How can Voters Hold the Legislature Fiscally Accountable?

Posted on 12/7/2012 by | AARP Virgin Islands | Comments

Advocacy Where should the line be drawn on the Legislature funding itself? What are legitimate Legislative expenses?  Unfortunately, there is no system of checks and balances to oversee the Legislature’s financial practices. There is no way to assure that the public’s interest is being served by the expenses created by the Legislature’s budget for itself.   At a time when the Virgin Islands are experiencing unprecedented unemployment and numerous business closures, AARP asks whether appropriating public money to fund things such …

The GERS Struggle to Achieve Solvency Continues

Posted on 12/7/2012 by | AARP Virgin Islands | Comments

Advocacy Few retirees of the VI Government Employees’ Retirement System (GERS) were aware of the multitude of changes proposed in Bill 29-0099 submitted to the Legislature for consideration back in August.  However, toady many concerned current employees and retirees are now trying to learn more about what can be done to help the system achieve solvency. GERS is one of the critical components of the Virgin Islands economy. On a monthly basis, GERS pumps $18,734,236 into the economy. Without these annuity …

St. Johnians Can Help Keep their Electricity Flowing

Posted on 11/21/2012 by | AARP Virgin Islands | Comments

Advocacy | Virgin Islands Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) Chief Executive Officer Hugo V. Hodge, Jr. and Karl Knight, Director of the VI Energy Office (VIEO) are always combining their efforts to identify new and innovative ways to reduce the vast multitude of energy issues facing the territory.So it was no surprise when Hodge sought approval from the WAPA Board for the two to team up and seek a grant worth more than $10 million to create a solar micro grid system …

AARP Virgin Islands

Posted on 11/16/2012 by | AARP Virgin Islands | Comments

About AARP AARP Virgin Islands 4093 Diamond Ruby, Suite 6 Christiansted, VI 00820 Phone: 1-866-389-5633 (toll-free) Fax: 1-340-692-2544 viaarp@aarp.org 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday Local Map AARP Virgin Islands has about 20,000 members in the VI – that’s 20% of the VI population! AARP is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all generations through positive social change.

Energy Cost Continues to Rise

Posted on 11/2/2012 by | AARP Virgin Islands | Comments

Money & Work | Virgin Islands The closure of Hovensa continues to impact how Virgin Islanders are adjusting to life with higher energy costs. The 25 percent increase to the Levelized Energy Adjustment Clause also known as the LEAC will, undoubtedly, prompt residents to once again change how they live their day-to-day lives. See Also: Affordable Utilities Now The LEAC increase granted by the PSC is in response to the Water and Power Authority’s (WAPA)’s immediate need for cash to purchase oil to continue generating electricity …

Got Social Security Questions? We’ve Got Answers – Lots of Them

Posted on 10/23/2012 by | AARP National | Comments

Money & Work | Virgin Islands By Jean C. Setzfand, Vice President, Financial Security, AARP Education and Outreach I’m not sure how many ways the English language has to ask, “How big will my wife’s Social Security check be if I die?”, but one thing is certain: We at AARP are determined to find out. Social Security Increase for 2013: 1.7 Percent It’s all part of our two-year effort to create an interactive tool that can answer your Social Security questions quickly and easily, with virtually …