Governor Bryan Drops Legal Fight Over Pay Raise Rollback
The Legislature voted 15-0 to override the veto on the bill introduced by Senators Alma Francis Heyliger and Kurt Vialet. The legislation rolls back salary increases granted earlier this year by the Virgin Islands Public Officials Compensation Commission (VIPOCC) for cabinet officials and top leaders, including the governor and lieutenant governor.
Governor Bryan had previously defended his veto, citing constitutional concerns over retroactive salary cuts and questioning why the rollback targeted only the governor and lieutenant governor, rather than other officials such as commissioners or judges. He described the rollback as a personal attack. Despite his objections, Bryan stated, “I’m not going to court … I’m confused,” signaling his decision to end the legal dispute without involving the judiciary.
While the governor has ceased his fight, questions remain regarding the status of payments already made under the increased salaries. Senator Kenneth Gittens has moved to subpoena the Division of Personnel for Notices of Personnel Action affecting the governor, lieutenant governor, and key executive staff, indicating an effort to ensure accountability for the larger payments that have been confirmed.
The controversy has drawn significant public backlash, with media coverage on the issue garnering tens of thousands of views and placing intense pressure on officials to reverse course. This debate has overshadowed other pressing territory-wide matters, leaving the public to ponder whether to accept this resolution and shift focus to larger concerns or to continue pursuing accountability to its fullest extent.
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