'I had hoped to see @ least one year’s increment in budget’- Hon Maduro-Caines
Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism, Honourable Alvera Maduro-Caines (R6) has lamented there was no provision in the 2023 Budget for payment of outstanding increments to civil servants.
The 2023 Budget of the Virgin Islands (VI) was passed to the tune of $412,971,110, at the Ninth Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Fourth House of Assembly at Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff’s Bottom, Tortola on December 21, 2022.
The budget will comprise of comprise of $340,872,400 for recurrent expenditure; $49,428,600 for capital expenditure; $7,148,810 in contribution to various statutory funds; and $15,521,300 towards repayment of the principal on debts.
According to Hon Maduro-Caines, during
her brief contribution to the debate on December 20, 2022, she had hoped
to see at least one year’s increment included in the budget for public
servants.
Hon Maduro-Caines suggests a way to pay increments
According to Hon Maduro-Caines, during her brief contribution to the debate on December 20, 2022, she had hoped to see at least one year’s increment included in the budget.
“No, we as Ministers we don’t get increments but that doesn’t mean we wouldn’t want any for the civil servants."
“But I am hoping that if the budgeted money can come in over our expectations that would be an option, to use the money to pay the civil servants at least another year of increment,” Hon Maduro-Caines stated.
The payment of outstanding increments to civil servants was a campaign promise that was being kept by the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) under former Premier Andrew A. Fahie.
