Local News
Compensation Review: Deputy Governor Highlights Importance of Public Officer Feedback
The ongoing Compensation Review in the British Virgin Islands has received significant attention as Deputy Governor Mr. David D. Archer, Jr. stresses the importance of feedback from Public Officers regarding their compensation. The third phase of the review, led by consultancy firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC), has recently concluded with the submission of a proposed “compensation philosophy” aimed at restructuring job positions within the Public Service.
The suggested approach, put forth by PwC, involves adopting the Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) system to organize job families, subfamilies, streams, stages, and levels. This updated classification system aims to address key concerns raised by Public Officers during the assessment phase, including expanding job scopes, disparities in roles and salaries, poor grading of technical positions, challenges in succession planning, and issues pertaining to Public Officers on the Sister Islands.
Deputy Governor Archer emphasizes the importance of recognizing the changing nature of job roles in the Public Service. He states, “Any time new things become part of your job, that is actually the best tagline as to why we are doing the Compensation Review.” The review aims to determine the value of each job and compare it to its value a decade ago.
Regarding the poor grading of technical positions, Mr. Archer acknowledges the need for proper recognition. He explains, “Over the years, there has been a professional track without the right recognition, for persons who bring the technical skills.” The Deputy Governor emphasizes the importance of rewarding technical experts for their proficiency and passion within their respective fields.
To address disparities in salaries and allowances, Deputy Governor Archer highlights the necessity of evaluating role profiles alongside the practical scope of work performed by Public Officers. He emphasizes the importance of consistency in allowances across the board.
The concerns surrounding Public Officers on the Sister Islands are also being addressed through various initiatives, including the Sister Islands Coordination Committee, the Sister Islands Programme, and digital transformation efforts.
The decline in the number of Public Officers over the past decade is another significant finding highlighted by Deputy Governor Archer. He explains, “Since the world economic crisis, we have been aggressively trying to get the right size of the Public Service, and you will see significant declines.” The aim is to create a leaner and more efficient public service through transformation and technology.
PwC’s compensation philosophy aligns with the Virgin Islands National Sustainable Development Plan and Public Service Transformation Framework. The firm drew inspiration from various international models, including those from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Jamaica, Barbados, the Cayman Islands, and Mauritius.
As the Compensation Review enters its fourth phase, a draft and final Compensation Review Report will be created. This process will involve developing a compensation strategy, designing a comprehensive compensation plan and package, and adjusting the salary administration system to align with strategic objectives.
The Compensation Review project, valued at $302,103.00, is scheduled to conclude next month. Its goals include addressing remuneration disparities, supporting skilled and competent officers to enhance public service delivery, and implementing a Total Rewards Scheme to promote high performance.
Deputy Governor Mr. David D. Archer, Jr. reiterates the Government of the Virgin Islands’ commitment to effective human resources leadership and partnership in driving Public Service Excellence.
Soaring electricity bills, rising fuel prices and increasing import costs are placing growing pressure on households and businesses across the British Virgin Islands, prompting Claude Skelton Cline to warn during his Honestly Speaking radio program on May 19 that the territory should prepare for more difficult economic conditions and consider whether emergency measures may be needed to ease the burden.
Speaking on ZBVI Radio, Skelton Cline said the territory was entering a period of prolonged financial strain and urged residents, businesses and government officials to plan accordingly.
“The most dangerous position to be in right now is to be unprepared,” Skelton Cline said. “This thing is only going to intensify.”
Skelton Cline said higher utility costs were affecting nearly every sector of the economy, from households struggling to pay monthly bills to businesses facing decisions about staffing and operating expenses.
“These monthly utility bills are so exorbitant,” he said. “There is a domino effect of whether you can keep the same amount of staff.”
He questioned whether the government should consider using reserve funds and other measures to help stabilize fuel prices and provide relief to consumers.
“At what point does any of that trigger that creates a national state of emergency in this country?” Skelton Cline asked.
Skelton Cline noted that the territory has reserve funds and argued that policymakers should examine whether some of those resources could be used to reduce the impact of rising costs.
“There’s no reason why we should not be locking in fuel prices,” he said.
In addition to government action, Skelton Cline encouraged residents to take practical steps to reduce household expenses, including limiting electricity use and unplugging appliances when not in use.
“There are some things that are beyond our control, but there are some things that are within our control,” he said. “We must control those things.”
Skelton Cline said the British Virgin Islands had navigated difficult economic periods before and urged residents not to lose confidence.
“We cannot surrender to our frustration,” he said. “We cannot surrender to our cynicism and our skepticism.”
His comments come as consumers and business owners continue to face higher costs for electricity, fuel and imported goods, increasing concerns about the broader impact on employment, household budgets and the territory’s economy.
The Virgin Islands Icon Awards has announced 64 nominees across 13 categories for its 2026 ceremony, recognizing individuals and organizations for contributions in fields including sports, entrepreneurship, media, music, agriculture and public service, founder and executive producer Kareem Nelson Hull said.
The Virgin Islands Icon Awards was established to recognize individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the social, cultural and economic development of the Territory.
The Ministry of Health and Social Development is monitoring an outbreak of hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius that has resulted in several confirmed cases and three deaths, but Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley, Minister for Health and Social Development, and Dr. Ronald Georges, Chief Medical Officer, said Monday that the risk to the Virgin Islands remains low.
The ministry said the reported cases involve passengers and crew aboard the Dutch expedition vessel, which was operating outside the Caribbean region. Health officials said there is no evidence of any cases in the Virgin Islands or elsewhere in the Caribbean.
Honourable Wheatley said the ministry is working with regional and international partners, including the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), to monitor the situation and strengthen surveillance systems.
“At this time, the risk to the Caribbean, including the Virgin Islands, is considered low,” Dr. Georges said. “We are utilizing enhanced surveillance systems and maintaining routine port health inspections and preparedness protocols to ensure the continued protection of public health.”
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially serious disease that is primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their droppings, urine or saliva. Human-to-human transmission is extremely uncommon.
The ministry said the rodent species typically associated with the virus are not commonly found in Caribbean environments, further reducing the likelihood of local transmission.
Residents are advised to avoid contact with rodents and areas where they may be present, safely clean and disinfect areas contaminated by rodent waste, maintain proper sanitation and waste disposal, and seek medical attention if they experience symptoms such as fever or respiratory distress.
Early symptoms of hantavirus can resemble the flu but may progress to more serious respiratory complications if not treated promptly.
“We will continue to work closely with regional and international partners to ensure that any potential risks are identified early and managed effectively,” Dr. Georges said. “Protecting the health and safety of our residents remains our top priority.”
The Ministry of Health and Social Development said it will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.
Rising Costs Will Intensify, Skelton Cline Warns as He Suggests Emergency Measures
Coronavirus disease 2019
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