Outgoing Governor of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) Albert A. Bryan Jr has said the Virgin Islands (VI) could be declared a hostile state as tensions surrounding the increase in charter yacht fees continue. Photo: Facebook

USVI Governor Albert A. Bryan Jr (left) said he had dinner with Premier Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) (right) on his most recent visit to the Virgin Islands to discuss the ongoing charter yacht fee issues. Photo: Facebook

Nanny Cay Marina in the Virgin Islands filled with yachts. As the impasse regarding the increase in charter yacht fees by the Virgin Islands (VI) continues USVI Governor Albert A. Bryan Jr said their federal partners want a more aggressive approach. Photo: Nanny Cay Resort & Marina/Facebook

The new Commercial Recreational Vessel License (CRVL) framework has seen pushback from the USVI to the point that the matter was escalated to the US Federal Government. 

Willing to pay 50% more than locals

Speaking during a Government House press briefing on Monday, November 9, 2026, Governor Bryan said he had dinner with Premier Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) on his most recent visit to the VI. 

“We discussed the ongoing battle between them and us. We’re trying to create something larger to effectuate the change and the rates. Our proposal for them is essentially that we pay 50% more than what their local people are paying to be registered, which I think is more than fair.”

Governor Bryan said right now there is still a back-and-forth.

Federal partners want 'more aggressive' approach 

“They’ve just raised rates again. But our federal partners really want a more aggressive approach to this. So I have some meetings in the next week or two to talk with them and what they’re going to do because they want to see some action before this season really kicks off.”

He accused the VI of not wanting to budge on the matter, saying, “they like the money they’re collecting”. 

“What they’re risking now, I think, with the aggressive options that the US has taken on visa, is creating a hardship on their border for people coming in or out, or the US doing something like issuing a travel warning to the hostile state, which would be the BVI.”

Governor Bryan clarified that he did not speak to the federal government about classifying the VI as a hostile state but added, “there’s things that we could do”.

He added that the VI is a partner to the USVI and that they do not want to see anything negative happen; however, the situation has moved beyond the Virgin Islands. 

“You’re impeding trade at an international border, and the US doesn’t stand for that, especially that president [Donald J. Trump].”

Premier Wheatley has defended the increase, saying the USVI was not being singled out, as all foreign vessels are subject to the same fees. In October, he pushed back against the notion that the VI was charging persons for coming into the VI's waters. "What we are doing is we are charging a fee for a license for conducting commercial activity within the Virgin Islands. It’s a difference," he explained. 

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