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UPDATE: Get rid of ‘Governor in Council’– R.T. O’Neal
This was a strong view expressed by the former Premier of the Territory while lending his support for the motion for a salary increase for the Director and Deputy Directors of the Social Security Boards.
The motion was passed last evening July 25, 2013, at the tenth sitting of the second session of the second House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands after it was tabled by the Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton.
The passed motion will see the Director of the Social Security Board’s salary moving to a scale of $98,000 to $169,400 and that of the Deputy Directors moving to a scale of $87,568.98 to $151,369.23. According to Hon. Skelton, the positions had not seen an increase since 2007.
But while the Leader of the Opposition Virgin Islands Party (VIP), Hon. O’Neal made it abundantly clear that he is not against anyone getting paid for their labour, he stressed his disapproval of the Governor’s office being involved in some businesses, which he feels should rest solely in the hands of a Minister of Government.
According to Hon O’Neal, the term ‘Governor in Council’ should be removed from the ordinance and be replaced with the word ‘Cabinet’. “The governor should not be interfering in a matter like this. That shouldn’t be within his duties because he has other responsibilities and that is a Ministerial subject now. It should be the cabinet, the Minister who should take on this and the cabinet will make the decision.” said Hon. O’Neal.
Employers are thieves
He was also very vocal on the issue of defaulting employers who are guilty of deducting social security dues from employees payment and have not been paying it to Social Security. “The Social Security Board cannot lean on the four hundred million dollars that might there to invest when so many employers have not been paying in the monies that they deducted from the employees’ wages,” said Hon. O’Neal.
“I call that stealing or thieving and what is dangerous in there again is that the law provides that if the employee can prove that money has been taken from him for social security and he happens to go to Social Security [Department] if he is sick or whatever, Social Security will have to pay.” Hon. O’Neal stressed that this practice could contribute significantly to the dwindling of Social Security investments.
He further challenged Hon. Ronnie W. Skelton to ensure that such defaulting employers be put before the court of law. In the same light he also said the Social Security Board needs to be strengthened and be more proactive, adding that there should be a separate committee or organ to look into matters of employees since, according to him, “One person cannot do it.”
“I know that when we were preparing for Social Security we were warned against those things that had happened to other countries and right now I am hearing on the street that there is quite a big debt owed by employers who are not paying the monies that they took from the employees and they would continue to do that kind of thing if they are not stopped,” Hon. O’Neal said.
The Social Security Act of the Virgin Islands was passed into law by the now Opposition Virgin Islands Party some years ago, an initiative which members of the House commended the former Premier for. “That was a historic moment for Tortola,” said Hon. O’Neal while noting he has been keeping his eyes and ears to the ground on matters of Social Security.
Hon. Skelton endorsed the views of Hon. O’Neal and also stated that legal actions have been taken against some defaulting employers so far.
See previous story posted June 23, 2013:
Is Dir. of S.S. Antoinette Skelton getting a salary increase?
- Director to rake in between $98,000 to $169,400 and Deputy $87,568.98 to $151,369.23 per annum in new scale
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- While all ears will be on the debate over the Motion of No Confidence on the Order Paper brought by Third District Representative Honourable Julian Fraser RA, to the House of Assembly on July 25, 2013, the National Democratic Party Government will be seeking a salary increase for both the Director of the Social Security Board, Antoinette Skelton, and the Deputy Director.
A motion will be brought by the Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton, placing the officers in a new salary scale.
The motion will seek to have the Director of the BVI Social Security Board placed in a salary scale of $98,000 to $169,400; and the Deputy Director be placed to the salary scale of $87,568.98 to $151,369.23. According to the motion, the higher salary scale will be retroactive to January 1, 2012.
It is unclear if the new salary scale will apply to both of the Deputy Directors of the Board, Roy Barry and Jeanette Scatliffe-Boynes.
According to the order paper for the tenth sitting of the second session of the second House of Assembly, the motion is covered under sections 7 (1) and 9 (1) of the Social Security Ordinance (Cap 266) which governs the terms and conditions of the Employment of the Director and Deputy Director.
It remains unclear how both the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Opposition in the House of Assembly and the public will react in a time of recession to be increasing the salaries of public sector officers.
Calls to Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon. Ronnie W. Skelton were not returned up to post time.
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63 Responses to “UPDATE: Get rid of ‘Governor in Council’– R.T. O’Neal”
tooooooooo wicked and mean to the de staff and on de psp . psc
And where there's no Education people will chat bulls**t and be unable to spell simple words and construct a simple sentence.
You dont meet the people there is no way you all getting back in. the country is crying out.
Your people are suffering wake up, stop spending the people money stupid.
go yur old @$$ home and gee the young people a chance plzzz!!!
Talking about the more things change, the more they remain the same!
Well this Country catching its @$$ and look what a old woman at retirement age is getting, an increase , this government loosing it
The dir is mean
Loook at that since 2007 no pay raise but look at the prison how long since they get a pay raise these gov.doing all kind a bull look at prison they need a pay raise forbes need to look out for his officers or step down
Charge ayo backside yes. some ah ayo like to do too much crap and then saying people treating yo bad. when yo on people job behave like yo want to keep the job nah. Strupes man.