Scores of residents who turned out Tuesday night for a hearing on St. John to voice their opposition to a new $2.50 fee each way for vehicles using car barges between Red Hook, St. Thomas, and Cruz Bay, St. John, got no concrete answers to their concerns. The fee is to be implemented Oct. 1.
Sen. Roosevelt David organized and presided over the meeting which saw about 100 residents turn out to oppose the fee imposed by the V.I. Port Authority.
VIPA wants the fee collected to help fund the construction of the much-talked about and long-delayed Enighed Pond project. The development of a cargo facility in Enighed Pond, St. John, is intended to ease congestion in Cruz Bay. The fee is also earmarked to fund a new marine facility in Red Hook, according to a Port Authority statement announcing the fees.
Residents described the fee as an unfair burden on those who regularly commute with their vehicles between St. John and St. Thomas several times a week. While some charged that the fee collection would delay the barge traffic between the islands, others raised concerns that monies collected would be spent on other projects on St. Thomas or St. Croix.
Senators' comments were well-received, especially a suggestion by Sen. George Goodwin that federal funds be sought by VIPA to complete its capital projects. VIPA governing board member Robert O'Connor, a resident of St. John, was noncommittal when pressed by At-Large Sen. Almando "Rocky" Liburd to have the board scrap plans to impose a fee.
O'Connor said the board members have the fiduciary responsibility to keep the "VIPA in the black."
David did not say whether additional meetings would be held on the issue.
The fee is to be collected on the Red Hook side for barging in both directions.
