Bryan pushes for joint BVI-USVI maritime talks in Washington

Governor Albert Bryan Jr. is pressing for a high-level meeting in Washington between the two Virgin Islands territories and six federal agencies to tackle maritime licensing tensions that have strained commercial operations across the region.

The push follows a Thursday session at the U.S. Department of the Interior where officials from Interior, State, Homeland Security, Commerce, the Office of the United States Trade Representative and the Small Business Administration aired concerns about the BVI's new commercial recreational vessel licensing scheme and its ripple effects on USVI-based maritime businesses and regional trade flows.

Bryan has asked that both territories hold an Inter-Virgin Islands Council session in the nation's capital during the week of October 12, with federal participation. The USVI Government House indicated that Bryan sought written assurance from the BVI government by Friday that it would attend.

The BVI licensing structure imposes annual fees ranging from $2,500 for water-taxi operations to $24,000 for unlimited entries. Term-charter vessels with up to seven trips face a $7,500 annual charge, with additional entries costing $2,100 each. Day-trip licenses run $8,500 yearly.

Bryan acknowledged the BVI's regulatory authority but stressed the economic stakes for American operators and passengers. "Our businesses cannot be expected to operate indefinitely under escalating costs, uncertain procedures and requirements that affect their ability to compete and earn a living," he said.

Federal agencies signalled openness to a structured dialogue and offered to host the October gathering, pending final confirmation. The proposed agenda would cover licensing rollout, fee structures, entry caps, border procedures for customs and immigration, vessel and crew standards, and rules governing cross-border maritime movement.

The Inter-Virgin Islands Council, created in 2004, brings together the USVI governor and BVI premier alongside senior cabinet officials to strengthen territorial ties.