The purposes for which the Corporation is created and shall exercise its powers being public purposes, the Corporation, its property, income and activities, shall be exempt from all taxes, special assessments and license fees of the Virgin Islands or any political subdivision thereof. All bonds issued by the Corporation and any income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation. In lieu of taxes, with respect to any project, the Corporation may agree to make such payments to the Government of the Virgin Islands as it finds consistent with the maintenance of the Corporation, the operations of the Corporation and the achievement of the purposes of this chapter.