USVI Governor asks President Trump to intervene in USVI-VI charter fee issue
In his letter dated December 4, 2025, Governor Bryan said the issue “demands swift and coordinated federal engagement”.
He accused the new fee structure of already destabilising the marine industry in the USVI, adding that it “threatens to do long-term damage to our local economy”.
Under the new fee structure, annual multi-night charter licenses that previously cost around $800 have now increased to $24,000 per vessel. Day-trip licenses have risen from $200 to $8,500 per vessel, in addition to customary customs and immigration charges that can add another $900 to $1,200 or more for each entry.
Contradiction
Governor Bryan’s letter is in direct contrast to what he said following a meeting between himself and his delegation and Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) on April 15, 2025.
“We are not competitors,” Governor Bryan said, “We actually are collaborators; The US Virgin Islands is a product of the BVI tourism, and BVI is a product of the USVI tourism,” he said following the April 2025 meeting.
He also acknowledged that the previous system was not fair.
“It really isn't fair for us to be able to send a boat over to the BVI, unlimited, and their charter boats- who are nestled there, employ people who work there, eating there, getting rents there- they’re having the same amount of payment as the US Virgin Islands.”
$14 million in direct seasonal spending gone
Many USVI-based charter vessel operators have voiced concern over the fee increases.
Governor Bryan wrote, “These hikes are in addition to standard customs, immigration, and port fees, making continued operation from the USVI cost-prohibitive for many businesses.”
According to him, the impact is already being felt, with the coalition of USVI maritime operators called Project Fair Waters estimating that more than 90 vessels have shifted their homeport to the VI since the new fees took effect.
His letter also revealed that nearly $14 million in direct seasonal spending has disappeared from the USVI economy in just a few months, with long-term losses potentially nearing $100 million annually.
Free movement was the norm for decades
Governor Bryan also accused the VI of pricing out US and USVI-based vessels in a “shared maritime region”, instead of what the VI has said is a “modernisation effort”.
“These fees operate as de facto tariffs, unfairly favouring local BVI operators and distorting the cross-border charter market. For decades, vessels have moved freely between our waters. That balance is being deliberately disrupted,” he shared.
Premier Wheatley had explained that the old fee structure was archaic, not having been changed in decades. He also expressed that his government simply wanted the VI to benefit from the maritime charter industry, as the USVI boasts of generating almost $100 million annually from the industry.
Full weight of the federal gov’t required
“As a territory, the USVI cannot negotiate international maritime access. Because the BVI is a United Kingdom Overseas Territory, this is an international matter—and one that requires the full weight of the federal government to resolve,” Governor Bryan wrote.
He urged President Trump and his Cabinet to take the following action:
1. Engage the United Kingdom at the highest diplomatic levels
2. Initiate a formal USTR review
3. Evaluate BVI eligibility under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA)
4. Convene an interagency task force focused on USVI–BVI maritime access
Governor Bryan said the USVI respects the VI’s “authority to regulate its waters…but this is not cost recovery, this is economic exclusion”.
The result, he added, is U.S.-based companies being pushed out of a U.S. territory and into a foreign jurisdiction.
“The USVI plays a strategic role in America’s Caribbean presence, from undersea cables and fuel logistics to tourism, small business, and security. But we cannot carry out that mission if our local economy is hollowed out by policy decisions made offshore and left unchallenged.”
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48 Responses to “USVI Governor asks President Trump to intervene in USVI-VI charter fee issue”
"Full weight of the federal gov’t required
“As a territory, the USVI cannot negotiate international maritime access. Because the BVI is a United Kingdom Overseas Territory, this is an international matter—and one that requires the full weight of the federal government to resolve,” Governor Bryan wrote.
He urged President Trump and his Cabinet to take the following action:
1. Engage the United Kingdom at the highest diplomatic levels
2. Initiate a formal USTR review
3. Evaluate BVI eligibility under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA)
4. Convene an interagency task force focused on USVI–BVI maritime access "
Really???
time to fly barbados
This man is a clown. Pay or get yuh r@$$!
"Under the new fee structure, annual multi-night charter licenses that previously cost around $800 have now increased to $24,000 per vessel."
By the way, your President have real pressing matters yo deal with than this. He busy trying to acquire Greenland.
What must distinguish between “ground noise” and “ signal noise”. What Governor Bryan rant about publicly in April 25 was “ political speak” and clearly was not real talk. Though the BVI is a territory, not a sovereign country, under the UN Law of the Sea, it has sovereign rights of the 12-mile territorial sea, and sovereign control of the use of the up to 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), ie, energy exploration,ie.- oil, wind, etc—, fishing, aquaculture, etc.
The USVI and BVI have had longstanding economic ties, close border activities, etc. Nonetheless, this friction is about economic prosperity, economic survival, etc. Without a doubt, the BVI have more opportunities for varied maritime excursions,,etc. It is willing to share them, but for a fee. Now, the desire to use its maritime resources, has turned into an international incident involving the US as the administering power for the USVi; UK, BVI. The whales don’t give a rat’s @$$ about small fry, so the solution will be some Solomonic solution, cutting the baby some where along the line. Deceit, distrust, disrespect, etc., is the new order.
It doesn't matter. Trump does not run the BVI or the UK. This dam Judas across the channel trying to be relevant. Bull dog Trump, John Bull will deal with his @$$. Governor Bryan just know! JUST KNOW. We have An anchor that keeps the soul steadfast and sure while the billows roll; Fastened to the rock which cannot move, Grounded firm and deep in the savior's love. Keep it up.
Now, the VI cannot expect the BVI to keep their marine fees anywhere like the past. Again, in my view, there should be some middle ground. The fact that none was achieved and Gov Bryant has now sought to get the Federal government involved is a testament to his failure as governor of the virgin islands to get a deal when the two sides met on this issue.
I find it disingeneous of Gov Bryant to state in his letter to Washington that "As a territory, the USVI cannot negotiate international maritime access". If that was his thinking, then why did he approach the BVI about this issue to begin? Why have multiple meetings with the BVI on this issue. Sounds to me he has failed to do the heavy lifting, and want Trump to do what he could not do, failed to do, and now claiming it was not in his power to do.
To asking Trump to: "Evaluate BVI eligibility under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA)" is a needless and additional escalation of a situation that could have been solved locally. BY asking Trump to evaluate the BVI eligibility under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recover ACT is to potentially attack the entire BVI economy that could upend preferential trand and tax benefits and duty-free treatment where it exist.
It's a nasty tactic to get what you want in my view. Again, both parties are within their rights to protect their respectiive economies. It's unfortunate they could not find a middle ground to avoid this needless escalation.
One last note, I am dissapointed that the Governor of the Virgin Islands has taken this route, and in all fairness I share the same dissapointment that the BVI could not have offerred more reasonable fees and not this extremely steep increase.
I am perhaps more disappointment that the VI and the BVI which have had historical economic ties, who share one people would get Trump involved in this fight. I garther where there is money involved, friendship goes out the window.
Majority of you show me you are in tuned to world news. Because whats happening around our waters is some crazy things right now.
But we must be careful because he gone snd seek help from a mad man and who may very well take his request serious.
If that happens God be with us
Let's have that argument another day because I assure you I do not agree with your thinking, and would be happy to have that discussion with you at the appropriate time.
If you took offense to my description of the two parties as BVI vs VI(USVI), may I kindly suggest you redirect your attention to the issue at hand and not this irrelevant and tangental issue that does not have any bearing or benefit to the resolution of this important issue. Get over it. Focus.
Let this sink in. Governor Bryan showing his colors. He is a wicked disciple of Lucifer.