Over 20 National Guard Soldiers Have Yet To Be Paid For Hurricane-Related Work; Over 290 Still Owed Checks
- Ernice Gilbert
- February 16, 2018
ST. THOMAS -- "Pass on a message for me. Tell the remaining 12 National Guard troops that have not been paid, to get their I-9 information in so we can pay them." Those were the words of Governor Kenneth Mapp while speaking during his State of the Territory Address in January (See page 25). The governor was relaying a message that he said came from Gen. Howell, which gave the impression that the Guard was near its goal of paying all soldiers. But since that time, The Consortium has received messages from soldiers that those comments were disingenuous, and during a Committee on Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety hearing on Thursday, Gen. Howell revealed the true figures: Over 20 soldiers have yet to be paid for their work during and after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, while over 290 were still owed some payment. Gen. Howell said the Guard has set a target date of March 15, 2018, to pay all soldiers. For lawmakers who make up the committee in which the hearing was held, the news w...
