During the recent eight Sitting of the third Session of the forth House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands on April 29th, the Fahie led administration passed a bill entitled “Retiring Allowances (Legislative Services) (Amendment) Act, 2021”.
The Bill “Retiring Allowances (Legislative Services) (Amendment) Act, 2021” only now needing to be assented to by the Governor of the Virgin Islands John Rankin had its first, second and third reading in one session of the House of Assembly, allowing for no public consultations.
The amendment now significantly raises legislator’s retirement salary. It is as follows:
“In addition to a retiring allowance as specified in subsection (1), persons serving for the following parliamentary terms shall be paid salaries as follows:
- A person who has served only 1 full parliamentary term shall only be paid 2 years’ salary;
- A person who has served 2 full parliamentary terms shall be paid 1-year salary;
- A person who has served 3 full terms shall be paid 2 years’ salary; or
- A person who has served for 5 or more full parliamentary terms shall be paid 3 years’ salary.”
The present law states that in order to receive retirement as a legislator you must serve more than 5 years (2 terms) consecutively.
This new amended to the bill allows legislators who serve at minimum 1 term (4 years) to receive 2 years’ salary in addition to an ex-gratia payment.