Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) and USVI Governor Albert A. Bryan Jr. met in Tortola to discussion the proposed increases to the fees under the Commercial Recreational Vessel Licensing Act. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

Teams from the Virgin Islands and the U.S Virgin Islands met in Tortola on March 7, 2025. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

The Virgin Islands government is willing to give concessions to small charter boat businesses that conduct day trips to the Virgin Islands. Photo: Internet Source

This is according to Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), who addressed the issue on The Big Story on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. 

United States Virgin Islands (USVI) Governor Albert A. Bryan Jr came to Tortola on March 7, 2025, with his team to discuss further and see what solutions the two Territories could arrive at. 

Fees are outdated- Premier Wheatley

Dr Wheatley called the meeting “very successful” and thanked Governor Bryan for the meeting, saying, “It goes beyond myself, and it goes beyond Governor Bryan.”

The Premier explained that the current fees date back to the passing of the Act about thirty years ago, as there has been no revision since then. 

“We made it very clear to Governor Bryan and his delegation…we’re not seeking to be punitive, we’re not seeking to be penal, but the Tourism product that we have here is not based on mass volume, it’s not based on trying to bring in as many persons as possible…we have a small Territory, we have to make sure we keep our environment pristine and it’s advantageous for us to focus on guests who can afford to pay more money,” Premier Wheatley continued. 

A balance, he said, needs to be struck and so sometimes people need to pay a little bit more for the experience. 

“Our budgets are really tight right now when you look at revenue versus expenditure and our cruising waters, that’s our gold, that our oil, those are our natural resources that we have to rely on,” the Premier said. 

Concessions being considered

The Premier said he believes the proposed changes in the licensing fees are fair but that they are willing to make some concessions. 

“We can understand that it’s almost like a shock to the system to see the fees go up what most persons would consider are almost like drastic increase in fees, and we understand that, and we’re sympathetic to that,” he said. 

The Premier also sought to clarify the difference in fees for foreign-based boats and locally-based boats. 

“Our boaters have a lot more fees than you have in the United States Virgin Islands. United States Virgin Islands, they don’t have work permits and things like that…our work permit fees are high, and we have lots of other fees that make doing work and business in the BVI pretty expensive. So when you collate all the fees and compare them they are actually comparable and of course, our people based here are at an advantage they cannot be the same, they have to pay a little lower than foreign-based boats would pay but in looking at the fees we still think that it’s fair.”

Concessions being considered are for smaller boating businesses facilitating day trippers. 

“That business is very important for Jost van Dyke…and Virgin Gorda and various anchorages that we have here,” he said. 

This type of business is something the government wants to see continue and so are considering what relief can be given on the licenses, “particularly for day-trippers”. 

Though he did not disclose other areas, he did say consideration for “one or two other concessions” will be given “in the spirit of friendship”.