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High-Stakes Meeting Today on Governor Bryan’s 25% Tariff Response to BVI Yacht Charter Fee Increase
U.S. Virgin Islands Governor Albert Bryan Jr. and British Virgin Islands Premier Hon. Dr. Natalio Wheatley will convene a crucial meeting today, March 7, to address escalating tensions sparked by proposed increases in fees for U.S. Virgin Islands-based charter yacht operations entering BVI waters. In a bold response, Governor Bryan has proposed a retaliatory 25% tariff on BVI goods, however a legal opinion confirmed that only the President of the United States has the power to impose such tariffs.
Governor Bryan further expressed his intention to lobby President Donald Trump for support in imposing these tariffs, stressing that the USVI will not back down from defending its economic interests.
Today’s meeting aims to find an equitable resolution that will preserve the longstanding economic and cultural ties between the neighbouring territories.
The current strain stems from proposed amendments to the BVI’s Commercial Recreational Vessels Licensing Act, initially enacted in 1992. These amendments suggest a substantial hike in fees for foreign-based charter yachts operating within BVI waters. Notably, the annual fee for overnight operators could surge from $400 to $24,000—a 60-fold increase.
This proposal has raised significant concerns among U.S. Virgin Islands officials and stakeholders in the charter yacht industry, who fear detrimental impacts on their operations and the broader maritime economy.
In reaction to the proposed fee hikes, Governor Bryan has advocated for a reciprocal approach to safeguard the interests of the USVI’s charter yacht sector. He has called for an emergency session with USVI lawmakers to deliberate on imposing a 25% tariff on goods imported from the BVI. Governor Bryan emphasized the intertwined nature of the two territories’ economies and the importance of mutual respect in policy decisions. He stated, “Our people are family. Our economies are intertwined. And our success has always been built on a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect.” He further acknowledged the BVI’s efforts to bolster its industry but underscored that such measures should not come at the expense of the USVI’s interests.
Premier Wheatley has expressed a willingness to engage in constructive dialogue to address the concerns raised by the USVI. He has invited Governor Bryan to the BVI to continue discussions, reflecting a commitment to finding a mutually beneficial solution. The Premier’s openness to negotiation indicates a recognition of the potential economic ramifications and the need to maintain harmonious relations between the territories.
The proposed fee increases have significant implications for the charter yacht industry, a vital component of the Virgin Islands’ tourism sector. The BVI and USVI have traditionally been popular destinations for yacht charters, offering unique sailing experiences in the Caribbean. However, the substantial fee hikes could deter USVI-based yachts from operating in BVI waters, potentially leading to a decline in tourism revenue for both territories. Conversely, the USVI’s contemplated 25% tariff on BVI imports could affect trade dynamics, influencing the cost of goods and services between the islands.
This meeting is not the first instance of collaboration between Governor Bryan and Premier Wheatley. In September 2022, they convened to discuss shared interests, including tourism, internet connectivity, and boating regulations, highlighting a history of cooperative engagement.
Today’s discussions aim to build on this foundation, seeking to resolve current challenges through diplomacy and mutual understanding.
The outcome of today’s meeting holds significant consequences for the future of the charter yacht industry and the broader economic relationship between the USVI and BVI. Stakeholders from both territories are hopeful that the leaders will reach an agreement that balances regulatory objectives with economic sustainability, ensuring the continued prosperity of the Virgin Islands’ maritime and tourism sectors.
Erick Rabsatt, the 24-year-old man wanted in connection with the December 2021 fatal shooting of Jaimez A. Stoutt in the British Virgin Islands, is reportedly in custody in the United States Virgin Islands.
A source close to the matter has confirmed that Rabsatt is currently being held in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and is awaiting processing to be extradited to the British Virgin Islands to face charges in the case. No official statements have yet been released by authorities in either jurisdiction regarding the detention.
Stoutt, 31, was shot and killed inside Crystal’s Nightclub in Free Bottom, Tortola, on December 11, 2021. He was transported to Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital, where he later died. The incident occurred in the early morning hours and was followed by a police investigation that identified Rabsatt as the primary suspect. An arrest warrant was issued, and authorities launched a manhunt that extended across both the British and United States Virgin Islands.
Stoutt was a former U.S. Army soldier who served in Afghanistan in 2011. After returning to the British Virgin Islands, he worked at CCT Global Communications before founding his own landscaping business, Military Cutz. He was also known for his involvement in local basketball leagues.
Following the incident, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force issued appeals to the public for assistance in locating Rabsatt and circulated his photo throughout the region.
Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
A recent federal case in the U.S. Virgin Islands has raised questions about possible migration routes through the British Virgin Islands, after a man detained by U.S. authorities said he had recently come from Tortola.
