The Government Employees’ Retirement System  
of The Virgin Islands 
 
 
 
Presentation 
to 
The Committee on Government Operations, Veteran Affairs  
and Consumer Protection 
 
The Thirty-Sixth Legislature of The Virgin Islands  
 
 
September 22, 2025 
Earl B. Ottley Legislative Hall 
St. Thomas, Virgi Islands 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gov’t Employee’s Retirement System  
 
    September 22, 2025 
Testimony on Bill No. 36-0061 
 
Page | 2 
Good morning. 
 
I am Angel E. Dawson, Jr., Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of the 
Government Employees’ Retirement System of the Virgin Islands.  Pursuant to 
Senator Avery Lewis’ invitation of August 18, 2025, I am here today to testify on 
Bill No. 36-0061, as proposed by Senator Carla J. Joseph. 
 
Bill No. 36-0061 proposes to allow retirees who are receiving an annuity from the 
Government Employees’ Retirement System, who are subsequently employed by 
the University of the Virgin Islands, to continue to receive their GERS annuity while 
receiving their salary from the University, if the retiree enrolls in a different 
retirement plan. 
 
Title 17 Virgin Islands Code, Chapter 33, Section 457, Paragraph (b) already 
provides that: 
 
“All employees who hold permanent positions at the University shall be covered in 
accordance with provisions of the Employees Retirement System of the Government 
of the United States Virgin Islands; provided that teaching, administrative faculty 
and other personnel who are eligible for coverage by the Teacher’s insurance and 
Annuity Association or other similar retirement systems may either join the 
Government Employees Retirement System or the Teacher’s Insurance and Annuity 
Association or other similar retirement system, or if such employee has prior 
credited service in the Government Employees’ Retirement System may upon 
employment with the University elect to remain in the Government Employees’ 
Retirement System or join the Teacher’s Insurance and Annuity Association or other 
similar retirement systems. 
Gov’t Employee’s Retirement System  
 
    September 22, 2025 
Testimony on Bill No. 36-0061 
 
Page | 3 
To the extent that this “carve out” already applies to the University of the Virgin 
Islands, Bill No. 36-0061 would merely extend it to persons retired from service 
within the Virgin Islands Government who possess professional characteristics 
desired by the University.  Further, since Bill 36-0061 conditions such return to work 
at the University upon individuals enrolling in a “different retirement plan”, the 
inference is that this is a measure to facilitate return to work of individuals qualifying 
as “teaching, administrative faculty and other personnel who are eligible for 
coverage by the Teacher’s Insurance and Annuity Association or other similar 
retirement systems”.  Once again, since that “carve out” already exists for the 
University of the Virgin Islands, and Bill No. 36-0061 seeks to facilitate, 
presumably, beneficial return to work for the University, the GERS expresses no 
opposition at this time. 
 
Thank you.