With the new Customs procedures and this change in boatyard rules I am wondering if the USVI-BVI Friendship Day festivities will be much fun this year.


[color:"red"]By Tom Oat

stjohnnewspapermon.com

USVI boatowners accustomed to hauling out their vessels – which in many cases are their businesses – for maintenance work at the popular Nanny Cay boatyard in the British Virgin Islands during slow periods are finding out they can’t work on their own boats – without a BVI non-resident work permit.

The change comes on the heels of a major shift in Her Majesty’s Customs rules which now requires all non-resident day excursion visitors to personally present their identification to Her Majesty’s Customs — as USVI-based vessels always have had to on their return from the BVI at St. John’s Cruz Bay Creek as the “closest” U.S. port in lieu of the

While USVI excursion boat operators are trying to figure out how the major change in clearing customs will impact their business operations next season, now they have to get a temporary work permit fromk BVI officials to work on their own vessels in a BVI boatyard, according to one ancient mariner.

“You can still haul your boat, but you can’t work on it yourself anymore,” the veteran sailor reported to stjohnnewspapermon.com — without a non-belonger work permit.

Now, USVI boat owners have to get a temporary work permit to perform work on their own vessels after years of being able to do much of their seasonal maintenance themselves in the BVI shipyard, the old salt said matter-of-factly.

“They tell you how to do that, who get the work permit for you – for a fee,” the captain reported.

stjohnnewspapermon.com

oatthomas@gmail.com
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That seems like an odd requirement.. A work permit allows one to "work".. which means getting paid for that work. I'm not sure why one would need that for working on their own boat.

I guess its just another money grab.. and potentially a loss of business depending on the cost and difficulty, because it may just get people to haul out in the USVI.

And does it just apply to a boat being hauled? What if they are working on it while in the water? If it only applies to hauled boats, I wonder why there's a difference?

Well applying for a work permit to do my varnish sitting on a dock would send me to the bar instead of the paint locker for sure. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />

I read all that to mean the government will no longer allow anyone without a permit to be found working in a boat yard. Fair Warning! They will be checking those yards just like they are checking the status of anyone acting as a paid captain or hand on a boat. For better or worse the BVI is stating their intent to enforce their laws when it comes to work and residency status on and near the water. Maybe we could call this The Belongers versus The Outsiders. What kind of country would fight over immigration status and policies anyway?

My neighbor was working on his own house and a former local "handyman" threatened to turn him in because he did not have a permit..nothing came of it and that shyster has since left..but it makes you think..

I believe I recall Nick's mom getting reported for working in the garden while visiting.

There was a lot of concern over me volunteering to cast the keel for the JVD sloop. On the day of the lead pour the Rotary Club, most of the House of Assembly and other island big shots were there to get their picture taken as the guy without a work permit loaded the melting pot. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

unless your getting paid it's not work, this is another ridiculous BVI law. If you own a boat, is there a time you're not working on your boat? At VGYH, almost everyone does their own work.

Work is classified the same whether "paid or unpaid".

As I understand it spouses of expat employees can't even volunteer for charity work unless they leave the island while the charity applies for a work permit.

WORK: activity in which one exerts strength or faculties to do or perform something: sustained physical or mental effort to overcome obstacles and achieve an objective or result....

so what do the permits cost and how difficult are they to obtain? I have to pay to sand my teak, seriously?

...and in other news, BVI boatyard occupancy at all-time lows. Something about a nose and a face come to mind...

Can you replace a water pump if you are in a slip at Nanny Cay Marina? How about at anchor in Trellis Bay?

macpete, don't know where you heard that but Nanny Cay is on a wait list for dry storage.

If you have to have a permit to sand your own teak, how about a permit for cooking dinner or washing the dishes? Under the definition thrown out in this thread these are also "work". Where does it end?

So wait, same thought but we are non belonger land holders, can we not pull weeds and paint the kitchen while we are on holiday? How out our 30' Center console Wellcraft. Can we not work on it while it is up on the land at Sandy Ground? Not sure if I should dance with happiness or be sad.



Manpot?

Don't ask him to help, he hasn't worked in years!!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

So sail2wind nails it. The spots on land are full, even wait listed, the moorings are oversubscribed, and the anchorages full. What are not full or even adequate for the current spend are the treasury accounts. So the powers that be right or wrong are looking to raise fees and other costs to grow revenue with the same or even fewer visitors. The latest twist it now costs $250 if an expat loses a job and wants to look for another job without leaving the BVI.

This bit of language below may help with some of the charter boat worries. I wonder what the total number of non-reported day visitors are before the changes? The cruise ships pay a long list of fees plus a bulk tax of $15 for each passenger they land.

'Her Majesty’s Customs rules which now requires all non-resident day excursion visitors to personally present their identification to Her Majesty’s Customs"

How much of a toll could be levied on each day visitor? Or would the BVI be better off if the day visitors were pushed onto ferries?

This bit of language below may help with some of the charter boat worries. I wonder what the total number of non-reported day visitors are before the changes? The cruise ships pay a long list of fees plus a bulk tax of $15 for each passenger they land.

'Her Majesty’s Customs rules which now requires all non-resident day excursion visitors to personally present their identification to Her Majesty’s Customs"

How much of a toll could be levied on each day visitor? Or would the BVI be better off if the day visitors were pushed onto ferries? [/quote]

That was adequately reported and discussed here.
http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/s...e=0#Post1706813 <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/hammer.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/hammer.gif" alt="" />