TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands – In a significant development for public sector employees, British Virgin Islands Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley has confirmed that a substantial portion of long-delayed increment payments will be disbursed to government workers in time for the Christmas season. The remaining balances are scheduled for settlement by early 2026.
The Premier made this announcement during a recent press conference, characterizing the move as a relief measure for public servants who have endured years of financial uncertainty regarding their owed increments. “I am pleased to declare that a majority of our dedicated public servants will receive the bulk of their outstanding increment payments this Christmas, with the residual amounts finalized in the early part of 2026,” Wheatley stated.
This decision culminates years of persistent appeals from public officers and commentators demanding the resolution of unpaid increments, some of which have been pending across multiple performance review cycles. Historical partial disbursements failed to fully address the issue, with employees repeatedly highlighting how the protracted delays inflicted financial strain and diminished morale within the vital public service sector.
The accumulation of increment arrears has emerged as a perennial national concern, frequently surfacing in legislative budget debates, union negotiations, and public discourse forums. Previous administrations have acknowledged the existing backlog, attributing the delays to a combination of fiscal constraints and administrative complexities.
Premier Wheatley framed the initiative as reflecting the benevolent spirit of the holiday season. He further indicated that the Minister of Communications and Works is poised to unveil an additional government-led community initiative for the wider Virgin Islands populace in the near future.