During Monday’s Virgin Islands Port Authority Board meeting, the board voted to approve a flight route incentive between St. Thomas and Dominica, several contract service agreements, and issue an insurance renewal for their cyber insurance.
Early in the meeting, the board approved an application from Corporate Flight Management, Inc., doing business as Contour Airlines, to participate in a flight incentive program. Contour Airlines operates a route between the Cyril E. King Airport and the Douglas-Charles Airport in Dominica. In the agreement, landing fees will be waived as an incentive for the airline. According to Jerome Sheridan, territorial airport manager, services officially began between the two territories on Sept. 24.
“They have indicated that it is looking very promising, that’s why we have the incentive so that, in a given time, not forever, they can come on their own,” said Executive Director Carlton Dowe.
Board member Celestino White inquired about the possibility of additional routes with the airline to destinations like St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, and Antigua.
“As a matter of fact, tomorrow corporate is supposed to be in the territory as a result of our direct communication to them to discuss other services,” replied Dowe, who mentioned the possibility of a route to St. Croix.
Members Willard John, Kevin Rodriguez, Leona Smith, Jennifer Matarangas-King, Gordon Rhea, and White unanimously approved.
In more business, the board voted unanimously to renew their cyber insurance for $45,410. According to Anise Hodge, deputy executive director, “In comparison to the premiums of 2025, VIPA Cyber premiums has decreased overall to a total of $45,410, or a five percent decrease,” who added that insurance limits remain at $1 million.
Additionally, the board ratified a Nov. 26 poll vote authorizing a cooperative service agreement with Michael Baker International to retain the aviation division’s aviation compliance manager at a cost of $143,191.98. The agreement is extended from Jan. 1, 2026, to June 30, 2026. The board also, through a poll vote, authorized Virgin Islands Paving, Inc. for emergency asphalt repair at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in an amount not to exceed $2,102,030.15. According to the authority, funding will be provided by the United States Air Force. The costs are associated with the airfield asphalt apron rutting, observed by the United States Air Force.
Regarding engineering, the authority has seven active construction projects in the St. Thomas-St. John district with five in their closeout phases. The projects’ total is $96,473,727.97. The projects are the CEKA Parking & Transportation Center, Taxiway A West Reconstruction, CEKA Selective Slab Replacement, Air Alliance Building Interior Build Out, LLB Ferry Terminal Improvements, Beachcomber Demolition, and the CEKA Runway 10-28 Rehabilitation.
On St. Croix, there are seven active construction projects totaling $44,237,811.01, with two in their closeout phases. They are the HERA Apron Rehabilitation, Gordon A. Finch Marine Cargo Building, HERA RWY 10-28 Shoulder and Electrical Vault, HERA TWY A and B Rehabilitation, Fredriksted Tender Landing Pier, Wilfred “Bomba” Allick Transshipment Center Generator Modification, and the Seaplane Long Term Environmental Monitoring.
“With this height of the season coming up now, we have a lot of landing and taking off, what is happening as far as assuring that the surface stays intact?” questioned White, of the St. Thomas airport runway.
“We have a maintenance crew that does take care of the maintenance issue that we do have here,” replied Sheridan. He also added that there are plans to “go through a full fledged runway rehab.”
In other news, the board unanimously voted to approve a contract with NV5, Inc. for on-call topographic, property, and metes and bounds surveying in the St. Thomas- St. John district and the St. Croix district. The board also unanimously voted to approve a contract with Charles Electrical Services, LLC, for on-call electrician services for the authority’s administrative buildings, properties, aviation, and marine facilities in both districts and with Continental Construction and Engineering, LLC in the St. Croix district. Lastly, the board voted to enter a contract with Tropical Fencing, LLC, to remove and replace the perimeter fencing at the Wilfred “Bomba” Allick Container Port on St. Croix.
Additionally, Chief Financial Officer Anna Penn shared that “VIPA incurred a $1.3 million dollar operating profit,” as of Oct. 31.
During executive session, the board approved the ground lease with Crown Bay Destination LP, a subsidiary of Cruise Terminals International. The lease was negotiated with Royal Caribbean Group for the Crown Bay District redevelopment project. Also during executive session, the board granted permission to the executive director to execute Addendum No. 4 to the amended and restated pier usage agreement.
Board members Willard John, Kevin Rodriguez, Leona Smith, Derek Gabriel, Gordon Rhea, Jennifer Matarangas-King, and Celestino White were present.
