Port Authority increases adding to BVI’s inflation — Penn
The government’s Port Authority fee increases are being blamed for adding to the inflation woes of the BVI.
“We continue to speak about, particularly, the 100% increase that was done at the port. That also has a huge implication in terms of cost for persons who are bringing goods and services into the territory,” Opposition Leader Marlon Penn said at a press briefing recently.
According to Penn, the BVI imports more than 90 per cent of its goods and this direct policy decision by the government to implement port fee increases has added significant costs in terms of inflation to the goods that are being sold in the territory.
USVI making things easier for businesses
Penn, who is also the Eighth District representative, turned his attention to the neighbouring US Virgin Islands (USVI), which he explained has been capitalising on some economic opportunities within the region.
“The US Virgin Islands is making it much easier for nationals and businesses to operate in the USVI,“ Penn expressed.
Caribbean nationals, which Penn said make up more than 60 per cent of the BVI‘s population, will soon have the opportunity to go to neighbouring St Thomas, USVI and shop and do business in the USVI once a new law there becomes ratified.
“That now has far-reaching implications on local businesses from an economic point of view,” he argued. “That is something that our government needs to pay attention to.“
“How can we now make the cost of doing business worthwhile for the businesses on the ground in the BVI?” Penn asked. “Because there is going to be an alternative soon.“
Penn warned that if 60 per cent of the BVI’s population has the opportunity to choose an alternative to shop, they will likely do so.
“We already have a challenge in terms of a large portion of our economic spend happens in the US Virgin Islands,“ he stated.
Penn bemoaned the fact that this was happening at a time when there is a need to maximise the economic spend within the local economy so that businesses can recover after almost two years of inactivity.
Third District Rep agrees, port fees exorbitant
Meanwhile, the Opposition Leader’s position was endorsed by Third District Representative Julian Fraser, who felt that importers were being short-changed by exorbitant fees at the port.
“When you bring in a container into the territory; I mean, the fees for that has just gone up, I hear people talking about one time a 40-foot container was $1,000 now it’s $3,000 to bring it in – but the fees are what’s choking people,“ Fraser said.
“This is insane. I don’t understand how people who are doing business could tolerate this for so long, it’s insane,” Fraser stated.
“When you go up at the dock and you see, maybe hundreds of containers sitting up there, only God knows how much money they probably owe the Ports Authority because I know they’re not paying. They can’t pay, it’s not tenable,” he added.
The BVI Port Authority (BVIPA) had announced a number of port fee increases early last year, but some of these were later deferred by Premier Andrew Fahie after significant public backlash.
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USVI eating all of our food
USVI eating your food. USVI eating US food. Where does your food come from? Cuba? Haiti? You are eating US food. Half the crap your politician cr**k sells in his supermarket allegedly comes from a Costco. Go back under the rock from which you came.
Well the Port Authority have to pay $295,000 a year for their shiny new HQ and the money to make it habitable. So they have to have more money.
As painful and embarrassing as it might be a UK take over seem to be the only solution. Our elected officials seem to loose it when a four hundred million dollar budget is passed. Rational common sense and business savvy individuals need to be in control of our finances. We cannot continue to treat our annual budget like a birthday cake. The party is over there is work to do.
Think them greedy fools watching that!? This the same entity that wanted to raise fees in the middle of a pandemic and gave the higher ups raises while slashing the hours of the regular workers. you really think they watching inflation and the effect it have on the economy?
You all think you all indispensable? All over the world port fees increase.its not only you Mr Penn BVI.shocks
all ayo wanted to kill Myron when he said so … the stupid moves of this government is adding to the USVI dish from off the BVI economy
Mr Penn speaking pure truth
hurricane irma was 2017 and look at the condition of the port,disgusting.One of the cargo shed was destroyed and to date,only a temporary shed is there which is 1/8 the size of the one destroyed by irma with 7/8 of the cargo is exposed to rain, sun and all the elements of the atmosphere.( (peoples hard earned goods).Added insult to injury ,they have increased the cost of storage fees by almost 400 % in the first instance.They purchased i top lifter( container stacker) , 3 jockey trucks ,i go fast boat, purchased ( these are at the port just sitting and doing nothing)land in virgin gorda and tortola and the list goes on and on.( millions of dollars spent)
Now tell me, why after 4 1/2 years the people who are paying an increase of 100 % raise of wharfage and 400 % storage charge, cannot get a proper warehouse to secure and store their cargo? disgusting)Premier you need to take a closer look at some of these things a have them fixed,especially the exposure of importers/ people’s cargo.I think the ware house should have been built before.
He only reacting to things when Mr Penn expose the doings of Government injustice to the country ?
If he had a plan he would not wait until he is exposed and then run to do things . He would be sailing along smoothly with his plans for the country .
At this point, he is trying to feed his friends who helped out in his election campaign . (We are on to your moves)Then he tries to do something to fool the people in general
A good leader leads not dictates to his team
A good leader takes care of his country not only his supporters
A good leader do not put people in position to weaken a political party and muzzle their mouth ; he does it because we live in a democratic society not for his political gains
A good leader does not make surrounds himself with weak minded
The USVI was our mainstay, for years stop! being ungrateful, the working people from the BVI introduce the BVI to USVI ECONOMY because they were looking for some thing more in the tourism sector, and, help the BVI where it is today.
Competition bring corruption.
We need to say thanks to the USVI and stop been ungrateful and greedy.