FNM Senator Maxine Seymour warned of the “urgent need for lifeguards” at Goodman’s Bay, adding that “the actions of some persons on jet skis who recklessly bypass buoys to ride up to shore, frequently performing stunts, pose a direct threat to the safety of swimmers.” Photos: Austin Fernander
A NEW travel advisory has been issued by the United States warning over the lack of regulation of commercial water craft – and an FNM senator has called for action at Goodman’s Bay to ensure public safety.
The US warning said: “Activities involving commercial recreational watercraft, including water tours, are not consistently regulated. Watercraft may be poorly. maintained and some operators may not have safety certifications. Due to these concerns, US government personnel are not permitted to use independently operated jet-ski rentals on New Providence and Paradise Islands.”
Meanwhile, following an apparent drowning that occurred at Goodman’s Bay on Saturday, FNM Senator Maxine Seymour extended her sympathies to the family of the man who died in the “heartbreaking incident”.
She also warned of the “urgent need for lifeguards” to protect beachgoers across The Bahamas.
She said: “The absence of lifeguards on our beaches poses a significant risk to patrons, particularly children, who require vigilant supervision. It is critical that the government hire, train, and station lifeguards on beaches to provide first-aid and CPR, and to safeguard lives.
“Furthermore, the actions of some persons on jet skis who recklessly bypass buoys to ride up to shore, frequently performing stunts, pose a direct threat to the safety of swimmers. I encourage the government in partnership with the Royal Bahamas Police Force to provide increased regulation and supervision by intensifying foot and marine patrols, and strictly enforcing the law, to ensure the responsible operation of watercraft.”
Concerns have been raised on a number of occasions about the maintenance of buoys to protect swimmers from watercraft, as well as policing areas to ensure such separation is abided by.
Senator Seymour also noted a shortage of trash cans, with the ones present often brimming over, and added: “The government must swiftly rectify these vexing issues. It is off-putting to witness public funds being allocated to ventures that do not directly benefit everyday Bahamians, while the condition of the facilities at our beaches deteriorates. Showers do not work, bathrooms are locked or malfunctioning, supplies are restricted or unavailable. This is unacceptable for those who seek comfort and convenience. Such negligence undermines the experience and leaves a negative impression on families and all who come to enjoy our shores.
“I have experienced firsthand the issues plaguing our beaches. This weekend, as on previous occasions, our family spent time driving to multiple beaches on New Providence seeking parking and a free square foot of sand. It is sad that tens of thousands of citizens are regularly crammed on limited beaches while access to other parts of the island are illegally restricted and the government fails to address the issue. When we finally settled on a beach, my time was mainly spent picking up broken glass and debris, worrying about unsupervised children, avoiding unleashed dogs running freely on the sand, and fearing a group of jet ski riders who exhibited dangerous behaviour. This atmosphere of anarchy overshadowed what should have been a joyful family outing for me and so many others.”
She concluded: “It is time for the government to take immediate action and allocate the necessary resources to ensure that accidents are prevented, and Bahamians do not have to contend with broken amenities or unsanitary conditions during their visits to our beaches.”
The US travel advisory also cautioned visitors to exercise “increased vigilance” in the Over the Hill area where “gang-on-gang violence has resulted in a high homicide rate primarily affecting the local population. Violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults, occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas. Be vigilant when staying at short-term vacation rental properties where private security companies do not have a presence.”
Comments
ThisIsOurs 9 months, 3 weeks ago
They also need to post signs so people stop gutting fish where along the shoreline. Its is ignorance. We've accepted it at Montagu and Potters Cay for decades but its literally a message to the sharks that theres lots of food moving around down here. Take your fish home and dispose of the entrails as youd do if you were cleaning chicken
The jet skis have also started a practice of pulling right up to the Montagu shore
John 9 months, 3 weeks ago
This is a dumb, idiotic and fully misinformed post. On most Family Islands, fishermen clean and gut fish less than 100 yards from where the islanders swim. And even though there may be regular shark sightings there are literally no shark attacks. Compare that to Florida where there were seven SEVEN shark on the same beach in one week. And for the record, the cleaning of fish on this beach is prohibited.
