BVI Marine Association optimistic about govt’s new boating policy
Even as others have expressed uncertainty over the new policy changes that Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley announced for the yachting industry, Chairman of the BVI Marine Association, Andrew Ball has expressed optimism.
Under the new policy, the government no longer requires BVI trade licenses from charter operators who are not based in the BVI and will also not require work permits for crew members working on those vessels.
READ: USVI strong-armed BVI into implementing policy
“In the long run, I see this as part of a positive move. In the short run, I see why people can be upset,” Ball told ZBVI Radio this week.
He expressed that in the long-term, he envisioned a place where it was much easier to do business and generate appropriate contributions from everyone working within the territory and from those coming into the territory as well.
The chairman further stated that he was looking forward to a proper public-private partnership where all the sub-sectors of the industry can have representation and help create new laws which make things work and also take away the frustration of being based in the BVI while generating more revenue for the territory.
A frustrated marine industry
Ball said there are a number of challenges associated with charter businesses being based in the BVI and said there has been no relief offered for those challenges that are being faced.
“What we’ve got is a fairly frustrated industry, and now we’ve afforded some benefit to some foreigners to come and do that work as well. So, of course, that’s not going to receive a great local response on its own,” the chairman argued.
Ensuring that locally based charters will not be disadvantaged from the changes is something Ball described as an all-inclusive process which he said will require the legislative changes that the Premier suggested will happen. But Ball said this is a long road and will require more than simple Cabinet changes being executed by the government.
“While it would’ve been great to see that legislative change come a lot sooner, and we’ve been pushing for it a long time, I have to say it is a relief to know, or to feel that it is coming now, and we are getting started on that work,” the chairman said.
Ball described the proposed changes as a proverbial Pandora’s box, noting that if stakeholders are not careful, the new policy and legislative changes could be really damaging if they get it wrong.
One of the reasons he felt prevented the implementation of legislative changes for years was the level of intricacy within the industry. ”Whereas right now we basically treat all commercial vessels as just a commercial vessel, we would need to seek to differentiate them out and potentially have different rules in place to protect each subset,” Ball reasoned.
https://bvinews.com/premier-clarifies-foreign-charters-restricted-to-drop-offs-at-local-ports/
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
The premier only takes advice from his brother it seems
It would seem Mr Ball is choosing his words with care. One can only wonder why….
The Premier made a unilateral statement and legal provision that stated that as from 15th November USVI boats would no longer require trade licenses and work permits – just like that!! No consultations, no forethought, no input by stakeholders – no nothing!!
A shock to the system!!! Not a good sign of leadership!
This cr**k getting $$ from this venture. While the smuggling of drugs, money and illegal aliens continue on these same boats. Head coach was right with that approach. Them day trippers DO NOT CLARE CUSTOMS, PAY ANY FEES..NO BVI BOAT CAN GO TO STT AND BEHAVE OR CONDUCT BUSINESS THERE. SLOW….NEED TO LOOK UP RHAT BIG WORD HE USING IN RÈTURN!!
Who cares what this rac**t thinks
It seems as though the BVI will be crippled and left to be beggars on the streets. The only people that gains from this is the Usvi. More people in their hotels, more jobs for the people there, more money spent in their economy and less for us here in the BVI. The tourists want to charter in bvi waters. We are the ones that have all the islands. Why is it that our leaders wish to turn everything over? It’s now a one stop shop for tourist to use the waters here in the bvi. We are giving away our second pillar and the first is quickly closing. People wake up please.
Fix internal issues before inviting more of them.
The sector is not complex and has been in the bVI since the 70s.
Being diplomatic or just another layer of BS? Seriously short sited.
let this silly little boy sit down and shut his silly little mouth. he pretends to know about the yacht business but he just wants to be a big man. you should talk to people who are not just looking out for themselves.
The amazing photo could have/should have been different based on a simple interview with everyone still processing what they heard… Always I find what’s written can put your qualms with an informed media house a lot more with any phone call. (How else though a radio gave a whole article I don’t write up but with it on and about it to you)…
To be sure that’s word chow mein. What is amazing though, is the Machiavellian, self centered, self promoting egotistical narcissists that exist in the public domain particularly online, polarizing everything with their manipulative agendas. Enabling themselves, pushing themselves forward, these psychopathic types attempt to dominate society, ultimately destroying society for their own ends in the process.
Not true. There were consultations.
The Premier undoubtedly has never been through the work permit application process, nor the red tape swamp created by the self-serving minions at HM Customs and the Shipping Registry. In truth, the entire process in the BVI is a bureaucratic nightmare, and borders on dehumanizing. These are the exact reasons why the USVI is so attractive as a home port (not withstanding the fact that their airport is our gateway as well).
Charter yachting generates a huge amount of trade, mainly on Tortola, but also on the sister islands. The visiting yachts create a huge amount of trade on the sister islands especially. We need both!
The challenge to the Premier is to streamline basing in the BVI. This of course will go very much against the BVI’s normal operating procedures of bureaucratizing things to death. The Premier will also be challenged by bureaucrats mainly ever interested in securing their jobs and their power base.
This guy has too many hats. Marine association, Tourist board and toy police man. His ego bigger than the country!
This news will not help local boats one bit. It actually punishes local boats and gives foreign boats free reign to do their charters in this territory. That is not a fair deal, it’s the USVI flexing their muscle.
I want to know how him get a popo badge?
I bet West Bsnk shaking in there crocs knowing this narci**istic jack-of all trades is now auxiliary for marine police. Wait until you see him with he chest puff out
Snoopy’ ur right meson. &
Are the moorings FREE to them USVI boats poring in ?
We going have to fight to get our own moorings that we pay daily & total of passengers.