Government Concludes Compensation Review and Job Classification

After a six-phase process initiated in November 2022, the Compensation Review and Job Classification exercise has reached its completion, culminating in its presentation to the Cabinet on Wednesday, November 8.

Led by PricewaterhouseCoopers Trinidad and Tobago (PwC), the comprehensive review navigated through Project Planning, a Current State Assessment, Compensation Philosophy, Revised Class System, Compensation Review, Job Evaluation Methodology, and Project Close Out.

Deputy Governor, Mr. David D. Archer Jr. expressed appreciation for the work that has gone into the review, and his hopefulness for the results it may bear.

Mr. Archer said, “I am beyond pleased to know that we have now completed this portion of our long-overdue compensation review. We are committed to ensuring public officers are compensated equitably, and this is a key step in ensuring competitive salaries for the Public Service.”

In July, PwC consultants Mr. Shermarke Howard and Mr. Khari Murray visited the Virgin Islands, engaging stakeholders and conducting discussions with senior managers across ministries. An open invitation was extended to all public officers to participate directly in the process.

Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley played an instrumental role throughout the Compensation Philosophy phase, offering continuous support and feedback on key outputs. Cabinet members and public officers actively participated in consultations, underlining the collaborative approach to the project.

Financial Secretary Mr. Jeremiah Frett underscored the government’s dedication to aligning public officer compensation with industry and international standards, highlighting the importance of the completed Compensation Review and Job Classification Project.

Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Sharleen DaBreo-Lettsome, MBE said, “This is a valuable step as we take a comprehensive look at the way we compensate public officers. The review was conducted efficiently, and allowed us to examine how we approach compensation now, and chart a clearly defined possible way forward.”

The consultants conducted various exercises to gain insight into the current compensation model’s effectiveness amid the evolving economic climate, including a comprehensive survey with 585 responses. The Final Compensation Report, after careful consideration by the Office of the Deputy Governor and the project management team, was presented to the Cabinet by His Excellency the Governor John Rankin.

A presentation on the final report was delivered to the Cabinet by Deputy Governor Mr. David D. Archer Jr., Financial Secretary Mr. Jeremiah Frett, Permanent Secretary Mrs. Sharleen DaBreo-Lettsome, MBE, and PwC consultants. Cabinet will now deliberate on the report and make a decision.

In October 2022, the Government of the Virgin Islands awarded PwC a contract valued at Three Hundred and Two Thousand, One Hundred and Three Dollars ($302,103.00) to conduct the Compensation Review and Job Classification.

Following Cabinet’s decision, stakeholders, various associations, Heads of Departments, and public officers will be promptly informed of the outcome. The commitment of the Government of the Virgin Islands to ensuring adequate and equitable compensation for all public officers remains unwavering.

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