Government

Legality of V.I. Compensation Commission in Question as Public Fury Grows Over Pay Hikes

The Virgin Islands Compensation Commission, established by Act 7878 in 2015 and amended in 2020 via Act 8384, may have been improperly constituted from the start—a revelation that could potentially invalidate the commission's actions, including its controversial recommendations for salary increases for top government officials. While the commission proposed pay adjustments across the board, only the salary increases for Governor Albert Bryan Jr. and Lieutenant Governor Tregenza Roach have taken effect so far. Since the recommendations became public in January 2025, public backlash has been swift and intense. Adding to the public’s frustration was the discovery that the commission, chaired by Haldane Davies, submitted its salary report to then-Senate President Novelle Francis 90 days before the public became aware of it. This is significant because, under the law, once the report is transmitted to the Senate president, the Legislature has 90 days to review and amend the recommendation...