The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

AN INVESTOR in a purported $1.5 million business project seeking to commercially operate 10 water-propelled jetpacks expressed frustration yesterday at what he claims to be a “run-around” in getting the approval from the New Providence Port Authority.

Lincoln Deal Sr spoke to The Tribune on how he and his business partner that came up with the idea have not had any success in dealing with the NPPA since filing the application in May 2013 seeking approval to introduce ‘ Jetlev’, a new water-sports product he says will revitalise watersports for the Bahamas’ tourism industry.

The Jetlev-flyer uses a motor boat connected to a 33 foot hose that is attached to a US Coast Guard approved Jetpack and flies as high as 30 feet above water.

“For the past 13 months, we’ve been trying to get a water-sports licence from the Port Authority with no success,” he said.

“We have met all of the requirements from the Port and every month, they are giving us the run-around in getting the approval from them. We’ve met all of the regulations, that is the safety regulations and this product has even been approved by the US Coast Guard.”

“The Chairman of the Port Authority, the minister of transport and aviation, the Captain of the Board, we’ve been through all of these people” Mr Deal added.

When contacted for comment, Port Authority Chairman Tavares Laroda told The Tribune “the application in question is still being actively considered and it would be inappropriate to comment.

“Also the requirements to be met are listed out in the Commmercial Recreational and Watercraft Act and in reference to that application, we made a decision in November of last year where we raised some concerns that we had,” he added, noting that it was currently before the board of the NPPA.

Mr Laroda dismissed claims of any bias or discrimination involved in the handling of the application and added that he and the Port Authority “are carrying out our function to the best of our abilities and within the guidelines set out by the law”.

He noted that one of their duties included, in dealing with such applications, that they ensure “that there are sufficient laws in place to regulate the craft and to govern the conduct of the craft operators.

“With anything we considering, safety must always be paramount,” the chairman added.

“These applicants are seeking to operate at Nassau Harbour which is opposite the Junkanoo Beach, a very popular location for beachgoers, locals and tourists alike. Also bear in mind that this is the same Nassau Harbour where the cruiselines move in and out of. It must also be noted that the location they seek is a no water-craft zone.

“There are a lot of things that are taken into consideration when dealing with approval of licences,” he said.

In what he believes to be an organised attack, Mr Laroda claimed that he suffered personal smears in the media during the application process.

He concluded that whatever decision is made, if any issues of bias or discrimination arise, they have leave to appeal the matter.

According to documents obtained by The Tribune, the aspiring water-operators did just that in a letter to the Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin in December on the basis that the NPPA Chairman was incorrect and unreasonable in determining that the craft did not fall under the mentioned Act which governs commercial water-sport operations.

After meetings with the Ministry of Transport and Aviation as well as the Attorney General’s office, the aspiring water-operators were allowed to proceed with the application process.

Mr Deal claims that since then, they have still had the run around from Mr Laroda, whom he feels have treated the licence-seekers unfairly and wants to bring “awareness to the public about how our young people are being stagnated”.

“All of this talk about believing in Bahamians, but if you really believed in Bahamians, here is a young entrepreneur whose willing to invest money into our country, hire Bahamians, put people to work instead of asking you for a job, but yet you’re refusing to give him the licence which he is entitled to having met all of the requirements?”

Mr Deal said notwithstanding the challenges in the past year, he will not give up his support of the idea and project initiated by his son, Lincoln Deal Jr, who previously served as a junior minister of Tourism.

“I have no doubts that this idea will do well in The Bahamas,” the father said.