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Easier Customs process, free Wifi for VI residents discussed @ IVIC

In their first official duty-related meeting in the US Virgin Islands (USVI) since [British] Virgin Islands (VI) Premier Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) took office, Governor Albert A. Bryan Jr and Dr Wheatley took on a number of issues, including customs procedures affecting citizens of both the US and [British] Virgin Islands, and matters related to improving inter-territory commerce. Photo: USVI Government House
From left: Deputy Premier Kye M. Rymer (R5); USVI Governor Albert A. Bryan Jr, Premier Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) and Lt Governor Tregenza A. Roach at the Ninth Inter-Virgin Islands Council Meeting on September 22, 2022. Photo: Facebook
From left: Deputy Premier Kye M. Rymer (R5); USVI Governor Albert A. Bryan Jr, Premier Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) and Lt Governor Tregenza A. Roach at the Ninth Inter-Virgin Islands Council Meeting on September 22, 2022. Photo: Facebook
VI CONSORTIUM

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St Thomas, USVI- In their first official duty-related meeting in the US Virgin Islands (USVI) since [British] Virgin Islands (VI) Premier Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) took office, Governor Albert A. Bryan Jr and Dr Wheatley took on a number of issues, including customs procedures affecting citizens of both the US and [British] Virgin Islands, and matters related to improving inter-territory commerce.

The discussions were held during the territories' Ninth Annual Inter Virgin Islands Council, which was the first meeting between the two governments since 2020. The event was held at Government House in St Thomas on Thursday morning, September 22, 2022, and was followed by a press event where the two spoke on matters explored during the meeting. Also part of the gathering were Deputy Premier of the Virgin Islands Honourable Kye M. Rymer (R5) and other members of the cabinet and on the USVI side Lt Governor Tregenza A. Roach among other administration officials.

Discussions also included ways to use the USVI fiber-optic network to assist the VI in setting up free Wi-Fi hot spots for residents.

According to Government House, Dr Wheatley went off-script with a brief anecdote about going to school on St Thomas, living in Estate Thomas as a child and how his brothers bagged groceries at Grand Union before ending his opening remarks with a call for unity between the two island territories.

“It’s just an example that you are us, and we are you. We are one Virgin Islands people,” the VI premier said. “The task before us is to be able to maximize the areas of mutual benefit and really honestly and truly confront those few areas where we have areas of conflict. I believe we can do it.”

Items discussed include the following:

  • Passes to bypass customs procedures for USVI residents to attend festivals in the VI.

  • Pre-clearance of US Customs for visitors landing on St Thomas on the way to the VI.

  • A reciprocal agreement to streamline business license requirements for day charters and water taxis to operate between territories.

  • Reciprocal agreements regarding commercial and recreational fishing licensing and requirements.

  • Cooperative efforts by both territories to streamline the overnight charter market.

Richard Evangelista named Consul General to VI

Governor Bryan also said he had given the VI delegation a letter naming Department of Consumer Affairs Commissioner l to the VI on behalf of the USVI.

In his closing remarks, Mr Bryan expressed his hope that by working together, the USVI and VI could maximise the benefits of their combined tourism assets and in so doing, enhance the experiences of thousands of tourists who visit both territories every season.

“A lot of things can be done. It all starts with communication and I think the communication that was started here today in terms of maximising the total benefit of our tourism product is key,” he said. “There are a lot of things coming up in the British Virgin Islands that Virgin Islanders want to go to, and we want to make sure we expand what that means for them. People from all over the world are interested in the food festivals and music festivals and all the other things that go on in the British Virgin Islands.

“Here in the US Virgin Islands, we, too, want to expand our season from not only November to May, but year-long. That’s something we can work on together, extending benefits of not only the US Virgin Islands, but also in the British Virgin Islands,” the Governor said. “I think a key topic of this meeting today was digitizing and the internet. Technology will allow us to do things that we’ve never been able to do before. Ease access in terms of business. Ease access in terms of recreation. And ease access in terms of our people meeting and greeting and having a great time in the Greater Virgin Islands.”

CBP & USCG officials also attended meeting

Also attending the meeting on behalf of the US Virgin Islands was Customs and Border Protection Port Director for the Virgin Islands Todd Bellew; US Coast Guard Lt. Commander Jan League; and Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association Executive Director Oriel Blake, according to Gov't House.

The Inter Virgin Islands Council was started by the late former Governor Charles W. Turnbull, and the first meeting of the IVIC took place on St Croix in 2004.

Governor Bryan Jr adjourned the meeting with a motion to hold the next IVIC meeting in the VI, with a date to be determined.

8 Responses to “Easier Customs process, free Wifi for VI residents discussed @ IVIC”

  • bvibuzz (25/09/2022, 14:07) Like (3) Dislike (9) Reply
    They gone to sell out the bvi so Byran can get elected but we will deal with the slow man on our side
  • scat (25/09/2022, 14:36) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    Very good corporation between Islands!
  • Really (25/09/2022, 19:15) Like (3) Dislike (9) Reply
    People wake up. It is called data in real time for the social beast system and it is world wide. Don't be surprised the times is near but you all can't understand what's going on. That is why a few is connect to the what's really going on. Get ready for China social credit and they also have Wi-Fi and cameras all over the place. Led lights also scan data ones your close by but that's if you have the Mark which is the vaccine. The word jab means the devil
  • god is watching (25/09/2022, 20:07) Like (0) Dislike (10) Reply
    Romans 1: 18-27


    God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity

    18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

    21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

    24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

    26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

    28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.

    This is the Word of the Lord and He means what He says. If these two young ladies were right in what they are doing they would never have to spend money fighting in the Court. Do what is right and you would be recognised.

    What benefit are they to each other? They still using a fake instrument to replace the natural. How sick?

    REPENT BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!!
  • Chief Minister"who" (26/09/2022, 04:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who was it that represent the VI in 2004,with the late Charles W Turnbull, in St Croix.?
  • crime (26/09/2022, 09:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    of smuggling anything into the Virgin Islands should be prosecuted in the USVI legal system and NOT the BVI's inefficient and overwhelmed legal system.
  • Charters? (27/09/2022, 07:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    So now you want to make it easier for charters to operate across boarders? After you implemented all the bs in the last year with dogs and armed swat teams shaking down tourists for their papers? Now you want to usher in cooperation for usvi boats? GTFOH


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