On April 25, U.S. Coast Guard officers discovered three individuals hiding in the bushes near Annaberg Beach on St. John. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations agents were called to the scene, where the men were questioned. According to court documents, one of the three individuals stated that they had arrived in St. John from Tortola two days earlier and were attempting to return. The individual was not publicly identified in court filings, and it remains unclear whether any charges are linked specifically to that Tortola-related claim.
Two of the three men—Cruz Miguel Zabala and Feliz Rafael Marquez Sanchez—were later charged with illegal entry. Both reportedly agreed to speak to authorities without a lawyer present. Zabala identified himself as a Venezuelan citizen who knowingly entered U.S. territory without authorization, while Sanchez allegedly presented a Venezuelan passport and admitted to landing in St. John without inspection. Their trials are scheduled for June 3 before Magistrate Judges Emile Henderson III and Alan Teague, respectively. The third man has not yet been charged publicly.
In a separate incident on April 28, CBP AMO agents were monitoring a Puerto Rico-registered vessel anchored at Krum Bay, St. Thomas, when it departed around 2:00 a.m. without navigational lights. The boat failed to stop when ordered, prompting CBP officers to disable it by firing at the engine. The vessel came to a stop just east of Sail Rock.
Seven people were on board, six of whom are nationals of the Dominican Republic. Among them was Jennifer Lisbet Matos, who records show had previously entered the United States but lacked legal status. She was charged with illegal entry and will also appear in court on June 3.
Also on board was Martin Ortega Adames, a previously deported individual, who now faces charges of unlawful re-entry. A bond hearing for him is scheduled for Wednesday.
Authorities are also seeking the detention of two additional Dominican nationals, Frias and Garcia Diaz, described as material witnesses who could be deported after testifying in the case.
The boat’s captain, Puerto Rican national Anibal Vega Arizmendi, is accused of knowingly smuggling individuals without proper documentation. He reportedly told Homeland Security agents, through an interpreter, that the vessel was headed to Culebra, Puerto Rico. Arizmendi, a convicted felon recently released to supervised custody, faces charges of human smuggling and failing to comply with law enforcement orders. His detention hearing is also scheduled for Wednesday.
Source: www.viconsortium.com
At the 12th Regular Meeting of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Council of Ministers on Environmental Sustainability, outgoing Chairperson Hon. Julian Fraser of the Virgin Islands reflected on a term shaped by urgency, transition, and the growing impact of climate-related disasters across the region.
Fraser, who serves as Deputy Premier and Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change in the Government of the Virgin Islands, offered closing remarks on Tuesday as Antigua and Barbuda officially assumed chairmanship of the Council. The handover took place during a ministerial gathering hosted in St. John’s, Antigua, where leaders convened to advance collaborative environmental policies and regional resilience strategies.
“It is indeed an honor and a privilege to present brief remarks as the outgoing Chairman,” Fraser said, extending formal gratitude to host nation Antigua and Barbuda and its Minister for Health, Wellness and Environment, Hon. Sir Molwyn Joseph, the incoming chair.
In his address, Fraser recalled that in 2024, then Minister and current Premier of the Virgin Islands, Hon. Dr. Natalio Wheatley, assumed the chairmanship under the theme “From Aspiration to Focused Action.” That meeting, originally delayed due to the impact of Hurricane Beryl, was later held in the wake of the storm’s devastation across St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada.
“Beryl was the earliest category four Atlantic hurricane on record,” Fraser noted, calling it “a stark reminder of climate predictions for our region, which signal that a pattern of rapidly intensifying hurricanes… is likely to continue.”
Fraser, who took over the environment portfolio just six months ago, acknowledged the brevity of his chairmanship due to governmental transitions, but reaffirmed his administration’s support for the Council’s goals. “No fault of yours,” he said of the limited engagement, “but in fact a reality of Parliamentary Democracy.”
Despite the short term, Fraser emphasized his territory’s contributions to key initiatives, including the OECS Road Map to 2030. “On behalf of the Government and people of the Virgin Islands, I wish to express my gratitude for your support throughout the term,” he said.
This year’s meeting proceeds under the theme “Staying the Course in Perilous Times: Sustainable Transformation and Resilient Prosperity.” Fraser offered his full support to Minister Joseph and the Council moving forward. “I wish him and the entire Council of Ministers all the best for a successful meeting today and a well-executed work program throughout this year,” he said.
The OECS Council of Ministers: Environmental Sustainability is a key decision-making body guiding the subregion’s collective environmental agenda, from climate resilience to biodiversity protection and sustainable development.
Fraser’s remarks were met with appreciation by fellow ministers and development partners, including representatives from the OECS Commission, whose Director General Dr. Didacus Jules and Head of Environmental Sustainability, Mr. Chamberlain Emmanuel, also addressed the gathering.
The meeting continues this week with high-level discussions aimed at advancing sustainable development across the Eastern Caribbean in an era of growing ecological risk.
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