DWW 9 months, 2 weeks ago
silly statement. uninformed by all counts
tell_it_like_it_is 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Agreed. The jet ski operators are now driving on the water like the men on motorbikes do on the roads. The major difference is... when the motorbike hits a car, more than likely the person in the car survives.
But when these nut-jobs hit swimmers, it is the swimmer who suffers for their callous, foolish behavior.
John 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Don’t worry the US state department is back up to their dirty, nasty tricks, trying to sabotage the Bahamas tourist industry, especially where it involves Bahamians trying to earn an honest dollar. Why don’t the US State Department broadcast that FIFTY persons lost their lives to murder on that country’s Independence Day. One was a seven year old boy who was caught up in the crossfire over an argument about a jet ski, ironically. Both the young boy and his grandfather were shot as they tried to escape the area of the beach where the argument over the jet ski was taking place. AND some cruise lines, including Disney, have made efforts to start and operate their own water sports businesses, including jet skis! Don’t let the US force Bahamians out of this business. They have more violence on their beaches , including shots being fired, in one day than the amount of violence that happens here in a year, especially any involving tourists.
Porcupine 9 months, 2 weeks ago
You aren't very good on math. There are 350,000,000 more people living in the US. The entire Bahamas population doesn't match the average population of a decent sized city anywhere. The number of people killed per 100,000 is off the charts in The Bahamas. The way we manage and appreciate our natural resources here are a joke, anywhere you choose. I don't like the way the US operates either. However, to refuse to address our obvious failures as a nation is the reason things can't improve here. Do a bit of reading and researching John. The truth is staring you in the face, if you care to open your eyes.
mandela 9 months, 2 weeks ago
The small number of beaches suitable for use by the natives in New Providence are all poorly maintained and highly neglected, unless we are tourist our government don't care.
Sickened 9 months, 2 weeks ago
If I may submit that maybe the beaches natives use are nasty because of the natives themselves? I don't see ANY tourists leaving their garbage on the beach. IN FACT I have seen several tourists walking on Junkanoo beach and actually collecting the garbage and putting it in the bin. Look at the videos of the beaches after the recent poker run. The secluded beach was pristine before the natives showed up and then disgusting after they left.
DWW 9 months, 2 weeks ago
is now a good time to discuss 2 stroke engine oil ruining our seas? how about exhaust on the reefs and fish we eat. anyone ? oh.
M0J0 9 months, 2 weeks ago
There is a need for some kind of medical services stationed on the beach and also some police patrol. They only seem to want to patrol p i beaches.
SP 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Same failures, different day! We fail miserably as a sun destination. The opposition can always recognize shortcomings, make sensible recommendations, and have all the answers to countries' woes ....... until they become the government! ....... Then they immediately become just as lousy as their predecessors.
I tried to use the bathroom at Saunders Beach yesterday and found they were indeed closed. The beach was busy with many locals and tourists and the $300,000.00 bathrooms built by the FNM were locked up tight as drum!
The PLP and FNM have been talking about regulating jet-ski operators literally for decades. The ongoing jet ski fiasco will get short attention and blah, blah, blah, blah, from Cabinet only after someone is seriously maimed or killed.
Why do we continuously put the most ignorant, uncouth, getto rats, in the country on the front line of our tourism product? Is it a salary issue? How much do these people make weekly?
These unsavory characters must be properly policed and weeded out as a matter of urgency. There have to be ways of attracting higher caliber individuals to deal one-on-one with our bread and butter number-one industry.
To qualify as jet ski or hair braiding operators individuals should at minimum be made to complete the people-to-people program, understand they will be held 100% accountable for their actions, and will be immediately removed and barred from interacting with tourists for reckless or unacceptable behavior after 3 written warnings.
The_Oracle 9 months, 2 weeks ago
No enforcement= nothing will be done, as always. You can legislate til the cows come home, it only impedes the lawful.
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