Sen. Roosevelt St.C. David said Tuesday the cruise ship industry has not kept their end of the deals made through the recently formed cruise ship task force.
David, who drafted legislation earlier this year that sought to impose a $2.50 head tax on cruise ship passengers said, in a release from his office, the industry's promises have so far been "empty."
"The task force has not reached consensus on vital issues such as, long term operating agreements, increased ships calling for St. Croix and St. Thomas year round, promotions of Cruzan Rum aboard ships and funding for mutually agreed upon capital projects to improve the territory's tourism infrastructure.
The overall costs related to garbage, crowding, traffic, and public safety diminishes the value of the cruise ships, according to David, who believes he should start moving legislation forward again to impose the head tax.
Research done by the senator uncovered information in Fortune magazine that said though 65 percent of the cruise ship industry's profits come from the Caribbean only 1 percent of the taxes captured from the industry goes back into the territory.
David said, "Caribbean cruise ship lines are recording record profits and yet they continue to refuse a $2.50 surcharge."
