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United States Virgin Islands Governor Albert Bryan Jr. has intensified efforts to have representatives of the British Virgin Islands travel to Washington, D.C., in October for high-level talks over the Territory’s charter vessel fees.
Bryan, who publicly endorsed Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley and the Virgin Islands Party ahead of the 2023 General Election, is now leading the push to have the Wheatley administration travel to Washington to defend the controversial fees.
In a new interview released Thursday September 24, Governor Bryan disclosed that federal officials have recommended bringing both sides together in Washington before the United States considers restrictions or other measures against the BVI.
“Our federal partners suggested, ‘Bring the BVI to D.C. We’ll sit with you guys and try to come to an agreement before we impose any harsh punishments or restrictions on the people of the British Virgin Islands, because they’re like family,’” Bryan said.
The Governor said he has written Premier Wheatley requesting the BVI’s participation in the proposed October meeting and is awaiting a response.
“We’re hoping now to get this meeting in October with representatives from the British Virgin Islands in Washington, D.C.,” he stated.
“I would really like to get this resolved before the season and before I come out of office in January.”
Bryan explained that pressure from USVI charter operators, marinas and other marine businesses has pushed the dispute beyond the two territorial governments and into Washington. Their attorneys, he said, have approached several federal agencies and the White House.
According to Bryan, the matter now involves the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, the Department of the Interior, the Coast Guard, the State Department, the Treasury and agencies responsible for protecting American small businesses.
He argued that the BVI’s fees have caused “tremendous damage” to the USVI economy, with charter bookings for the upcoming season already underway.
The Governor maintained that the USVI has spent approximately 18 months attempting to restart meaningful negotiations with the BVI. He said the objective is to secure lower rates that encourage vessels and visitors to move freely throughout the wider Virgin Islands sailing destination.
Bryan warned that failure to reach an agreement could trigger federal measures affecting the BVI, including restrictions on vessels, passenger movements or trade. However, he said he would prefer to avoid actions that could increase food prices in the BVI or make travel between the neighbouring territories more difficult.
“I don’t want to get to a point where we are putting tariffs on trailers so the price of food in the British Virgin Islands goes up, or where we make restrictions on their coming through,” Bryan said.
The dispute dates back to amendments to the BVI’s Commercial Recreational Vessels Licensing Act, which took effect on June 1, 2025. The changes increased the annual fee for foreign-based vessels seeking unlimited access to BVI waters from $800 to $24,000, while the annual fee for day-charter operators increased from $200 to $8,500.
USVI marine stakeholders claim the fees forced several charter companies to relocate to the BVI and placed thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in economic activity at risk.
Bryan previously estimated that more than 90 vessels had shifted their homeport to the BVI and warned that the USVI could lose as much as $100 million annually.
The BVI Government has defended the measures as a legitimate exercise of its authority to regulate commercial activity within its waters and strengthen its domestic marine sector.
Premier Wheatley recently described the new fee structure as a “tremendous” success, pointing to increased revenue and a rise in the number of operators establishing themselves in the Territory.
Bryan nevertheless insisted that greater cooperation would generate more economic activity for both territories than the fees currently produce.
“We want to encourage more travel between the islands, more people going over to the BVI,” he said.
He added, “Cooperation is the key. We’re hoping that we can resolve this rather quickly.”
Bryan, who publicly endorsed Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley and the Virgin Islands Party ahead of the 2023 General Election, is now leading the push to have the Wheatley administration travel to Washington to defend the controversial fees.
In a new interview released Thursday September 24, Governor Bryan disclosed that federal officials have recommended bringing both sides together in Washington before the United States considers restrictions or other measures against the BVI.
“Our federal partners suggested, ‘Bring the BVI to D.C. We’ll sit with you guys and try to come to an agreement before we impose any harsh punishments or restrictions on the people of the British Virgin Islands, because they’re like family,’” Bryan said.
The Governor said he has written Premier Wheatley requesting the BVI’s participation in the proposed October meeting and is awaiting a response.
“We’re hoping now to get this meeting in October with representatives from the British Virgin Islands in Washington, D.C.,” he stated.
“I would really like to get this resolved before the season and before I come out of office in January.”
Bryan explained that pressure from USVI charter operators, marinas and other marine businesses has pushed the dispute beyond the two territorial governments and into Washington. Their attorneys, he said, have approached several federal agencies and the White House.
According to Bryan, the matter now involves the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, the Department of the Interior, the Coast Guard, the State Department, the Treasury and agencies responsible for protecting American small businesses.
He argued that the BVI’s fees have caused “tremendous damage” to the USVI economy, with charter bookings for the upcoming season already underway.
The Governor maintained that the USVI has spent approximately 18 months attempting to restart meaningful negotiations with the BVI. He said the objective is to secure lower rates that encourage vessels and visitors to move freely throughout the wider Virgin Islands sailing destination.
Bryan warned that failure to reach an agreement could trigger federal measures affecting the BVI, including restrictions on vessels, passenger movements or trade. However, he said he would prefer to avoid actions that could increase food prices in the BVI or make travel between the neighbouring territories more difficult.
“I don’t want to get to a point where we are putting tariffs on trailers so the price of food in the British Virgin Islands goes up, or where we make restrictions on their coming through,” Bryan said.
The dispute dates back to amendments to the BVI’s Commercial Recreational Vessels Licensing Act, which took effect on June 1, 2025. The changes increased the annual fee for foreign-based vessels seeking unlimited access to BVI waters from $800 to $24,000, while the annual fee for day-charter operators increased from $200 to $8,500.
USVI marine stakeholders claim the fees forced several charter companies to relocate to the BVI and placed thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in economic activity at risk.
Bryan previously estimated that more than 90 vessels had shifted their homeport to the BVI and warned that the USVI could lose as much as $100 million annually.
The BVI Government has defended the measures as a legitimate exercise of its authority to regulate commercial activity within its waters and strengthen its domestic marine sector.
Premier Wheatley recently described the new fee structure as a “tremendous” success, pointing to increased revenue and a rise in the number of operators establishing themselves in the Territory.
Bryan nevertheless insisted that greater cooperation would generate more economic activity for both territories than the fees currently produce.
“We want to encourage more travel between the islands, more people going over to the BVI,” he said.
He added, “Cooperation is the key. We’re hoping that we can resolve this rather quickly.”
© 2026 BVI Platinum News. This article is original BVI Platinum content. Reproduction or republication without written permission is prohibited.
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