Acting Governor Tregenza Roach today apologized to a number of employees who were not paid by regular direct deposit on Thursday, according to a release Mr. Roach’s office issued. However, the lieutenant governor — who’s currently serving as acting governor while Governor Albert Bryan is out of the territory — added that all affected employees will receive their payroll payment via paper check no later than the end of the workday today.
According to Mr. Roach, upon checking with Dept. of Finance Commissioner Kirk Callwood, Mr. Roach said he was informed that in meeting certain federal grant requirements for repayment of payroll expenses to the Government of the Virgin Islands, and in meeting certain grant obligations, some employees could not be paid by direct deposit.
The affected agencies were the Department of Education, Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Department of Health, Department of Labor, Department of Human Services, Virgin Islands Police Department, and the Office of the Adjutant General, which all have several federal grants.
The release did not say how many employees were affected.
Mr. Roach said he does not anticipate that there will be any effect on future payroll payments.