Walwyn collected $276K 'lump sum' from HoA retirement package - Dr Wheatley
Virgin Islands (VI) Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has joined in blasting the controversial National Democratic Party (NDP) Sixth District Candidate, Myron V. Walwyn along with Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8) over their criticism of the HoA retirement package now being referred to as the 'Greedy Bill'.
Officially called the Retiring Allowances Legislative Service Amendment Act 2021, the Premier speaking at the Eight District campaign launch at East End on Thursday, March 23, 2023, reminded Mr Walywn that it was Hon Penn who voted in favour of the bill while his colleague Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R2) who seconded the act.
Retirement package is 'political wickedness' - Walwyn
“Mr Myron Walwyn said the Retirement Allowances Act is political wickedness. I want Mr Myron Walwyn to tell me now, and tell the people of the Virgin Islands, that Honourable Marlon Penn is politically wicked”, Dr Wheatley said.
Dr Wheatley, in referring to Walwyn as a “glass house” continued to blast him over the comments while noting that Hon Vanterpool was also the one who seconded the Act.
“How many terms does Mark Vanterpool got? Mark Vanterpool has done about five terms. He’s going home with a good package and when it came time to have the third reading of the bill, who seconded it? Mark Vanterpool”, he said.
Dr Wheatley contended that in essence, Walwyn is saying that his colleague Mr Vanterpool is politically wicked while also detailing the amount of money Mr Walwyn reportedly collected as a result of the bill.
Walwyn already collected his 'lump sum' - Dr Wheatley
“Mr Myron Walwyn took home two hundred and seventy-six thousand, two hundred and seventy-four dollars and fifty cents (276,274.50¢). That’s why he could tell you how much, because in one lump sum, he took that home.”
“And every month, on top of that… he’s paid five thousand, five hundred and twenty-five dollars and fifty cents. And he will be paid that for the rest of his life”, he noted.
Meanwhile, the premier also stated that ahead of the passage of the bill, Mr Walwyn was ringing down his phone and enquiring when the bill would go to Cabinet.
Dr Whatley continued, “If you live in a glass house, don’t throw stones. So if I were Mr Myron Walwyn I would’ve leave that alone”, Dr Wheatley said.
Officially called the Retiring Allowances
Legislative Service Amendment Act 2021, the Premier speaking at the
Eight District campaign launch at East End on Thursday, March 23, 2023,
reminded Mr Walywn that it was Hon Penn who voted in favour of the bill
while his colleague Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R2) who seconded the act.
Penn & Vanterpool supported bill - Dr The Hon Whealtey
He added that the only person who qualifies for pension for the rest of their life, is Honourable Alvera Maduro-Caines (R6) and those who stand to benefit more from it are Hon’s Vanterpool, Penn, Melvin M. Turnbull (R2), Julian Fraser RA (R3) and the former Premier Andrew A. Fahie.
In re-emphasizing that he sought to have aspects of the bill repealed, Dr Wheatley noted that it was only after Hon Penn realized that the move was not going to affect his allowance, he also supported the move to repeal aspects of the bills after reportedly seeking legal advice.
