Verna Thomas

Virgin Islands Port Authority

The Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) owns and manages two airports – the Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas and the Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport on St. Croix. The Port Authority also manages the majority (14) of the public seaports in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Its mandate is to promote the wise use of these facilities for the betterment of the Virgin Islands and its people and to assist the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands in fostering and sustaining sound economic development. To this end, the Port Authority is committed to: -Maintaining and developing the airports and seaports of the Virgin Islands to accommodate the current and future demands of its users; -Making sure that the airports and seaports are accessible to all qualified users; -Providing efficient and quality service to the public; -Providing a safe and secure environment at all of its port facilities; -Working with the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands on initiatives to attract tourists and private investors to the territory; -Fostering commerce by providing incentives to airlines, cruise ships, cargo operators and other potential investors to entice them to do business in the Virgin Islands; -Making sure that all of its facilities are in full compliance with local and federal regulations; and -Improving port facilities to keep up with modern technology.