Fraser: Opposition Silent on Greedy Bill
Deputy Premier Julian Fraser criticised Opposition members in the House of Assembly for their apparent silence on the controversial 'Greedy Bill', suggesting they have grown satisfied with benefits they once opposed. His remarks came during debate on electricity rates as Opposition members raised cost-of-living concerns for residents.
Deputy Premier Julian Fraser on Tuesday took aim at Opposition members for what he called a sudden silence over the so‑called "Greedy Bill", suggesting critics are no longer complaining because they are content with the outcome. Fraser made the remarks in the House of Assembly while defending the Government during debate on rising electricity rates.
He accused the same politicians who campaigned against the pensions law of softening their stance and told the chamber, "These are the same politicians who were out on the street during the last campaign talking about a Greedy Bill. I don't hear them talking about it anymore because everybody seems to be happy.
The bill wasn't greedy after all." He added that leadership requires courage and urged opponents to also recognise measures the Government has taken to assist pensioners. Opposition members have focused much of their recent criticism on mounting cost‑of‑living pressures affecting households across the Territory, highlighting higher food, fuel and utility costs.
The debate on electricity rates, a key concern for many residents and businesses, provided the context for Fraser's comments as lawmakers debated how best to shield vulnerable groups from rising bills. The nickname "Greedy Bill" refers to the Retiring Allowances (Legislative Services) Amendment Act, 2021, which originally granted significantly enhanced retirement benefits to elected officials.
Those measures included lump‑sum payments, gratuities and continued salaries after leaving office — provisions that prompted widespread public outrage when they became public. In the face of fierce backlash and heated campaigning ahead of the 2023 General Election, the House of Assembly amended the law in September 2023 to remove some of its most controversial components.
However, lawmakers protected benefits that had already been acquired under the law. In February 2024 the Premier disclosed that roughly $2.7 million was due to former elected officials who were not returned to office in the 2023 election, a figure that remains a point of public interest.
Fraser framed his defence of the Government as an appeal to recognise difficult decisions and targeted criticism, while the Opposition continues to press for stronger relief for residents coping with higher living costs. For BVI residents, the episode underscores ongoing tensions between accountability for public spending and the immediate pressures of utility and household expenses.
Primary source: BVI Platinum