Without public debate, the House of Assembly passed a bill on Tuesday that includes controversial yachting fee hikes and other reforms that have drawn fire at home and abroad in recent weeks.
The details of the reforms, however, are not yet public.
The Commercial Recreational Vessels Licensing (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was criticised by the yachting industry in this territory and the United States Virgin Islands after the original version was Gazetted on Jan. 16.
Government leaders then delayed the bill while meeting with stakeholders and promising to make changes.
But their final decisions were not aired publicly on Tuesday. That morning, HOA members quickly went into a closed-door committee session to discuss the bill in private.
That evening, they returned and passed it with amendments.
The final bill now awaits assent from the governor, after which it will be Gazetted and made public.
Three bills
The bill is the first of three that were Gazetted on Jan. 16 as part of longstanding efforts to overhaul the rules for the marine industry. The other two are the Customs Management and Duties (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Cruising and Home Port Permit (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
Shortly after the three bills were Gazetted, the Marine Association of the BVI — a non-profit organisation that claims 60-plus members employing more than 2,500 people in the territory — sent a strongly worded letter to HOA members.
In the 10-page letter, which was leaked to the Beacon, the association agreed that reforms are needed, but it criticised many of the provisions in two of the proposed laws and alleged that the government did not sufficiently consult the industry before moving forward.
“The majority of industry stakeholders consulted thus far believe that these legislative amendments are generally counteractive to the good of the BVI, its economy, and its marine industry,” the letter stated.
Though the association voiced support for some provisions in the bills, it derided others as confusing, “unnecessarily punitive,” ill-conceived or unclear.
Criticism abroad
Meanwhile, USVI marine stakeholders protested the proposed increase in fees for USVI vessels that operate in this territory’s waters. On Feb. 18, they met in St. Thomas to discuss their concerns, and USVI Governor Albert Bryan Jr. followed up by threatening 25-percent retaliatory tariffs against the territory if the plan proceeds.
But after negotiations with the USVI governor in April, Premier Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley backed off from plans to hike levies by up to 6,000 percent.
Under the revised measures, USVI charter boats will be charged $7,500 annually for up to seven entries to VI waters, with an additional fee of $2,100 for each extra visit — or $24,000 a year for unlimited access, according to government.
Under the originally proposed legislation, the annual licensing fee would have been a flat $24,000 — a 2,900 percent increase from the $800 maximum annual fee now.
The planned revisions also lower the new annual fee for USVI boats offering day charters: The originally proposed $12,500 — a 6,150 percent hike on the current $200 fee — will be lowered to $8,500, the premier said.
The new fee for water taxis will stay the same, at $2,500 per year.
British Caribbean News
