Premier Dr. Orlando Smith and his government ministers said their aim was to listen last Thursday evening at the Purcell Community Centre. Residents aired concerns and asked questions about issues including trash, flooding in Purcell, and the fishing industry during the two-hour meeting.
As with previous “On the Road” meetings, this one started with ministers speaking for a few minutes about some of their priorities and progress made on items under their portfolios. Later, they fielded questions from attendees.
Asked by one resident when the territory would raise minimum wage, which has been unchanged for 15 years, Deputy Premier Dr. Kedrick Pickering said government will soon form a special committee to look into the question.
“I’m taking a paper to Cabinet to recommend a list of persons, to set up a committee,” Dr. Pickering said.
He added that the committee has to be carefully selected and include representatives from throughout the Virgin Islands’ economy, since any change to the minimum wage would have far reaching long-term effects on the territory.
See the July 17, 2014 edition for full coverage.
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