Proposed Senators Need Decent Pay, Walwyn Says
Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn told the House of Assembly that the British Virgin Islands must be prepared to pay senators competitively if it adopts a bicameral system, arguing that many capable professionals will not leave high-paying private-sector roles for current political salaries. His comments, reported by BVI News, come amid public anger over recent salary hikes for elected officials revealed in an Auditor General's report.
Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has renewed his call for the British Virgin Islands to consider competitive pay for legislators if the territory moves toward a bicameral system, saying the success of a second chamber depends on attracting qualified, capable people. Speaking in the House of Assembly, Walwyn told lawmakers and the public that while the territory has many competent people who could help scrutinise and shape legislation, those professionals are unlikely to leave high-paying private-sector jobs for the current levels of political pay.
BVI News reported his comments and quoted him saying, "You could go tell somebody who working in one of them trust company’s or law firm — making $200,000 a year — to come in here for $36,000? It will not happen." Walwyn later clarified with BVI News that the existing salary structure for legislators does not attract the most capable minds from the private sector.
He argued a second chamber — for example, a Senate — could provide an important layer of review to ensure laws are properly examined before final approval, while stressing that the directly elected lower house would retain the final say. "At the end of the day, of course, the lower house will have the say, because we are the ones elected by the people," Walwyn said, according to BVI News. "But certainly, you have something to consider so you can make a better piece of law.
And we need that." Walwyn acknowledged the financial cost of creating and staffing an upper house but urged residents not to dismiss the idea solely for that reason. "Anything in life could be negotiated," he said. "It ain’t no whole heap of money. But it is needed." His remarks come against the backdrop of public outrage over recent, significant pay increases for elected officials.
An Auditor General's report revealed lawmakers quietly approved raises of more than 100 percent late last year, pushing the overall annual cost from about $681,000 to nearly $1.5 million. The Premier’s salary rose from $72,000 to more than $176,000, a change that many residents criticised as secretive and insufficiently debated.
Natalio Wheatley has defended the adjustments, telling the public ministers were previously underpaid compared with senior public officers and that the changes followed independent recommendations. Walwyn said he understands why the public is upset and warned that even if the pay-setting process complied with Westminster norms, the perception of secrecy has damaged trust.
Nonetheless, he urged the territory to confront the practical issue of attracting experienced professionals into politics, arguing that competent people currently in the BVI will not enter public service unless offered decent remuneration. As the constitutional review continues, debate is likely to focus on balancing improved legislative scrutiny, public accountability and the fiscal cost of any new institutions — and on how to restore public confidence in decisions about political pay, including clearer processes and better communication with residents.
Primary source: BVI News