Senate President Milton Potter has announced that the 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands will convene in formal session on June 4 with the purpose of rescinding the implementation of salary increases for executive branch officials, including the governor and lieutenant governor.
Mr. Potter acknowledged that raises — which became effective December 2, 2024 — were based on recommendations issued by the Virgin Islands Public Officials Compensation Commission (VIPOCC). However, in the absence of legislative action within the 90-day statutory review period, those recommendations took effect automatically—sparking controversy over separation of powers and fiscal oversight.
“After careful consultation with our legal counsel and emergency leadership meetings, we have determined that legislative action is necessary to address what we believe are fundamental questions of governmental authority and fiscal responsibility,” he said.
The move follows intense public backlash sparked by articles and videos published by the V.I. Consortium.
The Legislature is expected to consider legislation that would rescind any automatic implementation of VIPOCC’s salary recommendations in cases where no formal legislative approval is given. Potter emphasized that the Legislature has a constitutional duty to oversee public expenditures and ensure legal procedures are followed.
“We cannot allow precedents to be established that circumvent the legislative branch’s role in fiscal governance,” he said.
Mr. Potter also made clear that legal action remains a possibility should the executive branch fail to rescind the raises prior to the June 4 session. According to Chief Legal Counsel Amos Carty, Jr., options available to the Legislature include temporary restraining order proceedings, injunctive relief actions, and constitutional challenges regarding separation of powers.
"We prefer to resolve this matter through the proper legislative process,” Potter said. “However, we will not hesitate to pursue court action if necessary to protect the Legislature’s constitutional authority and ensure responsible use of public funds”.
Potter assured the public that the upcoming legislative session will be conducted transparently, giving residents full access to observe how their elected officials handle what he called a “critical issue of governmental accountability.”
“This matter transcends partisan politics – it is about maintaining the proper balance of power in our territorial government and ensuring that public officials are held to the highest standards of legal compliance,” Potter stated.
The Legislature said it remains committed to resolving the issue within the bounds of law while safeguarding the integrity of Virgin Islands institutions.
The timeline laid out by the Legislature underscores the urgency of the matter: prior to June 4, the executive branch has a final opportunity to voluntarily rescind the raises. If no action is taken, a formal legislative session will be held on June 4, to consider legislation aimed at reversing the salary increases. Should that effort fail, the Legislature has indicated that litigation may follow, including the pursuit of a temporary restraining order, injunctive relief, or a constitutional challenge.
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