Premier Dr. the Honourable Natalio Wheatley in a direct response to Sixth District candidate Myron Walwyn’s criticism of the Retiring Allowances Act 2021, says Walwyn was the first former legislator to benefit from the legislation.
Premier Wheatley said he was shocked to hear Walwyn’s criticism of the legislation considering that the former Education Minister benefited handsomely from the decision, immediately pocketing in excess of $276,000 and a monthly salary exceeding $5000.
The premier’s reply came after Walwyn labelled parts of the Act as the “height of political wickedness”, stating that the law was passed under the Virgin Islands Party government during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to benefit the elected officials at the expense of the tax paying residents.
Premier Wheatley also stated that the only person who presently qualifies to benefit from the act from the current Virgin Islands Party is Hon. Alvera Maduro-Caines who he said voted against the bill.
Dr. Wheatley also disclosed that it was his idea to repeal the legislation, claiming that Chairman of the National Democratic Party Hon. Marlon Penn took his idea and ran with it.
The premier further claimed that Penn only decided to advocate for the repeal of the legislation after seeking legal advice which informed Penn that his gratuity package would not be affected.
284News had an opportunity to speak to Walwyn on our Just for the Record election series which will be airing soon.
He explained the part of the legislation that he believes needs to be repealed, stating that his pension benefits have nothing to do with the controversial section of the Act.
Walwyn also labelled the premier’s public disclosure of his pension information as disgraceful and grossly unethical.