Soon, going to the La Reine Chicken Shack without cash to buy food will be the norm, and stopping at Beijing House, the Chinese food restaurant in Sion Farm without a credit will not be a mistake, as those outfits — along with the countless more in the U.S. Virgin Islands that have refused to utilize electronic payment options, will be a thing of the past.
That’s if a bill being sponsored by Senator Kurt Vialet — who also sponsored a measure calling for credit card payment option from taxis in the territory — which is being heard on July 29, is approved by senators and signed into law by Governor Albert Bryan.
For decades the territory has lagged behind in regards to other forms of payment aside from cash, and Mr. Vialet is hoping to change that with his bill. Some businesses have adamantly refused to implement electronic payment options, with some contending that the fees associated with the transactions cut into their bottomline.
For others, it’s a way of avoiding taxes, as online payments allow for the tracking of an operation’s sales.
Mr. Vialet said the bill would require every business — from beauty salons to hairdressers — to offer an electronic payment option. The senator appears to be adamant on the need for the territory to fully move into the 21st Century and the technologies available to not only make life easier, but to facilitate growth. During a hearing on his measure to require an electronic payment option for taxi drivers territory-wide, Mr. Vialet said, “We cannot continue to push it back and use the same excuse over and over that we’re not ready.” He adding that an additional payment option aside from cash these days is as simple as downloading an app on a smartphone.
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