Disgruntlement over pending increase in mooring fees
Virgin Islands News Online was first made aware of the pending increase by a businessman from a sister island who said he was planning to approach the BVI Ports Authority to plead his case.
"Come on man now this look like they want to take advantage of us, this kind of money they asking for is like all I'll be doing is to work to pay government and a few staff because the income/profit margin is already so small," said the mooring owner.
He explained that he recently received notice indicating that there will be an increase of the fees effective April 1, 2013, "I am not accepting this even if I have to go take some legal. advise on this, I am going to do that, I am not going to accept this," added the distraught man.
According to the notice served to mooring owners, effective April 1, 2013 all annual fees associated with the account will be paid directly to the National Parks Trust’s office on Waterfront Drive.
It stated that private moorings will now have to pay $400 per annum with $100 increment annually for the next two years and Commercial Moorings $600 per annum with $100 increment annually for the next four years.
Virgin Islands News Online made contact with several other mooring owners, all of whom said that they felt the increase came as a “hard slap” to them. However, one said he felt that while he is somewhat uncomfortable with the new rates, he believed it was a long overdue increase.
One man said that with the rising of maintaining this moorings and now with the pending increase, he is more than likely be closing at least two of his mooring operations. "It’s tough, it’s really tough especially around this time, the competition is so stiff, an increase at this time is so not going to be helping," he said.
A mooring operator from Anegada had also expressed grave concerns. The man had expressed that he was initially contemplating taking legal actions but, consequent to a meeting with one Minister of Government, he is hoping that he would be afforded an audience with the respective authority to plead his cause.
"If I don't get something positive or workable, because I am indigenous and have dedicated my whole life to building this country and now for me to fee exploited is totally unfair." He said he was optimistic that some arrangements could be worked out to cushion the increase or he is expecting some waivers.
Another said while he hasn't made the formal approach, he is hoping that the National Parks Trust would see it fit to summon moorings owners to a meeting to discuss the matter. "In this age you don't just impose things on people we need to sit and talk and you might be surprise how together a decision can be made in the interest of both parties."
This news agency made several futile attempts to secure a comment from BVI Ports Authority and the National Parks Trust.
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9 Responses to “Disgruntlement over pending increase in mooring fees”
$600.00 per year to anchor a private boat for a year and $1,000 per year for a commercial boat? Give me a break! God and the ocean aren't charging the NPT anything for the seabed rights! This is totally disgusting and waaaaay over the top! I don't know how many private and commercial mooring balls there are in the BVI, but it is a substantial number and these new fees will put a great deal of money in the hands of the NPT. What exactly do they really do for us anyway?
Had it not been for a very costly, poorly planned, poorly advertised and poorly attended extravaganza, this wouldn't be happening. We have the Board of Directors of the National Parks Trust to thank for this absolutely OUTRAGEOUS increase. So because the John Legend fiasco cost the NPT dearly, all boat owners and all yacht charter guests now have to pay the tab? This is a real travesty and the government should step in to put a stop to this. It is utter nonsense!
regardless of what NPT and gov doing- again they don't have public meetings to figure out a helpful consensus from those affected. With the extra revenue, I hope NPT begins to protect beaches slowly getting eaten up by cruise ship people and our own vendors. No beaches, no visitors... charters allow for exploration without much more damage. Charters are a big contribution to the economy.