Dwane Callwood (#5) Addresses Act 6905
Guest Opinion by Dwane Callwood
Greetings to one and all:
I am taking this opportunity to respond to a few observations and concerns raised in response to my appearance on Ackley Media Group’s Candidate’s Forum. I’d like to clarify my statements regarding a portion of ACT 6905.
There was some concern raised about my reference to the senators’ retirement plan. As a Deputy Marshal, I am a peace officer in the Virgin Islands. All peace officers, as well as Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians, WAPA linemen, Bureau of Corrections Officers, X-ray Lab Technicians, and other hazardous duty employees are considered Class III government employees. By law, we contribute 10% of our salary into the GERS and retire after 20 years of hazardous duty service. Other rank-and-file government employees contribute 8.5% of their salary and retire after 30 years of service. The 10 year difference is an offset used as an incentive to make accepting the additional risks, hazards, and stress attractive. This plan for Class III employees has been in place for decades.
ACT 6794, The GERS Reform Act of 2005, in layman’s terms said that no longer will employees be able to retire from government service and collect an annuity that the contributions paid into the system on their behalf (employer and employee contributions) could not support. This “taking out more than you put in” is consistently cited as one of the contributing factors of the GERS’ Unfunded Liability. Act 6794 was passed by the 26th Legislature on September 26, 2005 and signed into law on November 2, 2005 by Governor Charles W. Turnbull.
During the December 1, 2006 hearings regarding the infamous Act 6905 there was testimony, via telephone, by the GERS actuaries stating that the Class III employees’ 10% contribution was not covering the cost of the annuity. Act 6905 (Page 10, item 13) changed our rate of contribution from 10% to 10.625%, and mandated that Class III employees that were not vested (had not been a member of the GERS for 10 years) as of October 1, 2006 would be required to work as a Class III employee for an additional 5 years to be eligible for a retirement annuity.
The very same page of Act 6905 (Page 10, Section 6) set the Senators’ plan to 11% contribution, and a retirement annuity of (4.5% of their compensation 13-20 years of service & 5.0% for each year for 20+ years of service). During the hearing there were statements from senators about their job being a 24hr job. Well, I’ve lived the life of a peace officer for 10 years, and our jobs are 24/7 also. People in my neighborhoods often call me before they call 911. Whenever I’m out in public, I get stopped by people seeking advice and guidance on how to handle situations that they find themselves in.
My position is simple: Act 6794, passed before Act 6905 by the same 26th Legislature, says you can’t get it if you don’t pay for it.
If 11% paid by Senators covers their annuity of 90% of their highest compensation (See Act6905 – Page 11, section (e)) after 20 years, then why should Class III employees pay 10.625% for a 60% annuity after 20 years? Either the Senators are not paying enough, or the Class III employees are paying too much. I think we all know which it is. That was the point I was trying to get across. Extend the same golden parachute to the Class III employees who put their lives on the line on a daily basis. If it’s good enough for the Legislature, it should be good enough for the Class III employees. I am not attempting to break the GERS system, but I know that Senator Berry’s golden parachute wasn’t properly funded. It’s time we start holding everyone accountable. Let them come running into the same chambers where that travesty against the people of the Virgin Islands was committed to explain why it is proper for government to function for the benefit of a select few and not the masses.
Dwane Callwood
Note: The 27th Legislature (through Act 6917) quietly removed the additional 5 year requirement on Class III employees, but left their golden parachute intact. I guess no Senator had a bill held up to block changes to the Class III section of Act6905.
Click here to view Act 6905
Click here to view Act 6917
Click here to view Act 6794
SICK AN TIRED OF THE DIVISIVE ATTITUDES
I normally don’t respond to comments made in reference to my native prominence, thus I would not like it to be the reason why I lack the intelligence and ability to make an intellectual political choice. While listening to a Radio Talk Show sometime ago I heard a caller who seems to be a regular participant making derogatory statements towards the native born Virgin Islander regarding the choices made for senators. What really disturbed me was when the caller was trying to insult the intelligence of the native born people of the Virgin Islands by suggesting that we need some kind of education in the process of choosing a senator. He claims that we are ignorant to the kind of people we should be choosing as senators. And that he seems to have some upper hand on us regarding who to choose based on the standard he and his friends has chosen for us. We are some idiots if we can not make the right choices. Can you imagine the nerve of this person trying to show some superiority to the native people due to the hue of his complexion? “Yea I said it” it comes down to the person race whether their intelligence is superior to ours. Well let me set you straight, the people of the Virgin Islands don’t need your type of criticism and we surely don’t need your advice.
You’re the reason why there is divisiveness amongst the native people and the other Caribbean, Hispanic and Caucasian residence of our community. You use your hue to show some superiority on issues that are sensitive to the local people. What is so sad about this whole issue is that you don’t want to become part of our social and cultural environment. So when you start criticizing our local senators, you are insulting and degrading the people of the Virgin Islands.
If the local people would observe some of your behavior practices, they will notice that when you or your love ones depart from this life, your remains are not buried in any of our cemeteries. Some of you have live for more than 30 years and your remains a flown back to your birth place. That is a clear indication that you have no real and deep invested feelings for this Virgin Islands. You are here to cause irreparable harm to the stability of the relationships in this community. Therefore I wish if you have nothing to offer other than your insulting and degrading comments, I would suggest that you kept your mouth shut.
We choose our senators based on their commitment and understanding of the cultural and social needs of the people. The clear understanding of our culture and the people makes this candidate superior to the others. We see things differently to our mainland resident and hold our cultural difference as a way of showing that we are proud of our life style.
In the future I would suggest to our local people, to really take a step back, listen and digest all that has been said during this political season and make a wise and thoughtful choice of who has your best interest at heart.
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