Charter company fined $95K for Customs & Immigration breaches- Wade Smith
While the operations are still in progress, the charter company fined is the only one found erring. The name of the company has not been disclosed to this news site.
This information was revealed by Commissioner of Custom Mr Wade Smith yesterday June 20, 2016 during an exclusive interview with this news site. “We found that there were a number of boats chartering the BVI waters without obtaining the necessary licenses particularly for customs which is called the Commercial Recreational Vessels License (CRVL).
It was this news site on June 14, 2016 that first and accurately broke the story of the joint operations that sought to trap and prosecute errant charter companies.
While not ignoring the role played by members of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), Mr Smith was high in praise for the role played by officers of the Immigration Department “in terms of interrogation, the line of questing to the captains which has given us vital information to help us conduct further investigations of charter companies in the charter industry.”
Various laws being breached
According to Mr Smith, over the past six months there were a number of charter agencies and persons acting as agents for charter companies that were put on the firing line and charged having been found defaulting in their compliances also.
“They have been giving mis-information to their clients and they have been penalised as well. So we want to make sure that the charter agents and agencies working on behalf of these charter companies ensure that they are familiar with the charter laws and make sure that they don’t mislead their clients.”
Mr Smith added that, via the operations, it has been discovered that there are a number of agents giving clients misinformation of the customs and other laws of the VI. “The Commercial Recreational Vessels License (CRVL) act, the cruising permit act and we have also found that they have been circumventing the laws of other agencies including Immigration, Labour and National Parks,” said Mr Smith.
Captains being hired without work permits
The Customs head said that, through the operations, they have also found that some charter companies are guilty of hiring ‘skippers’ without work permits. “Some of these skippers are being hired through social media and they are bringing them into the territory and they are working without permits, which is a national security risk because they are not properly vetted.”
Charter companies have also been found to be posting false information on their website, especially as it regards Customs’ procedures. “That’s a no, no,” emphasised Mr Smith.
Dodging taxes
It has also been discovered that there are some charter companies have been hiding under the umbrella of sailing schools to avoid paying various taxes. There are some also operating as hotels, which according to Mr Smith, is a blatant violation of their trade and commercial license. “They are housing their guests for accommodation prior to going on to the cruises without the proper licenses.”
The charter company has reportedly paid the fine in full.
In order to avoid the pangs of fines and penalties, Mr Smith admonished charter companies, agents, agencies and captains to furnish themselves with copies of the requisite legislations and follow through with them.
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44 Responses to “Charter company fined $95K for Customs & Immigration breaches- Wade Smith”
In the Dominican Republic, everyone entering the country pays a $10.00 Us upon entering the country; paid before leaving the airport.
Locals pay a departure tax upon departing the Bvi, (and other places). We also pay a departure leaving St. Thomas upon returning from St. Thomas. Yet we celebrate Usvi/Bvi Friendship Day
They also spend money on BVI businesses.
Then again, it must have been the same company, (charged) that made it possible.
Local captains are becoming extinct. Not only that, but, (and I have to use a lil racial language), with the white captains and crews, the the out islands befitting at the expense of restaurants on Virgin Gorda.
There is work for locals who are professional skippers. Just coz you can drive a boat doesn't make you a captain. You have to look after the boat and the guests. If you want work and you have good references send your resume around.