BVIPA STRESSES THAT PORT INCREASES WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED NEXT YEAR
Written by Fuze Social Team on December 2, 2021
The BVI Ports Authority, BVIPA has re-emphasized that the planned increased Port Fees will not be implemented next year.
In a release today, the BVIPA quoted from the Premier and Minister of Finance, who is also the Minister responsible for ports, Andrew Fahie, when he announced in the 2022 Budget Address that the planned increase will not take effect.
The Premier said in the address, that the decision not to implement the fees, was made after extensive consultations with port stakeholders, and in the wake of an extremely challenging fiscal year, for BVI and the rest of the world, brought about by the ongoing COVIID-19 pandemic.
The management and staff of the BVIPA says it has been working assiduously in 2021 to help propel the BVI economy.
It said since the reopening in the late first quarter, the Ports have welcomed ferry passengers, cruise tourists, and have invested in significant infrastructure and technological upgrades to various port facilities across the territory to ensure that the Ports meet the safety and security demands of the period; as well as enhance their operations in service to the people of the BVI and all visitors.
The BVIPA said to successfully accomplish this, the management has been consulting and collaborating with stakeholders, who have been credited with being instrumental in helping the Ports to achieve its developmental objectives during the pandemic. It said that understanding the crucial role that the stakeholders have played in this effort, under extenuating circumstances, the Premier and Cabinet of the Virgin Islands, acting on the advice of management, took the decision to not implement the planned Port fee increases in 2022.
