Business

Beginning in February, Businesses Grossing More Than $50,000 Annually Must Offer Credit Card as Form of Payment

A Senator Kurt Vialet-sponsored bill that was signed into law by Governor Albert Bryan requiring businesses in the U.S. Virgin Islands grossing more than $50,000 a year to offer credit card as a form of payment, will take effect on February 16, Mr. Vialet told the Consortium earlier this month. The law exempts some businesses, including mobile vendors (those selling food at events), farmers certified with the Dept. of Agriculture, fishermen certified with the Dept. of Licensing and Consumer Affairs (D.L.C.A.), and businesses grossing less than $50,000 annually. Taxi drivers are also exempt from this law as well; Mr. Vialet has a separate, currently stalled measure to address that sector. The bill had received strong pushback from some members of the community and some lawmakers, who contended that no business should be forced to offer alternative forms of payment aside from cash. But the senator during various hearings defended his legislation. "We have become a society that utilize...