Over 100 Government Employees Paid On Friday After Mix-Up On Thursday

ST. CROIX — The over 100 government employees who went without their paychecks on Thursday because of what Finance Commissioner Valdamier Collens said was triggered when some agencies failed to update their  “employee job salary record”, was corrected by Friday’s end, according to a press release issued by Sen. Kenneth Gittens office.

Mr. Gittens, who said he was “pleased” that Mr. Collens was able to remedy the problem before the D. Hamilton Jackson holiday, which falls on Sunday but celebrated on Monday, arrived.

“Since hearing of this problem, I have been working closely with the Department of Finance and also fielding calls through my office, from employees with updates and concerns about when they would be paid,” Mr. Gittens said. “I was happy to learn Friday afternoon that 137 employees who were affected had been processed, had paper checks in hand and were able to get to the banks ahead of the close of business.”

He continued: “I was really concerned for the employees as we are going into a long holiday weekend with the observance of David Hamilton Jackson Day, this weekend and into Monday. But as promised by Finance Commissioner Collens, his staff showed sensitivity to the situations and worked along with the other departments until the situation was resolved for all affected.”

The second-term Democrat added that in fielding calls about Thursday’s payroll delays, he was made aware of other employees, newly hired by the government in August who have not seen a pay check in the two months that has passed.

“While these situations seem to be isolated, I have also been trying to get to the bottom of these personnel issues. No matter how much you love your job, nobody wants to work for free. As a government we should do all that is necessary to ensure our employees are taken care of,” Sen. Gittens concluded.