The number of civil servants on paid interdiction has been rising, and the government is trying to find the best way to address associated logistical and budgetary challenges, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said in response to a question from opposition member Carvin Malone during the Jan. 26 House of Assembly sitting.
Mr. Malone had asked how many civil servants or statutory board officers charged with offences are on “probation” with partial or full salaries until their cases are heard in court.
That number stands at 10, the premier responded.
“While on interdiction, these officers are not permitted to report to work until the completion of an investigation or criminal proceedings against the officer,” he said.
Mr. Malone then asked whether there is concern for how the increase in absences may affect the efficiency of the public service and statutory bodies, and how the government plans to compensate.
Dr. Wheatley responded, “It is agreed that inadequate staffing levels, for whatever reason, throughout ministries and departments, impacts the overall efficiency and productivity of the public service. Available funds should be provided to fill such vacancies. For those officers on interdiction, the total cost of the officers’ regular salary is approximately $370,000.”
He said their full emoluments must be maintained in case the charges are withdrawn or they are vindicated — in which case any outstanding wages would be paid.
In the officers’ absence, substitutes may be required, or other current officers may be tasked with additional responsibilities and must be paid accordingly, Dr. Wheatley said.
That takes additional funding, and he said accounting officers may need to use money originally budgeted for other public services and programmes.
“The Department of Human Resources has sought legal advice on the ways to improve the efficiency of the disciplinary process to avoid administrative delays,” he said. “Unfortunately, for matters involving officers with criminal proceedings, we are subject to the systematic delays in the justice system, which significantly exacerbates the problem.”
Justice delays
Mr. Malone also asked the premier related questions about such delays.
For instance, he queried how many people are on remand at His Majesty’s Prison awaiting trial and why some of them are being held “for extended periods.”
Dr. Wheatley requested that the questions be redirected to Health and Social Development Minister Marlon Penn, which Mr. Malone said he would do in the next sitting.
Mr. Malone also asked whether the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions are adequately staffed to “properly investigate and administer justice” in a “timely and efficient manner.”
While the premier said he would leave it to Police Commissioner Mark Collins to say whether he believes police are adequately staffed, he added that “commendable efforts have been made to fill their existing vacancies.”
“They have a total staff complement at the moment of 340 persons,” Dr. Wheatley said. “Last year, 33 of 67 vacancies were filled. This year, five of 49 vacancies will be filled.”
The premier added that the commissioner told him the primary issue with the court case delays comes down to logistics, not resources.
“It is a logistical issue of getting the file ready, liaising with the DPP, and getting an available court time,” he said.
The ODPP also has open positions it is seeking to fill, according to the premier.
“With respect to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, recruitment is ongoing for one legal executive officer, three senior crown counsels, and one accounts officer,” Dr. Wheatley said.