June 24, 2007
Governor meets with agency heads to streamline business license application process
In a move to streamline the business license renewal process in government, Gov. John P.
deJongh, Jr. recently convened a meeting of all agencies currently involved in the process for establishments doing business in the Virgin Islands.
“My administration had become keenly aware of some of the difficulties business owners were experiencing in securing their business licenses and renewals and thought it prudent to bring all agency representatives together to look at the process and determine how it could be further simplified,” deJongh said.
At the meeting, deJongh heard from Licensing Commissioner Kenrick Robertson; Bureau of Internal Revenue Director Gizette Thomas; Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Robert Mathes; Dr. Wanda Mills of DPNR as well as Director of Environmental Health Felecia Lang and Inspectors Duane Maduro and Stevie Webster; Corporations and Trademarks Director Denise Johannes; St. Croix Fire Marshal Alejandro Rivera and St. Thomas Fire Marshal Richard Lindo. There were common complaints in the public that the system for license renewal had become slow and bogged down. “What we found is that in the past, the license renewal process had by-passed obtaining necessary stamps of approval from various agencies in government giving the public the perception that the process was efficient,” deJongh said, adding, Commissioner Robertson is now insisting that the process be followed and that all agencies involved in license renewal follow the letter of the law which now gives an impression that the system has slowed down.
deJongh said the ultimate goal of the administration is to not only streamline the entire process but make it “more customer-friendly for those who apply for either a first- time license or a renewal. We should continue to refine the process using modern day technology to reduce the time and effort our business owners put in to get their licenses in order,” deJongh said. There is also an effort underway by Licensing and Consumer Affairs (DLCA) to truly place the renewal process on-line on the department’s website: www.dlca.gov.vi.
In the discussion it was noted that previously issued licenses to first time applicants or to those seeking renewals were granted without the proper review, which led to the increasing frustration of business owners or first-time applicants. “What we found is that the DLCA Enforcement division had been left out of the process in the past,” DLCA Commissioner Kenrick Robertson said. The enforcement team is charged with looking at each application to determine whether the location is compatible with the area…that bars and restaurants and not too close to schools, churches and residences. “This has contributed to bars and restaurants popping up in inappropriate locations,” Robertson said.
“While the process was available via the website we observed that the final business license provided to the applicant could have been altered. We are working with our webmaster to ensure that this product is a read-only and printable document,” Robertson said. Follow-up meetings with DLCA staff are scheduled to continue the process towards a true one-stop renewal with licenses being issued or renewed in a ten day time frame, from the time the application is submitted to the time in which the license is issued by DLCA. |
