Some Government Employees Will Receive Their Pay ‘Late This Afternoon,’ Others Early Tomorrow, Mapp Administration Says

ST. CROIX — Government employees who did not receive payment via direct deposit this morning will receive their money by late afternoon today or tomorrow morning, according to an press release issued by Government House.

“The Department of Finance experienced certain unexpected issues with the direct deposit file and was unable to transmit the file to the bank in time for processing,” said Commissioner of Finance nominee Vladimir Collens to Lieutenant Governor Osbert Potter in an email this morning. “The Department of Finance has since corrected the direct deposit file and will be transmitting it to the bank this morning.”

Collens added: “As a result, for local banking accounts, employees may be credited by late this afternoon; however, for off-island banks, employees will be credited by early tomorrow morning. The Department of Finance apologizes for any inconvenience and will continue to keep our employees informed throughout the day.”

VI Consortium started receiving reports early this morning from concerned residents — teachers, police officers and others — all complaining that the direct deposit did not arrive in their bank accounts on Thursday morning, the fortnight day on which government employees normally receive their wages.

The Consortium immediately contacted Governor Kenneth Mapp’s Communications Director, Kimberly Jones, who said that “all government employees were affected by this glitch,” and that the administration is “working together to pay everyone as soon as possible.”