London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jul 05, 2025

Why are 4 UK nationals making top $$$$ from home with RDA?

Why are 4 UK nationals making top $$$$ from home with RDA?

The Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) was commissioned in 2018 via an act of the House of Assembly (HoA) to assist the Territory as an independent body, with recovery after the killer storms Irma and Maria of 2017.

It was also a place to build local technical capacity to help the Virgin Islands years after the Hurricanes, and after the term of the RDA comes to an end.

However, the first item of business, with the reported backing of former controversial Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert aka ‘Gus’, was to hire a Caucasian expat, Paul D. Bayly, with a price tag of $300,000 a year plus room, boarding and airline tickets.

His tenure ended in failure and he abruptly resigned because there were questions from local residents and some elected members of the HoA on performance.


The Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) was commissioned in 2018 via an act of the House of Assembly (HoA) to assist the Territory as an independent body to assist with recovery after the killer storms Irma and Maria of 2017.

Race matters?


A local, Anthony S. McMaster, a former Permanent Secretary, replaced Mr Bayly; however, was not paid the same salary as Mr Bayly. Many public commentators labelled it as downright racism and double standards.

In the past years, there have been issues of the United Kingdom (UK) funding coming to an end, and their lack of honouring their original commitment on the amount of funds promised to the RDA.

Additionally, word reaching our News Centre from two RDA board members familiar with the day to day operations of the organisation is that there are now four British nationals on the payroll working from the UK.

Their average salaries are between $120,000 to $200,000 per year, plus benefits for the four UK Nationals.


The first item of business for the RDA, with the reported backing of former controversial Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert aka ‘Gus’, was to hire a Caucasian expat, Paul D. Bayly, with a price tag of $300,000 a year plus room, boarding and airline tickets.

Is it right for them to work remotely knowing their titles?


The Board Members who spoke to our newsroom, on condition of anonymity, described it as an abuse and could be seen by some as bordering on unfair to the Territory and taxpayers.

The four officers working from home in the UK are; Denise Stabler, a Project Coordinator and is assigned to the Caribbean Development Bank road works; Christopher Coulson, whose title is an Infrastructure planner; Charlie Peschardt, a project manager; and Tom Lilleyman, a chief technical advisor and a pal of the controversial former Governor Jaspert.

One Board Member claimed, “with them making so much money it’s clear that they are not on the ground to address projects, but have to rely on an email from the staff in the BVI.....this is an abuse of office, in my opinion.”

The Board Member asked, “how can they verify projects from the UK?”


There are also unconfirmed reports that the UK nationals working at the RDA have no respect for the CEO, Mr Anthony S. McMaster.

Locals Out! UK Nationals In!


Many locals and other Caribbean national contracts have expired and were not renewed at the RDA; however, the four UK nationals are still raking in huge wages with Mr Lilleyman, a close ally of the former Governor Jaspert, earning some $200,000 a year plus benefits.

There are also unconfirmed reports that the UK nationals working at the RDA have no respect for the CEO, Mr McMaster, who did not respond to our request for a comment on the matter.

Many residents also said this is another reason why the British are anxious to take over the Virgin Islands and impose direct rule under the false pretends of ‘corruption.’ If this happens, it will open the way to lay off locals and hire British nationals.

The British will also move to cut the public service leaving many locals out of jobs, hungry and homeless. Many residents also stated that the example of what is going on in the RDA is yet another form of slavery and exploitation of the people and resources.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×