authority to approve, the probably raise the salaries, and give a possible reasonable increment to the teachers, that truly deserving of same, she will. However, the power to do so is not hers to do. But she cannot be excused, because she is a member of the ruling Cabinet Team. That makes her also responsible to the teachers. Their is no getting around this factual issue. It must be dealt head on as soon as immediately, without fail. Delay is unacceptable. Put up or shut up. Come forth or no for you will vote, coming next general election.

  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands (13/02/2023, 22:51) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Put yourself in the teachers place. If you were a teacher, would you be opposed to an increment increase for you? No! You won't, but for others you do.

    Note: "Who the cap fit, let them wear it."

    Cost of basics needs are fastly rising.
    Pay the teachers their (not yours) well deserved increment increase, hastily.
  • Oh now (13/02/2023, 22:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Another failure under the Governor the elected officials are being blamed for again. These Uk officials just good at avoiding blame. They have a special kind of magic for centuries now.
  • Good Question.. (13/02/2023, 23:04) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Is it really Sustainable or just an election selling point . I will suggest give Teachers one increment and a good increase, civil servants don't need no increment, most of the hardly work, they should be happy they have a Job. I will suggest teachers get an annual salary starting at $34, 000 up to $46,000 base on training, experience and qualification.
  • Straight and Serious.. (14/02/2023, 05:15) Like (4) Dislike (7) Reply
    Civil servants do not deserve no increments, matter a fact they should be happy they have a Job in an over populated Service, that provides rude and very poor service, always late for work,.. Never like the idea of rewarding badness... Give teachers their 2 yr increment, then cut it out all together...Give teachers an increase base on Principal recommendations...Time to make hard decisuons...Increment is bad, was a very bad idea and I agree with Tola radio, not sustainable....
  • How so? (14/02/2023, 07:38) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    As long as it is something beneficial to the poor and middle class, people try to stop it. Let me tell you what is unsustainable, crime, corruption, the exploitation of the public purse to pay lawyer fees that does not benefit tax payers. What if the government ends up getting what they pay for, no imcrement, no performance
  • So! (14/02/2023, 09:24) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    A crate of eggs that sold for $7 just last year is now priced at $10.54 and my salary that was $3,500 per month for the last four years is supposed to allow me to eat eggs and pay my electricity bill that has gone up by at least 55%. Do the maths and stop talking thrash. Everything goes up overnight but salaries do not increase until every ten or twelve years so the increments are important to help people to stay afloat.
  • ok (14/02/2023, 09:55) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    What is interesting is the comments made against the Public Service getting their due salary raise. You guys are haters. Do not wish for others what you do not want for yourself. You do not value the Public Pervice, be careful you do not have to experience how it would be if these so call lazy public officers stop work. This entire territory will SHUT DOWN. Politicians need to stop misspending the public funds. Public Officers should not have to suffer because of their careless spending. I do not know how some public officers are making ends meet in these difficult times. Stop the hating and the envy. Public Officers are people too.
  • Lucy (14/02/2023, 11:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Don't worry my friends. Everyone will receive increments for all those years soon. The election is on the horizon, so Government will conveniently find the money.
  • FEO GOMEZ (14/02/2023, 15:17) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    What is Sharie doing to herself. When I elected her she didn't look like this.
  • Home School (15/02/2023, 09:02) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    We want our money by the end of March or the politicians will have to go teach the students or parents will have to home school their children. Every year it's some other story.


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