Customs hosting symposium for charter operators/companies
Her Majesty’s Customs Department will be hosting a symposium for charter operators/companies on January 10.
In a notice issued to the public, Customs noted that all charter companies with two or more vessels operating in the territory are required to attend the mandatory symposium.
The notice added that the gathering will be for both new and existing operators and it is scheduled to run from 10 am and 2 pm at Her Majesty’s Customs Training Room.
As a result of the increased cases of coronavirus in the territory in recent weeks, HM Customs said spaces are limited to one representative per charter company in keeping with COVID-19 guidelines.
Interested parties are advised to contact the department at 284-468-6800 to register for a session.
In an interview with BVI News in December, Commissioner of Customs Wade Smith had noted in the last few years, Customs and other government agencies have been hosting symposiums to educate operators in the marine industry on the dos and don’ts of the boating community in the Virgin Islands.
In recent months, there have been complaints from marine industry stakeholders on the access to information regarding licensing and operating charters in the territory and Smith had noted the symposium hosted by Customs in recent times has been to address that.
The last symposium held for the charter operators/owners in December was done in conjunction with the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry, Department of Trade, Labour Department, Immigration Department.
The Commissioner said that through the various symposiums, a number of owners have been contacting the various departments directly because they have not been receiving the full information from agencies regarding government policy.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
All this joker knows is how to be the heavy hand of the law. Heard of the Napolean complex that short people have? Well he gave Goliath complex he long ms. We are catering to and trying to get and keep the charter industry as our bread and butter. They shouldn’t have to come to a symposium so you can lecture to them on what the law says. You should be going to them and going to charter yacht shows and demonstrating how you will make life easier for them sail BVI waters while we work on making the laws more charter yacht friendly. These people ayu put in charge is blind and dumb and clueless. Have Goliath looked at the laws and made any recommendations to the Premier as to where the laws can be amended? Is Goliath interested in keeping the Charter Yacht industry and catering to them? Or he only interested in taxing people and confiscating vessels and trying to make people bow to he. Ronnie should have never put him on his team
What he need to do is go home. Look like he’s 100 years old, can’t barely walk and still trying to mind the cheese…..take a seat…big rat…..
So raid first and then tell them their rights right after?
Under what law does this popinjay demand that people attend his symposium?
Megalomaniac.
Mandatory ….. Im sorry who are you? You are a civil servant employee who OUR taxes pay. How about you shake a leg and get off your high chair and go to the people. Maybe some leaflets to explain your policies. Too many word of mouth rules …
I totally agreed with you. Put the stuff down on a pamphlet because everyday you go there is something new or something different.
Last minute mandatory meeting with customs in the middle of January during a pandemic with a phone number that is of no help. Mr. Smith exactly how much do you wish tourism to be fail in Tortola?? Have a meeting with the community and let’s have an open discussion so we can move forward and try to salvage this year’s declining boating tourism.
Four days’ notice for a mandatory meeting with no help on the phone when 284-468-6800 is called is too much and probably the last straw!
With half the Gov’t offices closed due to Covid why can you not do this virtually? SMH Or is everyone using Covid as an excuse to not work
Smith b**l end
BVI way, shoot first and aim later!
BVI Customs should have their 10 Jan. symposium in St. Thomas because that is where all the BVI marine companies are now!
Can we set up a ZOOM link so that everyone not able to attend in person can at least watch and listen to the meeting?
No.