Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Prices & taxes gone up while ‘rate of pay constant’ in VI- Hon Malone

Prices & taxes gone up while ‘rate of pay constant’ in VI- Hon Malone

Opposition Member Hon Carvin Malone (AL) has called on legislators to find ways to ease the burden on the people of the Virgin Islands (VI) as, according to him prices for goods and services, along with taxes, have gone up while the rate of pay has remained mostly constant.

According to Hon Malone, the taxpayers of the VI are already under strain with having to fund recovery from the various economic fallouts.

‘Taxpayers continue to fund recovery’- Hon Malone


“We must recognise that we a living in what I call a post-disaster-pandemic and war-era: post-2017 hurricanes; post-2020 -2021 COVID Global Pandemic; post a 2021-2022 Commission of Inquiry and an ongoing economic fallout of a Russia Ukrainian war.

“The taxpayers of the Virgin Islands continue to fund recovery from each of these occurrences from regional loans, social security grants, the consolidated fund, the reserve fund, and the miscellaneous purpose fund,” Hon Malone said in a statement on the passing in the House of Assembly (HoA) of the second Supplementary Appropriation (SAP) reducing total estimated expenditure by $8,069,884.

The SAP was approved during the continuation of the 4th Session of the Fourth House of Assembly at Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff’s Bottom, Tortola on August 30, 2022.

‘No UK Grants & Recovery Assistance forthcoming’


According to Hon Malone, funding originally destined for operations and capital improvements and for development had to be diverted as the territory is expected and has provided the funds required for recovery from these disasters, pandemics and economic fallouts from its own resources as UK grants and UK recovery assistance are not forthcoming.

“Nevertheless, as legislators, we are called upon to recognise the economic strains that are being exacted on each household and on the citizens of the Virgin Islands.

“We must find ways to ease the burden and lighten the economic loads. The prices of food, energy, transportation, taxes, and everyday living have all risen and yet the rate of pay has remained constant in most measures. This is not easily fixed as, like fuel charges, it affects the price of goods and services in each economy.”

According to the Opposition Member, all efforts must now be centered on legislating, approving, and assenting to the various revenue-raising measures proposed in earlier meetings.

“There is a balance and together we must seek and have it resolved for the benefit of all. I so resolve,” Hon Malone stated.

According to Hon Carvin Malone (AL), funding originally destined for operations and capital improvements and for development had to be diverted as the territory is expected and has provided the funds required for recovery from these disasters, pandemics and economic fallouts from its own resources as UK grants and UK recovery assistance are not forthcoming.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
U.S. FDA to Remove Oral Fluoride Supplements for Children Amid Gut Health Concerns
Kim Kardashian Testifies in Paris Robbery Trial, Tells Gang Leader: 'I Forgive You'
NVIDIA and Saudi Arabia Launch Strategic Partnership to Establish AI Centers
Challenges Facing EU Foreign Policy Amidst Diverging Interests
Reports Reveal Alarming Cognitive Decline in Biden Prior to Election Withdrawal
Trump Meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Historic Encounter
South Africans chant call to genocide against White people.
Trump takes a blow torch to the neocons and interventionists while speaking to the Saudis
Why Saudi Arabia Rolled Out a Purple Carpet for Donald Trump Instead of Red
Flip flop: UK Introduces New Immigration Policy to Reduce Net Migration
Elon Musk Joins Trump Meeting in Saudi Arabia
Poland Tightens Immigration Policy with New Plan to Suspend Asylum Law
Trump says it would be 'stupid' not to accept gift of Qatari plane
8-Year-Old Orders 70,000 Lollipops Using Mother’s Phone, Prompting $4,200 Amazon Bill and Viral Facebook Plea
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
American citizens account for 70% of worldwide pharmaceutical sales despite comprising only 4% of global population
New Details Emerge on Syrian Attacker's Motives in German Festival Stabbing
Brazil’s President Aims to Strengthen Ties with China Amid US Trade Tensions
Senate Democrats Move to Censure Trump Over Qatar Jet Gift
First White South Africans Resettled in the U.S. Amid Controversy Over Persecution Claims
Hamas Releases Last Living US Hostage from Gaza Amid Ongoing Conflict
India and Pakistan Agreement on Ceasefire Amid Ongoing Tensions
Arsenal Stages Comeback to Draw 2-2 Against Liverpool in Premier League Clash
Trump's Upcoming Visit to Gulf Nations: Investment and Security at the Forefront
Rodrigo Duterte Awaits Trial at The Hague. Next week he might be elected mayor of his hometown
Trump fires director of U.S. Copyright Office, sources say
Retired British police officer arrested over ‘thought crime’ tweet
Cardinal Robert Prevost Elected as Pope Leo XIV, Marking a Historic Papacy
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka Arrested at ICE Facility Amid Congressional Visit
India-Pakistan conflict may be first test for Chinese military tech
Bill Gates Announces Plan to Wind Down Philanthropic Foundation and Disperse Wealth
Historic Papal Conclave Set to Commence in Rome
Huge Copper, Gold, and Silver Discovery in Argentina and Chile — But the Profits Go Abroad
Prince Harry is pleading for reconciliation — but the royals are just as sick of his victimhood as everyone else
The Road to Freedom: She Protested Putin, Escaped House Arrest, and Survived a 2,800-Kilometer Journey
OpenAI's Flip-Flop: No Longer Going Commercial, Back to Nonprofit, After Musk Lawsuit and Backlash
“Trump Supporter” Aims to Bring a MAGA-Style Shift to Romania
First From China: Zhao Xintong Wins the Snooker World Championship
Nvidia Faces Billion-Dollar Losses – Warns: China Is on Its Way to Becoming an AI Superpower
Trump Rules Out Third Term, Names JD Vance and Marco Rubio as Potential Successors
Mexico Says ‘No’ to U.S. Troops: President Sheinbaum Rejects Trump’s Offer to Fight Cartels
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK Storms the Map, Wrecking the Two-Party Monopoly
DOGE: Reimagining Government Operations with AI
Common Sense Returns to Britain's Legal System: UK Supreme Court Declares a Woman Is… a Woman
Beijing Says U.S. Is ‘Reaching Out’ for Tariff Talks Amid Soaring Trade Tensions
U.K. Court Rejects Prince Harry’s Final Appeal Over Police Security
Prince Harry’s Heartfelt Outburst Rocks the Royal Family
Trump Shares AI-Generated Image of Himself as… Pope, Prompting Outrage Reaction
Transgender Swimmer Secures Five Gold Medals at U.S. Masters Championship
Prince Harry: “I Want Reconciliation with My Family”
×