Senator Bolques Helps Secures One-Year Exemption on Transaction Fees for St. John Taxi Drivers Following Discussions with National Park Service

St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands – Senator At Large Angel Bolques Jr. has successfully advocated for St. John taxi drivers, securing a one-year exemption from the 3% transaction fee that was set to take effect in January 2025. This decision follows extensive discussions with the National Park Service (NPS) regarding the commercial use authorization (CUA) fees impacting transportation services within the park.

Through collaborative dialogue, the National Park Service has agreed to implement a combined application management flat fee for St. John taxi drivers while postponing the 3% transaction fee until January 1, 2026. This exemption provides local taxi operators with critical relief and additional time to adjust to the federally mandated fee structure.

Originally, after initial discussions with Senator Bolques in December 2024, NPS extended the deadline for the fee implementation to February 2025. However, through continued engagement, advocacy, and collaboration with NPS, the Senator helped to secure a full-year exemption, ensuring that St. John’s taxi drivers will not be subject to the fee throughout 2025.

Senator Bolques sincerely thanks Superintendent Penelope Del Bene, Deputy Superintendent Scott Simmons, Concessions Management Specialist Paul Jones, and Concessions Management Specialist Esther Francis for their cooperation and transparency throughout these discussions. During their meeting, NPS officials also provided key updates regarding the ongoing developments of the Caneel Bay property on St. John.
The Senator strongly encourages all taxi drivers in St. John to take advantage of this exemption period to prepare for fully implementing the fee structure in 2026. Moving forward, Senator Bolques plans to collaborate with the Taxi Cab Commission (TCC) to request an evaluation of the tariff system on St. John. Additionally, he is committed to facilitating a meeting between TCC, the National Park Service, and St. John’s taxi operators to explore additional measures to help mitigate the impact of the impending 3% fee.