587

(a) Whenever any civilian officer or employee of the government of the Virgin Islands entitled to leave under sections 581–584 of this title is separated from the Service with or without prejudice he shall be paid compensation in a lump sum for all accumulated and current accrued annual or vacation leave to which he is entitled under existing law. Such lump-sum payment shall equal the compensation that such officer or employee would have received had he remained in the Service until the expiration of the period of such annual or vacation leave.\n(b) The lump-sum payment authorized by this section shall not be regarded, except for purposes of taxation, as salary or compensation and shall not be subject to retirement deductions.