Government

G.E.R.S. Board Votes To Cease Paying Retirement Benefits; Motion Fails

ST. CROIX -- G.E.R.S. board member Edgar Ross mocked fellow board members for failing to approve a motion that he brought at a meeting Thursday morning that would cease retirement payments to retirees until the employer --  the Government of the Virgin Islands, which G.E.R.S. contends owes the system billions of dollars -- paid what it owes. If G.E.R.S. Board of Directors were to strictly follow V.I. law, the board would not pay out benefits to retirees until the employer becomes current on its debt: "[G.E.R.S.] shall not pay benefits to an employee unless his and the employer's contributions adequately finance benefits and related costs," reads Title 3, Chapter 27 of Virgin Islands Code. Mr. Ross said the government has been getting a free pass because G.E.R.S. continues to pay benefits, while the government was only partially meeting its obligation of fully paying into the system. And he scorned members who voted against the motion, calling them chickens for doing so. Mr. Ross, ...