Wheatley Defends HoA Salary Hike
Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley defended a recent 120–145% pay increase for House of Assembly members at a press conference on October 3, 2025, arguing compensation should reflect the seniority and responsibilities of office. The increase, disclosed in the 2024 Audit Report and defended by the HoA in September 2025, has prompted public questions about whether allowances should be rolled back now that base salaries have risen.
Natalio Wheatley on Friday, October 3, 2025, defended the recent, large increases to House of Assembly (HoA) salaries, saying pay must reflect the responsibilities and seniority of elected office rather than individual perceptions of effort. The salary rise — revealed in the 2024 Audit Report as ranging from 120 to 145 per cent — has prompted public debate and questions about whether members should forgo additional allowances now that base pay has “exploded.” At the press conference reporters asked specifically if allowances would be rolled back in light of the higher salaries. “Do you believe that ministers of government, including the Premier and the ministers, should make less than persons who they supervise?
Do you believe that persons should be compensated based on the seniority of their positions, or they should be compensated on whether you think they are working or not?” Dr. Wheatley asked, adding that people should focus on the office rather than the individual. “Whether you engage in any form of public service, do you not deserve to be compensated commensurately with your duties and responsibilities and the seniority of your position?” he said.
The HoA issued a statement in September 2025 defending the increases and noting that members’ previous base pay — $36,000 per year — was among the lowest in the region. The assembly argued aligning compensation with regional benchmarks was “essential to sustaining a strong, representative legislature.” Premier Wheatley also told reporters that even with allowances factored in, legislators historically earned “much less” than some senior public officers.
He cited the public service salary scale where the top grades pay significantly more: Grade 21 (including the Deputy Governor) at $238,136; Grade 20 (including the Financial Secretary and Attorney General) at $214,836; and Grade 19 (including Permanent Secretaries) at $196,430. The increases have drawn concern from members of the public worried about affordability, transparency and the continued payment of allowances.
Supporters argue the higher salaries reduce reliance on supplemental allowances and bring the legislature closer to regional norms. The debate touches on broader issues for BVI residents: fiscal impact, standards for public remuneration, and transparency in how increases were reached.
The 2024 Audit Report and the HoA statement (September 2025) have been cited throughout the discussion; media coverage, including reports by Virgin Islands News Online, has kept the topic in the public eye. As public discussion continues, residents will be watching for any formal government policy on allowances, further explanations of the salary review process, and how changes might affect the territory’s budget and public trust.
Primary source: VINO