USVI Governor resists VIPCA request for reciprocal fees on BVI
United States Virgin Islands Governor Albert Bryan Jr has dismissed calls from the Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association (VIPCA) to introduce reciprocal fees against the BVI, despite industry concerns over job losses and income decline.
Speaking on WTJX in St Croix, Bryan defended the BVI’s right to charge fees to foreign charter companies, describing the move as “economically necessary” and “reasonable”. His comments follow recent frustration from VIPCA after three USVI charter companies announced plans to relocate to the BVI due to the new fee structure.
“They met with the BVI on several occasions and they negotiated what they think was fair,” Bryan stated. “It’s only fair that they get paid for people to come into their waters,” he explained.
The Governor also acknowledged the financial pressures facing the BVI, which does not benefit from US federal assistance like FEMA or unemployment support. “The BVI needs to make its economy work,” he stated.
The response drew criticism from VIPCA Executive Director Kenon Jones, who argued that the Governor was not defending the interests of the USVI charter industry.
“At the end of the day it’s going to mean lost jobs, lost income and will hurt the overall economy locally,” Jones said.
Among the businesses leaving the USVI is And Beyond Yacht Charters, whose CEO Colin Stein said he is relocating a fleet of 21 vessels to Virgin Gorda. Stein said continuing operations from St Thomas is no longer economically feasible under the current conditions.
Stein stated that he would still be permitted to operate charters in USVI waters on a limited basis as a BVI home-based operator. However, he noted that 99% of his clients request charters in BVI waters, crediting aggressive destination marketing by the BVI for the demand.
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and who is he going to start charing fees too? No charter yachts go into the USVI unless they are based there. Yet 99% of all the charter yachts in the USVI come into to BVI waters with their guests as this is where the guests want to be…
I’ll never forget that bozo put pineapple tart over coconut LOL
Jobs for VIslanders crewing these boats. School leavers should get first shot at those jobs if they are VIslanders.
This will be a real boon.
Lots of boat crew and workers be looking for work in the USVI if they dont have work permit or Belong in VI.
Looks like you haven’t noticed most young BVIslanders don’t like the work associated with crewing on charter boats, not to mention the studying involved. Agree though that it does present opportunity.
As a former educator who served in the USVI and the VI and who knows Mr.Bryan personally and as a fledgling politician and the deep, long and familial. history of the two families (island groups,) i am completely disappointed with his political policies as they related to both islands.
Indeed, it was a thriving trade that included food, clothes, fruits, live stock, coal, ship wrighting skills, human resources and labor between the two sister islands that made and brought The islands a level of survivability and prosperity before and after servitude and emancipation.
Our blood and navel strings are intertwined as wist and vines on a tree. The relationship between the two islandswith one people are sacroscant and must be respected as such.
To neglect those human connections and not have them be an important consideration in political choices and policies is a damming example of seperatist and blatant disregard for the human values of the two peoples.
Indeed, money, politics, greed, poliical and expediency have changed the paradigms once human to other.
YT causing conflict between neighbours and friends
“Don’t be bad minded, take what’s yours”
for non US flag yachts to carry passengers or cargo within the USVI and PR. International voyages only!!
I don’t understand some of yo people, can’t you see Gov Bryan is looking out for the BVI,he did not rise nothing for bvi charter boat entering the USVi, he said to hell with them charter boats in the USVi,the man said the BVI have right to charge what they want , so bvilanders why are you cussing the man, he have family in Tortola,almost all the charter boats in the USVi is own by State sider,and no black people they try to keep we out by outrageous cost guards demand, So the USVi governor is not putting any pressure on the BVI.