Mather Proposes Fee for Expat Workers
During debate on the 2026 budget estimates, Territorial At-Large Representative Stacy Mather urged the government to consider charging a fee for expatriate public officers as a way to boost revenue. Mather said more than 500 government employees are on work permits and framed the suggestion as part of a broader review of the territory’s revenue base, not as a punitive annual levy.
Territorial At-Large Representative Stacy Mather has called for the government to consider introducing a fee for expatriate government employees as part of efforts to shore up public finances. Speaking in the House of Assembly during debate on the 2026 budget estimates, Mather said there are “over 500 government employees presently on work permits” and argued the territory should reassess long-standing practices in light of rising fiscal pressures. “I think it’s time for them… I think they should pay a fee.
I think we should collect something,” he told legislators. Mather emphasised that the proposal was not intended to be punitive. “I’m not saying every year. I’m not saying that,” he said, adding: “I’m saying I think they should pay something because we need revenue.” He framed the idea as one option among several that the government should examine while looking for ways to stabilise finances and improve accountability.
The proposal was raised against a backdrop of growing scrutiny over public spending and calls for improved revenue collection. Mather, who recently moved from the opposition benches to support the government, warned that the Virgin Islands could no longer afford to “give away the Virgin Islands for free,” and urged officials to look “beyond where our laws were” to find sustainable revenue sources.
Mather did not specify how any fee would be structured, whether it would be a one‑off charge or recurring, or which categories of employees might be exempt. He also did not outline how proceeds would be allocated. Those details would need to be worked out if the idea advances, and would likely require legal and administrative review given the existing processes for work permits and public employment.
For residents, the proposal raises practical questions about staffing and service delivery in the public sector. Introducing fees could affect recruitment and retention of skilled expatriate staff who fill specialised roles, while potentially generating modest revenue if applied selectively.
A review would also need to consider exemptions for essential services, impacts on pay and employment conditions, and responses from unions and the private sector. The suggestion signals a willingness among some lawmakers to explore new revenue measures during a period of fiscal constraint.
Any formal proposal would likely be debated further in Cabinet and the House of Assembly and would require consultation with stakeholders before being adopted.
Primary source: BVI News