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'Get the courage to lobby Gov't to amend jet ski law'- Richard C. de Castro

One of the arguments put forward by the talk show host is that allowing jet skis in the VI would create opportunities for a small business investment and jobs as repairmen. Photo: www.jet-roi.com
Arguing that jet skis are much safer now and there needs to be more job opportunities for youth, television talk show host Richard C. de Castro is once again emphasising that it may be time to lift the ban on jet skis in the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File
Arguing that jet skis are much safer now and there needs to be more job opportunities for youth, television talk show host Richard C. de Castro is once again emphasising that it may be time to lift the ban on jet skis in the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Arguing that jet skis are much safer now and there needs to be more job opportunities for youth, television talk show host Richard C. de Castro is once again emphasising that it may be time to lift the ban on jet skis in the Virgin Islands.

Speaking on his Speak Your Mind show on JTV Channel 55 on Saturday December 12, 2015, Mr de Castro began the subject by saying he wanted to speak about courage, which he said is “a hard shell” but that he wants to encourage some of his friends who wanted to go on a jet ski for the last 25 years to lobby Government to amend the jet ski law.

Job opportunities with jet skis

“I understand that when the law was put in place jet ski had propellers, now jet skis have propulsion. It’s just air going out of the back of the jet ski and it even has a kill switch, meaning if you fall off the jet ski it automatically cuts out as the key is attached to your wrist,” Mr de Castro stated, adding that there are a lot more safety features built into the jet skis and while he does not know why they were banned in the first place, "revenue, revenue, revenue is what we are losing."

One of the arguments put forward by the talk show host is that allowing jet skis in the VI would create opportunities for a small business investment and jobs as repairmen. He also said he recently saw a young man disassemble a small engine and reassembled it in a matter of minutes, which is indicative of the skills and talent young people in the VI possess.

"Ladies and gentlemen we have a lot of talented young people here who are just not given the opportunity to use their talent because of some of our laws and we need to change that.

“I am encouraging persons out there to get the courage to ask, to lobby, to demand that we get some of these things changed."

Mr de Castro further said the motorcycle and drag racing laws need to be amended also.

"These are all opportunities as well for repair, parts, power, you name it. The present situation is not working."

21 Responses to “'Get the courage to lobby Gov't to amend jet ski law'- Richard C. de Castro”

  • just asking... (15/12/2015, 16:23) Like (30) Dislike (7) Reply
    What about the big bikes?
    • small island (15/12/2015, 20:00) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      deeds ndp man dem needs to tink outside de box bottom line yall
    • HMPH (aka SoCal Comantatar) (15/12/2015, 20:40) Like (15) Dislike (5) Reply
      Jet ski make plenty noise and disturbin de peace of bvi- me know want to hears dem o sundaies afternoon o beech
      • Jay (16/12/2015, 12:41) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
        Noisier than the ferries and speed boats?
        I think you need to rethink your point.
        • +++ (17/12/2015, 15:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          The point still stands. The ferries and speed boats are noisy too. Ferries are service. Speed boats are ego.
          two wrongs don't make a right. Jet skis are a toy.
      • bbbB (17/12/2015, 13:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        YOU SONGS SO STUPID IS PEOPLE LIKE YOU IS WHY THE YOUNG PEOPLE ANT GOT NOTHING AROUND HERE TO DO PS IT DO HAVE QUITE ONES SAD TO SEE THIS ISLAND WILL NEVER GET ANY BETTER
  • Observer (15/12/2015, 17:15) Like (18) Dislike (2) Reply
    Jet Skis pose less of a danger on the seas that those careless scooter bike riders who come out of no where on motorist using the roads. If scooters can be legal on the roads then there are no reason for jet skis to be illegal.
  • hodgeee (15/12/2015, 18:59) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    how long we going live like this , a fatal accident happen and speed bumps go up, speed bumps are important in critical areas but don't go and litter the beautiful place with speed bump we are going to be known as the speed bump country . bikes don't kill people ,people responsible for their own actions a lot of people died in cars and suv with multiple airbag .that doesn't mean we will ban cars and suv over 1800cc big cruiser motor bikes such as Harleys and Honda Goldwing etc are safer than the little scooter . tires are wider ,center of gravity is lower so u les likely to kill yourself was wondering who advise our honourable legislator to ban big bikes obviously a person without mechanical and scientific knowledge with regards to how bikes operate . this is a case where an entire county pays the price for a few .same can be said for jet ski
  • dog (15/12/2015, 19:24) Like (34) Dislike (5) Reply
    You will be slowly pecking away at the very quiet and peaceful nature that people come to experience. It is bad enough that we have remote control toy boats buzzing with sound pollution. Jet Skis are noisy and irritating. Drunk operators are accidents waiting to happen. We don't need them just to keep up with other commercial ventures. They also affect birds, fish with their vibrations. It is disturbing the peace. Courtney, I don't agree with you on this. No.
  • Chris (15/12/2015, 19:27) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply
    acouple of local enterpreners have a jet ski buisness at leverickbay in virgin gorda and have also these boots people wear and go flying up in the air powered from the jet ski. These jet skis are so quiet you dont notice them unlike the old noisy ones that sounded like a swarm of angry bees.
  • chad (15/12/2015, 19:30) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
    Any beach with Jetski's on loses its tranquility. We need the revenue from the tourist dollar to survive and they come here for tranquility.
  • BuzzBvi (15/12/2015, 20:09) Like (3) Dislike (14) Reply
    The whole thing of baning jet ski is silly.
  • makes no difference (15/12/2015, 20:44) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    whether it's jet skis or Big bikes eventually these morons will take things way outta hand. Instead of there being a rise in bike related accident/deaths they're just gonna take it with them to the seas.
  • BoiBoy (15/12/2015, 23:49) Like (20) Dislike (2) Reply
    Jet skis will cause deaths. I WILL garantee it. Our waters full of charter boats. Jet skis will be dangerous. de Castro like our Trump making stupid noise for ratings. Ignore the man
  • Music (16/12/2015, 07:13) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    He probably wants the agency! If there are jet skis in Leverick Bay are they illegal? Where are the upholders of the law?
  • Uninformed (16/12/2015, 08:45) Like (13) Dislike (2) Reply
    DeCastro needs to actually research before speaking.
    Jetskis NEVER had propellers, always jet drives, hence the name!
    Jetskis are now more powerful, faster and dangerous for untrained people, and he wants to let them loose in areas with lots of other boats and people swimming?
    Charter boats are a mainstay of our tourism, bringing in many more dollars than cruiseships and villas combined, but we're going to p*ss those guests off with jetskis buzzing around in the harbours?
    Put his idea on the trash heap along with bigger bikes and drag racing.
  • NEXT! (16/12/2015, 11:17) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    When decastro was at PWD he did little or nothing but now he knows what the BVI should do Strupps..NEXT
  • S.R. (16/12/2015, 13:09) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    Do not let them in, you will be sorry. Trust me I know !! Also keep out big bikes. Bigger bikes, mean bigger problems. Police have not shown they can control little biles, until they do I say no to bigger ones
  • Pari (16/12/2015, 14:07) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    Law abiding citizens can't really enjoy some luxury of like like cruiser and jet ski because of a few maniacs that breaks the law. How undemocratic
  • Officer T (16/12/2015, 14:08) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    Im down for that and its not just the jet ski need looking into, its time for the 125cc law for bikes to change along with it too
  • Big Bike (16/12/2015, 19:53) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    i think that big bikes should become legal also


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