To the editor:
I read with great interest the article on Gov. Charles Turnbull's suggestion that all unions face retroactive cuts in order to receive their pay increases. Frankly, that is the most attainable suggestion that I have heard from his administration. Now that the suggestion has been made, Turnbull is faced with the daunting task of convincing Virgin Islanders why this will benefit them in the long term.
As the article clearly stated, the listing of retroactive monies as a debt is hampering the government's ability to float bonds and to borrow money. No surprise there. Most people understand the basic concept that it takes money to make money. Upon starting a business many entrepreneurs have to borrow money or tap investors for funding, using a "return on their investment" as collateral. On that note, who in their right mind would lend money to someone who is up to their eyeballs in debt and shows no signs of "a return on their investment"? NO ONE! This is the analogy Gov. Turnbull needs to use to drive his point home. Make it simple, break it down into dollars and cents.
I pity the ill-advised decision the local AFT made in rejecting Turnbull's offer. C'mon — shouldn't one prefer to be paid on the current pay scale? I would. Wouldn't one be upset that they will not receive monies promised? Yes, but a smart individual would still prefer to be paid on the current pay scale.
Virgin Islanders need to accept the fact that the government has no money and therefore cannot honor retroactive payment. The government owes tax refunds, they owe WAPA, they owe local vendors, they owe FEMA, they owe the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, and they cannot honor these debts because they have no money! Based on this observation, why do people continue to believe that they will receive their retroactive pay? Please, people, get your heads out of the clouds! And this is an election year: Be wary of any Senate "wannabes" who use "I will ensure that you will receive retroactive pay" as a platform. If you do hear this, dismiss that person immediately, because they're lying!
Virgin Islanders also need to understand that the government is not legally obligated to make retroactive payments. Why? Because retroactive payment, simply put, is a backlog of "cost of living" increases that were never made. So what? Let it go….
Stop viewing that retroactive check as lottery winnings. Put it behind you, and accept the only realistic offer that is going to be made, and the only one that will benefit these islands in the long term.
Sincerely yours,
Kim K. Wallace (former V.I. resident)
Baltimore
