Dear Source:
While I'll concede that there are taxis, taxis everywhere, there seems to be more water, water everywhere around hereabouts. The powers continue to miss the fact that these islands are surrounded by water – the main draw to the region. Vacationers don't come here to see the taxis. The bulk of the marine industry, Charter Yacht League, bareboat charterers, provisioners, chandleries and, dare I say it, WATER TAXI businesses have been long gone to the BVI for some time now. They're long gone because of governmental neglect and an apparent perception that, for the most part, there are few, if any, prominent "native sons" (to quote the SOURCE references) in the business.
Roadtown, Nanny Cay, Gorda Sound, Spanishtown, West End, etc. EACH have more boats in them than Charlotte Amalie Harbor. The potential for millions and millions of dollars in equipment, repairs, taxes, licensing, provisioning and related services continues to be ignored. The lip service given the charter industry in the past hasn't amounted to anything. The marine industries MUST be represented in any "Tourism Authority." It seems to me they should be of monumental interest to a "Tourism Authority" in comparison to the taxi associations. Why TWO taxi association representatives? Oh yeah, politics. Ahh wee.
Kevin Weatherbee,
St. Thomas
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