Premier surprised at USVI’s appeal to Trump over BVI charter fees
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley said he was taken by surprise by an appeal from stakeholders in the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) to US President Donald Trump regarding recent charter fee changes introduced in the British Virgin Islands (BVI).
Speaking on the Talking Points programme, the Premier said the move came despite years of dialogue between the BVI and the USVI governments on the operation of the marine industry and proposed amendments affecting charter activity.
The Premier explained that discussions between the two administrations intensified following the COVID-19 period, when many charter operators relocated operations to the USVI while continuing to use BVI waters. He said the measures introduced at the time, including work permits and trade licence requirements, generated widespread industry complaints.
According to Dr Wheatley, his administration moved to ease those restrictions after taking office, including mutual recognition of business licences for water taxis and the removal of work permit requirements, while making clear that amendments would follow to address competitive imbalances.
He noted that charter fees in the BVI had not been revised for over three decades. “We hadn’t amended our fees since 1992 when the legislation was passed by the late great Lavity Stoutt. So the fees were 30 years old,” the Premier said. He added that the government believed the territory should receive a fair return from charter operations that largely rely on the BVI as the primary attraction.
Premier Wheatley said his government was transparent throughout the process and held discussions with USVI counterparts, believing its position was understood. Against that background, he described the appeal to Trump as unexpected.
“So certainly it would have come as a great surprise to me to see an appeal to Donald Trump to get involved in the USVI–BVI relationship. That certainly came as a surprise to me,” Dr Wheatley stated.
Maintaining constructive relations
Despite the development, the Premier stressed the importance of maintaining constructive relations between the neighbouring territories. “Of course, we in the BVI and the United States Virgin Islands will remain neighbours, and it’s important for us to have good relations with each other,” he said, adding that continued dialogue remained necessary.
The issue has drawn attention in the local marine sector, a major contributor to the BVI economy. The revised charter fee structure was introduced as part of efforts to modernise legislation and ensure the territory benefits more equitably from its marine resources.
Dr Wheatley said the government would continue discussions aimed at reaching an understanding that balances industry concerns with the territory’s economic interests, emphasising that cooperation rather than escalation remained the preferred approach.
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Cause BVI got to lay down and take death when allya squeezing the last bit out of we to double ya own don’t mean USVI going to. Here does import so much thing from America if they decide on extra tax what the repercussions going be to the overall public? Them same charter captains where their boat parts come from I wonder. Too much yes men.
He is surprised that the welfare islands (aka USVI) who don’t want to spend a thing on their charter infrastructure? Surprised they don’t want to pay taxes to the infrastructure of the country who their charter industry is based? Surprised they would go complain to have action taken because of some bad minded set from the mainland? Nobody has stopped their charters the issue is USVI is just a middleman and they are unwilling to accept that reality. Nobody wants to sail USVI that is the problem. If BVI raising its rates, one would think they would just sail their waters. The problem is they have no product. Their product is what is in the BVI’s cabinet and therein lies the problem. If your industry is essentially someone else’s country entirely then YOU DONT HAVE AN INDUSTRY YOU ARE MIDDLE MEN…..Each one of those boats makes on average $300000 plus and they refuse to pay any type of reasonable contribution to BVI. That is ridiculous
BVI spent years investing in tourist infrastructure they instead had Epstein island a place allegedly for young woman. You needed to get your priorities straight……
Don’t back down. This our territory.
So what Bryan did is encouraging “good relations” between the BVI and USVI?? Thats the question for the Premier.
We are not their fools Hon Premier. The USVI is about THEMSELVES! So the Virgin Islands better get our acts together. That Friendship Day story is false and fake. We need to find another way instead of pretending we are friends. The same Governor has roots here, and this is what he would do, Go to Orange Guy for help. He is def on the Koolaid.
Raising our rates was completely justified. But out of that, the entire endeavour of licensing a yacht to charter in the BVI remains a bureaucratic quagmire.
The government could have offered up some streamlining in return (What am I saying!?! Streamlining will never, ever, happen in a country where the bureaucracy pulls all the governmental strings.)
This should have been anticipated because the USVI has two main complaints. Firstly, most of the guests they bring to the BVI are Americans that spend enormous amounts of money in our territory and charging them heavy fees for bringing them goes against the grain. Secondly, increasing the fees to the levels we have because we have not increased them for decades is not dissimilar to the local politicians more than doubling their salaries in one fell swoop. In the real world one would spread the increases out over a number of years.
