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'Neighbours can live in peace as we have for years'- VI Premier

- said his gov't is committed to the duty of protecting & improving VI's environment & economy’
On Wednesday, January 28, 2026, the Premier met with members of the boating and marine industry to discuss the ongoing situation between the Virgin Islands and the United States Virgin Islands regarding Commercial Recreational Vessels Licensing (CRVL). Photo: Facebook
In recent months, tensions have increased between the two territories as the Virgin Islands implemented the Commercial Recreational Vessels Licensing (Amendment) Act, 2025. Photo: VINO/ FILE
In recent months, tensions have increased between the two territories as the Virgin Islands implemented the Commercial Recreational Vessels Licensing (Amendment) Act, 2025. Photo: VINO/ FILE
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- "Our position is continuously clear. We remain committed to the duty of protecting and improving our environment and economy." This is according to Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), speaking on the recently implemented Commercial Recreational Vessels Licensing (Amendment) Act, 2025, particularly the fee increase, which has infuriated maritime stakeholders in the US Virgin Islands (USVI).

On Wednesday, January 28, 2026, the Premier met with members of the local boating and marine industry to discuss the ongoing situation between the Virgin Islands and the United States Virgin Islands regarding Commercial Recreational Vessels Licensing (CRVL).

In recent months, tensions have increased between the two territories after the Virgin Islands implemented the Commercial Recreational Vessels Licensing (Amendment) Act, 2025. 

This amendment raised fees for foreign-based (primarily USVI) charter vessels, and the Virgin Islands government argued that this decision was necessary to address a "huge economic imbalance" and to ensure that the economic benefits generated from the use of Virgin Islands waters are fairly distributed.

The debate continues between the two territories

However, officials and stakeholders from the USVI characterised these actions as punitive and harmful to the USVI charter industry, valued between $92 million and $166 million. Some stakeholders in the USVI have expressed doubts about the Virgin Islands' ability to uniformly enforce these complex new regulations on all foreign vessels.

According to a recent article by VINO, USVI Governor Albert A. Bryan Jr. stated that he reached out to President Donald J. Trump to intervene regarding the Virgin Islands' recent increase in maritime fees. Many Virgin Islanders viewed this move as a betrayal and a stab in the back of the Premier.

Territory’s position remains clear 

In response to these developments, Premier Wheatley convened the recent meeting to gather input from stakeholders in the marine industry about the situation regarding Commercial Recreational Vessels Licensing (CRVL).

In a Facebook post, the Premier reaffirmed the territory's position, stating, "Our heart is also sure that neighbours can live in peace as we have for years, and we’re eager to bring the conversation between territories to a close with an amicable decision for all."

See related article below:

VI doesn’t have $25B in federal funding ‘but we too have to eat’- USVI Governor

3 Responses to “'Neighbours can live in peace as we have for years'- VI Premier”

  • bvibuzz (29/01/2026, 11:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    in his last days in office Governor Byran sold out the BVI for a piece of water
  • Eldread (29/01/2026, 11:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well natalio you want us to live in peace with your USA home territory since you are an American born, but we here must fight for our rights, I see betrayal in this by natalio, he can't be trusted as an American citizen here in this dispute, he will capitulate to his American president and country of birth which is the USA and put we the born BVI people at the shitty end of the stick. Someone that born in the BVI will put up a better fight in this maritime dispute.
  • NEIGHBORS ? (29/01/2026, 12:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    DON'T YOU MEAN ,( THOSE ISLAND PEOPLE ) ? WE SPEAKING WITH TWO TONGUES ???? ???? SAME THING LIKE THE WHITE COLONIALIST SLAVE MASTERS ,


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