The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A NEW, fully-equipped 18ft vessel has been donated to the Royal Bahamas Police Force for marine patrols in East End Grand Bahama and the surrounding cays.

The boat, worth more than $100,000, was donated by Paul Vahldieck, one of the principals of the Deep Water Cay Resort.

“I hope this boat dedication will give the Bahamian government in the east township the ability to patrol, protect, and make neighbouring areas even more safe,” he said yesterday.

“The police have a lot of great wonderful laws, but you can pass all the laws, but if you don’t have enforcement out there to enforce the laws future generations won’t have the environment that we have now,” he said. “So part of our efforts here with this donation is to equip the marine patrol division to work in this landscape and enforce the good laws of The Bahamas.”

Deep Water Cay Resort is a bonefishing lodge in east Grand Bahama. Some $10 million has been spent on refurbishing and expanding it.

Mr Vahldieck, who endorses conservation, said 10 years ago conch were plentiful everywhere on the flats in East End, but none are there anymore. “I don’t think we have the lobsters here – not what it used to be. And we are at a crossroads where we can make some decisions of how to have a future here. I am not talking about preservation and locking people out. If we don’t do our job to protect this environment then we will not have jobs for the future. I have been here 10 years, and when I came in 2002, I fell in love with it.”

He said The Bahamas has a healthier number of bonefish than Florida. He stressed that conservation is the key.

Senior Assistant Commissioner Emrick Seymour said the opening of the new police station at McCleans Town and the donation of the vessel will significantly enhance policing in the area. “This gives us more leverage to provide both land and sea coverage to the people of East Grand Bahama, so we are very appreciative of this valuable asset,” he said.

“This area is a gateway to GB, and unfortunately it also provides an avenue for some criminal activities that we have seen from time to time. We need the help of people here to work and partner with the police,” he said.

Grand Bahama Minister Dr Michael Darville said that the patrol boat will allow the police to manoeuvre in shallow water and comb the area for those in violation of the Fisheries Act, as well as those involved in human and drug smuggling and any criminal activity.

“This is a commitment to the residents of East Grand Bahama and the residents of Deep Water Cay. A few months ago, Minister Bernard Nottage was here in McCleans Town to open this police station. We are very pleased with the feedback we are getting.”

He commended Deep Water Cay for its commitment to the East Grand Bahama community, for providing employment for residents in the area. “The Prime Minister in his 2015/2016 Budget Communication outlined that the current owner of Deep Water Cay is now planning for further expansion. We are very pleased to hear that,” he said.