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Frett-Gregory Assails GERS for Delay of Bonus Payments to Retirees; GERS Blames 'Technical Issues', Promises Payments 'By Christmas'

Senator Donna Frett-Gregory, who sponsored legislation to ascertain that retirees over the age of sixty receive their statutorily mandated bonuses made available through V.I. Lottery funds, lashed out at the Government Employees' Retirement System this week, contending that GERS has failed to demonstrate urgency to remit the payments. “On September 9, 2022, [GERS] Administrator [Austin] Nibbs advised my office that payment would be made by the first week in October. What compounds the frustration is the Board is busy increasing the salary of its Administrator and not focused on ensuring our retirees are made whole and the things that matter. It has become customary that each time the Legislature works with the GERS we encounter roadblocks,” stated Ms. Frett-Gregory.  Act No. 8578, which was adopted by the Legislature on July 20 and signed into law by Governor Albert Bryan on August 8, requires that payments by made by Sept. 30 to retirees 60 and older for fiscal years 2018, 2019, and...