USVI Governor's Salary

But I am curious about the lack of discussion regarding the seemingly cultural issues of graft and political inefficacy among the more advanced generations.

You must neither get out and about much nor read much.

But I am curious about the lack of discussion regarding the seemingly cultural issues of graft and political inefficacy among the more advanced generations.

You must neither get out and about much nor read much.

How did this culture develop among your generation? There won't be a government left when I'm your age, so it's a pretty important question to consider.

But I am curious about the lack of discussion regarding the seemingly cultural issues of graft and political inefficacy among the more advanced generations.

You must neither get out and about much nor read much.

How did this culture develop among your generation? There won't be a government left when I'm your age, so it's a pretty important question to consider.

Your assumption is erroneous. Repeat, "You must neither get out and about much nor read much."

And we have to wonder why the VI Government is in dire financial straits?

Our Senators salaries are on par with those in the state of California and they serve millions of people. Our VI senators which they
raised themselves and Gov. & Lt. Gov.s in end of year lame duck session with Bill 6901 (?)

And they just recently allowed the salary increases to Mapp's appointees.

Laying the groundwork to increase their own, again, down the road.

Key word here is serve.

I am so sick of our self-serving politicians.

But I am curious about the lack of discussion regarding the seemingly cultural issues of graft and political inefficacy among the more advanced generations.

You must neither get out and about much nor read much.

How did this culture develop among your generation? There won't be a government left when I'm your age, so it's a pretty important question to consider.

Your assumption is erroneous. Repeat, "You must neither get out and about much nor read much."

Come out to Duffy's tonight, OldFart!

And we have to wonder why the VI Government is in dire financial straits?

Our Senators salaries are on par with those in the state of California and they serve millions of people. Our VI senators which they
raised themselves and Gov. & Lt. Gov.s in end of year lame duck session with Bill 6901 (?)

And they just recently allowed the salary increases to Mapp's appointees.

Laying the groundwork to increase their own, again, down the road.

Key word here is serve.

I am so sick of our self-serving politicians.

How did the culture become this way? Were the people always so complacent?

Yeah. I'm going to hold my breath starting now for the rescue of the world by the Millenials. First I'll start with a totally non ironic eye roll. As people get older, they get more jaded and corrupted. That is what life does to you. I'm sure many of the leaders here, and around the world, were young starry eyed idealists who grew nicely into steely eyed pragmatists.

How did the culture become this way? Were the people always so complacent?

Did you know this island used to house the 4th largest refinery in the world?

Do you still need an explanation of how it got this way & how your "blaming" a generation is ridiculous?

I lived in an Oil state for 13 years (Alaska), you have NO IDEA what that kind of money does to people... 150k for a salary is nothing when Hovensa was operational (yes it was still wasteful, but just "par for the course" with every other wasteful project).

Ever hear how much the Pier in F'sted cost? at least we all can go enjoy that....

It's not about the salaries - it's about the lack of governmental effectiveness delivered for those salaries.

The salaries offered in the VI for elected officials should attract the "best and brightest." Why is it the "best and brightest" aren't attracted (or are they deterred?) from seeking an elected position?

It is because the while $150k/yr seems like a lot of money, the fact is that the ones that truly are the "best and brightest" can make more than that in the private sector.

Any CEO of a private company the size of the VI government would generally be paid far more than that. I am not advocating our current governor or his salary, but the fact is that the ones out there who could truly be capable of running the government like a business don't want the position because they can make more money with less scrutiny in private positions.

It's not about the salaries - it's about the lack of governmental effectiveness delivered for those salaries.

The salaries offered in the VI for elected officials should attract the "best and brightest." Why is it the "best and brightest" aren't attracted (or are they deterred?) from seeking an elected position?

... the ones out there who could truly be capable of running the government like a business don't want the position because they can make more money with less scrutiny in private positions. ]

The scores of people I've known over the years who would have excelled in public service have also commented to a man (and woman of course!) that they simply can accomplish more in the private sector to better serve the community. Government is bogged down in wasteful practices and procedures.

