BVI News

Ports Authority ‘reviewing’ fee increase amid public backlash

Following backlash from a number of residents and businesses across the territory, the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) has announced that they will be reviewing their recently increased port fees.

The BVIPA made the announcement in a brief media statement on Wednesday February 3.

In the statement, the Authority said it noted the many concerns raised by the public and were in the process of reviewing the issues.

“The BVI Ports Authority, (BVIPA) values the concerns raised by the public and our stakeholders as a result of the fee adjustments as amended in the British Virgin Islands Ports Authority (Amended) Regulations, 2020. The BVIPA is considering the concerns raised and can assure that the matter is under review,” the BVIPA stated.

BVIPA initially said the fees were overdue

According to the BVIPA in initial media release, it said that the adjustment of the fees was overdue and were necessary for the efficient and effective operations of the port, and to ensure further development for all port facilities across the territory.

Immediately following the announcement, many businesses and residents had taken to social media to express their discontent with the new fees, which some said had increased in some instances by more than 100 percent.

The BVI Chamber of Commerce & Hotel Association (BVICCHA) which is the body that speaks on behalf of member businesses and the wider business community, called on the BVIPA to withhold the recent hike in fees and hold consultation with stakeholders who will be affected by the increased costs.

The BVICCHA labelled the Port Authority’s decision as “unacceptable”, stating that business owners were not given adequate notice.

Fees raised by more than 500%

BVICCHA also pointed to instances where the BVIPA had increased some of the fees by 500 percent, where fees had jumped from $500 to $2,500.

With such a hike in fees which will affect the importation of all goods into the territory, the main concern raised by business owners was that it would result in the increase of most items in BVI. This would therefore further raise the cost of living in an already impacted economy battling the effects of COVID-19.

The Ports Authority has said that it will provide further updates on the matter “as soon as possible.”

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14 Comments

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  1. Lessons learned says:

    When would the government learn.. to use their brains and think through issues thoroughly before announcing decisions 5o the public..
    makes you guys look really fool

    I feel really sad for the state of the bvi government at present.

    Real pappyshow

    Like 18
    Dislike 4
  2. Shameful says:

    These are real jokers. This government is worse ever. Every decision is changed days after because there is no kind of thinking being applied. This is because they have no plan for anything. It’s crazy . The port is under the Premier so he had to know about this. The constant incompetence of this government is embarrassing.

    Like 21
    Dislike 3
    • GTFOH says:

      Government had a plan which they implemented. The business owners are the ones that had no plans in place for an increase. The problem with government is trying to please everyone. Government’s main objective is to lead. No government consults the public on everything they plan to do. Their job is to come up with plans, do their due diligence for the best way to implement and move it forward. People are not going to like everything. If we had a choice we would not pay any taxes or want everything for free. These same business owners raise their prices all the time without consulting their customers. At least government consults the public sometimes. When have you ever seen these businesses consulting the public on their prices. It’s always take it or leave it. They forget government is also a business.

      Like 3
      Dislike 14
    • ................... says:

      They had J**n S at the helm and they allowed that d***n woman to run him. Everything will fail under Andrew watch it because he is a b***y and lacks true leadership. He is not loyal to anyone only the o..h man.

    • Faith says:

      He knowns all of this the idea was all his they think we are all idiots

  3. 1st district says:

    All these government departments doing is trying to make us the consumer pay twice for their mis use of funds. Electricity is another department who have increased their deposit fee on an already deposit downpayment.

    Like 12
  4. Clearly says:

    We thank our government for listening.

    • Hmmm says:

      They are the ones who made the decision and shoukd have been thinking about the welfare of the people and the impact this woukd have on all of us.
      Guess the next announcement will be “this is your government working for its people’ and we all about hurray. Nonsense

  5. Sickening says:

    You bloggers on here make a dog sick. Ckearly you are political bloggers but we the people see through you. Still buying the most expensive everything, shopping till you drop and still bawling pauper. set of ungreatful jealous people. Evil will always think as evil does. You have a phone to blogg so be thankful you can do what you love to do best

  6. Hmm says:

    Reduce the work permit fees too for 2020.

  7. Wow says:

    This is the only island that is increasing fee on everything and ppl can hardly eat ti survive
    Only the government getting a lavish life

  8. ? says:

    So it wasn’t reviewed before being implemented? How could a board and executives meet on something as drastic as this and not see that it would be a HUGE PROBLEM at this time???

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