Stacey E. Plaskett, a Democrat who represents the US Virgin Islands (USVI) in Congress as a non-voting delegate, has said the US Virgin Islands doesn’t really wish for the federal government to get involved in the maritime fees fallout with the Virgin Islands (VI), but said the sudden and steep increase has negatively impacted the USVI economy. Photo: Facebook

USVI Governor, Albert A. Bryan Jr. (left) and Premier Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) (right) shake hands following discussions on the increased charter yacht fees in 2025. Photo: Facebook

The US Virgin Islands and marine vessel operators have accused the new fee structure by the Virgin Islands of negatively affecting their marine tourism industry. Photo: File

Under the new fee structure, which came into effect in June 2025, annual multi-night charter licenses that previously cost around $800 have now increased to $24,000 per vessel based outside of the VI. Annual day-trip licenses have risen from $200 to $8,500 per vessel, in addition to customary customs and immigration charges that can add another $900 to $1,200 or more for each entry.

According to Plaskett, who has been implicated in the Epstein files, there have been losses of about 800 jobs, particularly in the boating industry, due to vessels relocating to the Virgin Islands to benefit from lower taxes.

In an interview on Kyle & Redman Caribbean Currency Channel published on social media on July 22, 2026, Plaskett suggested that the fee hike could have been implemented gradually.

“I mean, I’ve had conversations with members of the of their parliament over there and they were like ‘oh you all are trying to sic the State Department and the president on us now’ and I was like ‘I I don’t want that to be the case but I also don’t think that it’s appropriate for you, whether it was 20 years or not, you can’t make up that time in one year.

“That should have been something that was gradual. Over time, we could absorb that.”

Retaliatory fees

Meanwhile, Plaskett said the VI would not have appreciated if the USVI had responded by imposing “a fee on individuals that are coming to Saint Thomas to buy food.

“You know, we can do retaliatory tariffs on one another, yes, and at the end of the day we’re all going to lose out. So, I think that the fee was way too much for a one-year period.”

Plaskett reiterated that the new fee structure introduced by the VI has really affected the USVI’s maritime industry. She said dialogue with the VI could be had, but asserted that the VI seems to want to go the hard way.

“I would think that we should sit down and see how we ratchet that down, but you know sometimes people don't like the carrot, they like the stick.”

See related article below:

VI Premier ‘displeased’ with USVI involving federal gov’t in maritime fees matter

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