Premier of the Virgin Islands and Finance Minister Dr. Hon. Natalio D. Wheatley has come under fire after it was recently revealed in the House of Assembly on Friday August 16th, 2024 that the leader of Government business and Finance Minister inaccurately budgeted for the salary structure for public servants.
Premier Wheatley told the House of Assembly an important aspect of the supplementary appropriation is to rectify discrepancies in the budget since the passage of the Appropriation Act in 2023.
The House of Assembly approved 11.7 million dollars for the new salary structure however an analysis by the Ministry of Finance in April 2024, of the impact of the compensation review on the 2024 budget allocations for personnel emoluments revealed the discrepancy.
Premier Wheatley explained, “The purpose of the analysis was to analyze actual expenditure for personal emoluments of existing public officers up to the 15th April, 2024, to extrapolate the anticipated spending to year end.” It was revealed following the examination there was a “significant variance” between funding required for personal remunerations for current officers and the figure appropriated in the budget.
As of April 15th, 2024, the funding required amounted to twenty-five million, fifty-six thousand, five hundred and eighteen dollars, while the figure appropriated in the budget was 11.7 million dollars.
Many opposition legislators spoke out against the “mistake” made by the Fianance Minister during the debate of the Friday August 15th sitting.
One strong voice was that of Opposition Legislator Hon. Myron Walwyn who called for the resignation of Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. Hon. Natalio D. Wheatley.
Walwyn stated that the responsibility of the Minister of Finance carries a “heavy responsibility” adding that Premier Wheatley was trusted with the finances of the country and went off on a “frolic of his own”.
He stated, “What happens in Caribbean countries and even developed countries in the world, when a Minister of Finance or any minister makes what Ralph Gonsalves would have called a ‘monumental blunder’ of this type of proportion, the proper thing for that person to do is resign from their post as Minister of Finance and I’m calling on the Premier to do the honourable thing…you have shown to this country, is that you’re not capable of being the Minister of Finance.”
Walwyn further argued the legitimacy of the discrepancy being only thirteen million dollars. Stating, “The truth really is, it’s about 20 million dollars…how can you get that wrong?” While advising that someone else who is more competent should be made to become Minister of Finance.
“This finance thing is more than you, resign from the post, you wouldn’t lose your government…hand the portfolio over to somebody in your government who is far more capable than you are.”
In closing Walwyn further said that a mistake like this is one the “public should not forgive”.
Opposition member Hon. Melvin Mitch Turnbull also lamted on the seriousness of such a “mistake”.