While delivering his final State of the Territory Address at Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall on St Thomas, US Virgin Islands (USVI), on January 26, 2026, Governor Albert A. Byan Jr said USVI’s efforts to develop its blue economy, 'are now being undermined by the British Virgin Islands in their outrageous increase in maritime fees'. Photo: Facebook

Many believe that Governor Albert A. Bryan Jr’s new and fascistic approach to the matter with the VI is due to his coming under pressure from USVI maritime stakeholders. Photo: Internet Source

Acknowledging that the VI and USVI share deep historical, cultural and economic ties, Virgin Islands Premier Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) said his administration values those relationships and has approached the maritime matter in a spirit of dialogue and mutual respect. Photo: GIS/File

Virgin Islands Governor, Daniel Pruce. The Commercial Recreational Vessel Licensing (Amendment) Act, 2025, was passed by the House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands on May 6, 2025, assented to by Governor Pruce, the United Kingdom’s (UK) representative, on May 30, and took effect on June 1, 2025. Photo: GIS/File

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

While delivering his final State of the Territory Address at Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall on St Thomas, USVI, on January 26, 2026, Governor Byan, who has knifed the Premier of the Virgin Islands, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), in the back after publicly declaring in April 2025, following talks with Dr Wheatley, that the previous fees were unfair, has now turned to President Donald J. Trump to intervene.

VI ‘are our friends & neighbours but…’

In his address to the USVI on Monday, Governor Bryan sought to vilify the Virgin Islands by stating that the USVI’s efforts to develop its blue economy, “are now being undermined by the British Virgin Islands in their outrageous increase in maritime fees”.

The Commercial Recreational Vessel Licensing (Amendment) Act, 2025, was passed by the House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands on May 6, 2025, assented to by Governor Daniel Pruce, the United Kingdom’s (UK) representative, on May 30, and took effect on June 1, 2025. The legislation amended the VI’s 1992 licensing framework to impose expanded licensing requirements, new charter limits, time restrictions, and revised fee structures on commercial recreational vessels based outside the territory.

“They are our friends and neighbours but we are exploring every option including working with our federal partners to achieve parity,” Governor Bryan said.

Late last year, Governor Bryan wrote to President Trump and his Cabinet seeking federal action in dealing with the increase in charter vessel fees by the VI.

In his letter dated December 4, 2025, Governor Bryan said the issue “demands swift and coordinated federal engagement”.

He accused the new fee structure of already destabilising the marine industry in the USVI, adding that it “threatens to do long-term damage to our local economy”.

VI don’t get $25B ‘we too have to eat’

Virgin Islanders, including many who have strong roots in the USVI, were left upset by Governor Bryan’s sudden departure from diplomacy to bullyism.

Some commented that Governor Bryan should be ashamed to be seeking to prevent the Virgin Islands from benefitting from what is rightfully theirs, especially when the Virgin Islands does not get any financial support in its budget from the UK.

Governor Bryan, in his address, even boasted that the USVI has received $25B in federal funding for its recovery and development.

“We respect that the BVI needs additional revenue to pave their roads. They don’t have twenty-five billion dollars. They need money to build their infrastructure and move their society forward, but we too have to eat, and their policies should not and will not create barriers in these Virgin Islands that impede our economy and commerce,” Governor Bryan boldly stated in his address on Monday.

‘Disrespectful’

This remark particularly touched the heart of Virgin Islanders, who some described as ‘disrespectful’.

“They get 25 billion dollars towards their economy, and we don’t, because they have their economy and we have ours, but they still intend to make our Virgin Islands their eating ground. Together we stand in the face of our friends, family, and neighbours, as their agenda for survival includes our meals. The lack of their mishandling of the assistance of 25 billion into their economy is not our misfortune, but we need to stand our ground by all means,” commented a Virgin Islander, who asked not to be named.

Many believe that Governor Bryan’s new and fascistic approach to the matter with the VI is due to his coming under pressure from USVI maritime stakeholders.

“We are not competitors,” Governor Bryan said, “We actually are collaborators; the US Virgin Islands is a product of the BVI tourism, and BVI is a product of the USVI tourism,” he had said following an April 2025 meeting with Premier Wheatley. 

He had also acknowledged then that the previous system was not fair to the Virgin Islands. 

“It really isn't fair for us to be able to send a boat over to the BVI, unlimited, and their charter boats- who are nestled there, employ people who work there, eating there, getting rents there- they’re having the same amount of payment as the US Virgin Islands,” Governor Bryan had admitted back in April 2025.

VI avoiding escalation

Meanwhile, Premier Wheatley stated this month that deliberate steps were taken by his government to reject the escalation of the charter fee issue between the VI and USVI.

“At the heart of these reforms lies a fundamental principle: the government of the Virgin Islands has both the right and responsibility to steward its natural resources in a manner that secures its territory’s long-term economic future,” Premier Wheatley said during the Second Sitting of the Third Session of the Fifth House of Assembly on January 15, 2026. 

He explained that the VI’s marine space is one of its most natural endowments, a strategic economic asset, a source of national prosperity and a pillar of its blue economy. 

“This administration is firmly committed to ensuring that it is governed responsibly, sustainably and in the best interest of the people of these Virgin Islands,” Premier Wheatley stated.

Acknowledging that the VI and USVI share deep historical, cultural and economic ties, Dr Wheatley said his administration values those relationships and has approached this matter in a spirit of dialogue and mutual respect.

He said during engagements with the USVI, including with Governor Bryan, they were able to explain the policy objectives, listen to concerns and reaffirm the VI’s commitment to constructive engagement. 

“However, Madam Speaker, cooperation does not diminish sovereignty. The Government of the Virgin Islands will always exercise its diplomatic and legislative authority to protect its economic interests and responsibly manage its natural resources.”

Premier Wheatley also said these reforms were not made to target any jurisdiction, nor are they retaliatory in nature; rather, they are legitimate expressions of the government’s right to regulate commercial activity within the VI’s territorial waters in a manner that is fair, transparent, and intentionally aligned.