The decision was made by a specially convened BVI Cabinet meeting on Monday night called by Honorable Ralph O’Neal to defer the implementation of the Harbour Fees!

 ”Timing has everything to do with the outcome of a rain dance.”  The DANCE that is currently underway in the Virgin Islands is how to create a level playing field for the charter yacht communities in the USVI and the BVI.  The timing could not be BETTER than right now to create this result!  A discussion began with the USVI government officials this past week regarding the revision or repeal of the Six Pack Law  .  This topic was ratcheted up a notch yesterday with the announcement by the BVI government deferring the implementation of the harbor fees for yachts entering or remaining in the BVI Territorial waters, or those using a BVI Ports Authority facility. 

What does this mean?  Well, the BVI government had contracted a Canadian company to provide them a report recommending how they could increase their revenue off the backs of the yachting community - primarily the charter yacht owners.  The Canadian company’s approved recommendation was to have a “harbour fee” of $1.00 per foot per vessel for the first day’s stay, $.75 per foot for the second day’s stay, and $.50 per foot for the third and subsequent day’s stay.  The cost to the charter yacht fleet would have been enormous!  And, with the BVI being one of the top charter yacht destinations in the Caribbean it would have meant higher prices for EVERYONE!  This fee was to be effective July 15, 2008 - yesterday.

At the announcement of the deferment of the harbor fee, Premier O’Neil stated that the decision was based “… in an attempt to protect the BVI Territory’s competitive edge as a yachting destination.”  He further stated, “After all, the BVI has been known as the sailing capital of the Western Hemisphere, if not the world, and therefore it was extremely important for the Cabinet to consider the representations that were made by local associations (such as the BVI Charter League) , maritime agents, and others involved in the yachting industry, both locally and abroad.”

He added, “It must be remembered that the yachting industry contributes to the economy of the Territory and the yachtsmen enjoy our waters from Anegada to Jost Van Dyke.  The yachting industry is a significant contributor to the local economy, and as such, the sector must be safe-guarded against adverse economic impacts.”

The Premier concluded, “The Cabinet reviewed the new harbour fees and we considered the cost implications of the charges to the yachting community when compared to the rising cost of fuel.  In addition, the Cabinet determined that if the BVI were to implement this new fee structure, the Territory may have become the most expensive destination in the world for mariners and yachts.”  Premier O’Neil said that the BVI Government is committed to ensuring maximum economic development for the Territory and providing the necessary protections for the sectors that propel its growth. ( The revenue from the charter yacht community is enormous to the BVI! )

This is BIG news for the USVI charter yacht community as it works hard to create a level playing field for economic growth with its BVI neighbors.  It is all of our hope that this move by the BVI government will be a further message to the USVI government administration to address the Six-Pack Law in order to secure and protect the economic growth that continues to move to the BVI because of not allowing more than six charter passengers to be picked up from the USVI.  Again, the millions of tourist dollars that are lost to the BVI is unbelievable.  It is very encouraging to know that this issue is being seriously addressed by the USVI government today.  It appears that the behind-the-scenes person outside the government agencies who is championing this issue from the charter yacht community is Erik Ackerson from the Virgin Islands Charter League.  The message that needs to be heard by the USVI government departments is that we are all standing ready to support the needed changes to the Six-Pack Law.  Your comments are always welcomed.  Until next time…