Don’t ‘nickel and dime’ tourists with cruising permits — Penn
Opposition Leader Marlon Penn has urged the government not to impose burdensome cruising permits on guests that enter the BVI through its territorial waters.
In a recent sitting of the House of Assembly, Penn questioned the need to issue these cruising permits to boat operators who are transferring passengers from West End to St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.
“If you leave West End to do a transfer to go to St Thomas to pick up someone to come back in, I cannot see where it is envisaged that you need a cruising permit for those transfers,” Penn said.
According to Penn, this could not have been the intent of the legislation that sanctions these permit requirements.
“We are now seeing where those persons who operate in that space see some opportunities to get themselves back up and running, to get themselves moving again,” he told the House.
Describing the issue as one of great concern, the Eighth District Representative said the BVI‘s tourism economy has been down for some 18 months and is now beginning to see some life again.
“We cannot continue to nickel and dime our guests during that process,” he argued.
The Opposition Leader said while he understood the need for a cruising permit for persons who are going out on a cruise back-and-forth between the islands, it didn’t make sense to him for a cruising permit to be required to take a short trip from West End to the USVI.
“When you leave the BVI waters to go from West End to go to St Thomas, it’s less than five minutes out of West End, [before] you’re in USVI waters,” Penn said.
“Why am I asking persons to pay a cruising permit where you are moving back-and-forth less than five minutes, where is the cruising in that process?” he asked.
Penn said legislators need to look closely at the law and determine if it is explicit in that sense and make necessary adjustments thereafter.
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Marlon is smarter than his teacher Fahie
No one wants to here from you go sit down
Is this man a threat to you willox?
“hear”
Now go sit down.
Go sit down in grade school.. learn English
The Cruising and Home Port Permit Act, 2021 exempted only the ferries from cruising permits NOT any other passenger vessels such as water taxis on trips between the BVI and USVI.
Anyone who does not show favor for and pucker up to the c—-er is viewed as a threat.
These cruising permits have to be issued at customs office during office hours only…so when someone shows up day-of-boat-tour the charter company must drive to the government office to get the permit before departing. All good if the chatter company is in Roadtown…but on sister islands this is a major barrier to doing business.
These fools know nothing about boats, or marine tourism. Stop writing laws that foul up what business we have left. Better yet, consult with people in the marine business BEFORE the law goes into effect. And start implementation in May or June AT THE END OF TOURIST SEASON!
We are open for business.
Killing it. And BVI
No matter who it comes from, do what is best for the BVI and that is the problem . We are blinded by politics and cannot see past a Candidate. Marlon makes sense ,
False pride on ideas and workable solutions … who it comes from is a threat . Leave ego out and let us work as one BVI … that is why the COI is now holding the territory at bay .
Wow, permit to enter the territory then a permit to sail your charter boat around for a week then pay for a permit to do a fishing/diving/sightseeing tour! Do the math then say goodbye to tourism!