Whem Myron said USVI was eating oir lunch all ayo wanted to kill him
See what is going down now!!! Badminded ness will be the downfall of this country
So increasing our rates significantly is overboard for the USVI charter based industry- lmbao! Y’all senile orange orangutan president has:
raised tariffs
invaded another sovereign country (as usual), plundering their natural resources
raised the visa requirements for certain passports holders to $15k
threats to other countries
I could go on and on; but that punk ran to the senile orange orangutan to cry over the pressure he’s received since we decided to do what his big poppa has/is doing to the rest of the world!
Mr. Albert Bryan et.al. The BVI waters, islands and cays do NOT belong to you over there and as such you and those leeches are NOT entitled to meddle in our livelihoods.
Is this fee from $800 a year from 1992 to 2025 and then to $25,000 per year? If so, I am wondering what is the issue? Why are we oncentrating on the percentage of increase rather than the percentage of loss to the BVI over those 30 years? These bareboats make that in a month and have a problem with it to the point of complaining to the U.S. President? Well, well, well, the world has come full circle. I walk into Rite*** and OneM*** and the price of gorceries have quadrupled. The cost of doing business is definitely upwards of 20 times more than it was 30 years ago. So, as I see it, we all have options. Sail towards Puerto Rico and St. Croix and pay no fee or pay the piper and take your clients to The Baths, Norman Island, White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, the Wreck of the Rhone to name a few. I like Louis Vitton but don’t have one because I can’t afford it. So what do I do? I make myself happy with my Coach. Choices, period.
We are not surprised that the Premier is surprised. A competent person should have anticipated this. Please Premier and VIP …can you get out of our House? You have no idea what you’re doing!
Let’ see how you are goin to twist and turn this senerio, into putting the blame on the UK / and those white colonists slave masters , we are waiting on you, so don’t disappoint us
WITH TRUMP , LIKE HOW Y’ALL TRYING WITH THE UK / THEN IS WHEN THE ORANGE FELLO WILL FLEX OFF WITH HIS US DOLARS , BY TELLING US NOT TO USE HIS MONEY ANYMORE , THAT ALONE WILL CLOSE A LOT OF US MOUTHS
Why would anyone be surprised by a politician responding to (or “passing the buck”) demands from his or her constituents?
The Governor on St. Thomas has responded to his constituents, while acknowledging that the issues are outside the purview of the territorial government, and he’s effectively dumped the problem on federal officials – for the USVI Governor, problem solved.
First, we want our name, Virgin Islands, back.
They should have never called themselves the US Virgin Islands, since there was a Virgin Islands already in existence.
They should have changed their name from the Danish West Indies to the United States West Indies.
It might help to understand the reasoning behind the fee increase which was experienced by all charter operators and not just foreign based.
Fees had remained unchanged since 1992, and the across the board adjustments were made to account for inflation. As a result, locally based operators also saw increases.
The industry has evolved significantly, and with its growth comes greater pressure on the BVI’s natural resources. The additional increase applied to foreign charter boat operators reflects this heightened demand and the need to manage these resources responsibly.
Imagine a foreign-based charter yacht arrives to the BVI. Previously, they paid $45 (charter license fee) for the privilege of entering the BVI and added a cruising tax of $16 per guest/per day. A 60’ boat may charter for $35,000-$40,000. How many times a year could this be done? As many times as wanted.
With the new legislation a foreign based yacht has options:
1. They may choose to pay on per charter basis for $1200 per charter (no more than 7)
2. They may choose to pay for seven charters upfront for a fee of $7,500.
3. They may desire unlimited charter access in which case they pay $24000 (upfront) or $7500 plus $2100 each entry beyond 7.
No other commitments required. No work permits, or any of the obligatory payments that go along with being in the BVI labour force.
If a 60′ yacht averages 15 charters in a season they can conduct half of their season in BVI waters again with no other commitments for $7500.
Compare the above to a locally based charter vessel which pays above and beyond $24000 to secure requisite documents (including work permits – taxes, SSB, NHI) to operate their charter yacht in BVI waters.
There is more to all of this than just random numbers.