This, of course, is the conundrum of government. Yes, of course, in the big picture beyond the VI, $150K is not enough.

But in the VI, which really is a small town by state's standards, there should be well-educated, thoughtful and ethical people who would find the salaries offered to elected officials attractive.

Again, seriously, why don't these folks step up?

my fear is that these are the best and brightest...

It's not about the salaries - it's about the lack of governmental effectiveness delivered for those salaries.

The salaries offered in the VI for elected officials should attract the "best and brightest." Why is it the "best and brightest" aren't attracted (or are they deterred?) from seeking an elected position?

I'll chime in and say that you get discouraged by nepotism after a while. I've been here from July and I've been hitting the pavement and I haven't gained any traction until recently. Guess where I'm making waves? In the private sector. I'm tired of hearing my mother and her friends say: "It's who you know" and I wanted to prove them wrong but shit it's true.

I had big plans of using my love of technology to teach then go to UVI for my Masters while teaching but guess what? You're hit with all types of curve balls and you gotta jump thru hoops. I have an A.S and a B.A and I want to get my Masters in Education. I currently don't have any teaching credits but I know of people teaching with less. Smh. I've been away for 11 years. I said I'd never come back to STX to live, but I said my mother is getting older and I have no kids etc... I chanced it, but damn, you really get discouraged out here. They don't even pay well. lol. If I go back to NY right now my skills are worth 50-70k and thats the minimum range. You make up your mind to take that hit to "give back" ....pssh "f that"

The government offices have some of the worst customer service I've ever deal with on earth. I did customer service for 7 years. I seen so much stuff you'd get fired for in NY. I even tried the Police Dept but dealing with the Department of Personnel is some next level BS. Took forever to even put me in the system and they need Police on island since many can't pass the test. I don't even think I'm going to follow thru with any of that if I'm offered a salary from a private company. I

When you have to deal with BS like that, why would I want to be in gov? This "that's just the Virgin Islands" mentality is so stupid but it's hard to get any traction out here. I haven't given up. I may stay here but honestly the government is a joke. Too much fluffy talk.

It's not just the Governor salary that is out of touch, but it is also the LT. Govenor, the inspector General and numerous other so called executive officials. All of their salaries are ridiculous.

Not to mention VIPD is spending $1.5 Million a year to protect Mapp & Potter. Total waste of money.
http://virginislandsdailynews.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/iphone/homepage.aspx?#_article809e9925-85c8-4124-8dcb-d1d828247121/waarticle809e9925-85c8-4124-8dcb-d1d828247121/809e9925-85c8-4124-8dcb-d1d828247121//true

Our Governor here in NY makes 179,000 with a population of 19+ million. There are 15 state employees who actually make more than him. Although I don't like him or his policies, I find it ridiculous that there are other state employees making more than him, especially when we are the highest taxed state in the US and have the most people leaving each year than coming here. Until the government is controlled and expenses are controlled, both NY and VI's economies will never recover and create a place where people will want to come and bring more income into the area and revitalize the economy.

We should be concerned.
Virgin Islands Debt Rivals Bankrupt Detroit and Troubled Puerto Rico
http://stcroixsource.com/content/news/undercurrents/2014/03/25/undercurrents-virgin-islands-debt-rivals-bankrupt-detroit-and-

On Straight Talk with x senator Redfield the Finance commissioner reveals that the VI debt is $7 Billion. Borrowing to sustain a bloated government should be over. Crazy mon

Garbage in, garbage out. And your question was what?

That's the point.
It seems that the only thing that gets recycled here is the incompetent deadwood. Look at Carlton Dowe, head VIPA and the debt they have.
http://m.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/port-authority-drowning-in-1-7m-of-rent-debts-1.1930064

If he was hired by a private corporation, he'd have been fired based on performance or lack thereof. That's only one example.

Multiply that by all the various government depts. and the rampant waste, not to mention the nepotism and cronyism that is endemic, especially in the new administration with Mapp at its head and his outrageous spending.