Then Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and US President Donald Trump and their spouses during a 2018 visit.
By JADE RUSSELL
Tribune Staff Reporter
jrussell@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said US President Donald Trump once urged him to address complaints about harassment and aggression involving jet ski operators and pleasure crews in The Bahamas during his time in office.
Dr Minnis’ comments come after the US Embassy in Nassau issued a security alert on Wednesday highlighting safety concerns with jet ski operators, including two recent reports of American women being raped in New Providence.
Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, Dr Minnis recalled a meeting with President Trump and other Caribbean leaders at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, where Trump raised the issue directly.
“President Trump expressed that he had one concern, and he asked of me to address it as quickly as possible,” Dr Minnis said. “His concern at that time was jet skis and the pleasure cruise that toured the American tourists. There were too many complaints about harassment and other forms of aggression or illegalities.”
Dr Minnis said the US president called for stronger legislation to regulate the industry and insisted on consistent enforcement.
Dr Minnis said media reports at the time mentioned rape and inappropriate conduct involving jet ski operators.
He said his administration considered tougher laws in response to the concerns but maintained that enforcement — not legislation — was the country’s core weakness.
“We don’t need laws — what we need is enforcement,” he said. “We are a country of laws but not a country of enforcement, and that’s what the President was basically saying.”
Dr Minnis said he was not surprised the issue had resurfaced recently, adding that Trump’s warning underscored longstanding concerns about safety for American tourists and the lack of action in response.
Comments
joeblow 3 days, 21 hours ago
... clearly Minnis could do nothing to address the problem and do we still have that "Office of the Spouse of the PM" his status seeking wife created?
You can't legislate morality people say; only what is in you could come out! These jet ski operators are reflective of Bahamian society! Sexual predators exist everywhere, in Parliament, the police/defense forces and on the job! We have become a morally bankrupt people and it wasn't always that way! Will we change? Unlikely, so expect more of the same!
ThisIsOurs 3 days, 17 hours ago
It really shocked me to hear that someone thought to it was a good idea to change sex with a 10,11,12,13,14,15 year old as statutory rape. Then I realized, well if you want to protect people who you want to protect, it makes perfect sense.
ThisIsOurs 3 days, 3 hours ago
To make clear apparently what they did was remove sex with an underage child from "statutory rape" to "illegal sexual intercourse", it seems innocuous but the subtle difference says alot. Iys a move a defence attorney would advocate for to protect his revenue or an individual who routinely preys on underage girls would love, it's not rape if they're "willing", right? A 10 year old?. But the reason it's called rape is because everybody understands children can be manipulated and theres no grosser vile manipulation than for the sexual pleasure of a hard back old man.
But our parliament of 32 majority party old men thought, great idea.
Required 3 days, 20 hours ago
Translation from BS to Plain Language: What Little Hubert is saying is that he was told about a problem but chose to ignore it.
pablojay 3 days, 19 hours ago
Minnis should not have even mentioned it,since nothing was done to rectify the situation, all he wanted was to remind us that he was once our P.M. ,which most of us are trying our best to forget and that he once had audience with President Trump.
hj 3 days, 19 hours ago
Ok, thank you for sharing it with us
birdiestrachan 3 days, 17 hours ago
The doc is a smooth liar Did he ever mention this before.??
bogart 3 days, 13 hours ago
For this alleged absence of due care and attention for these terrible acts done to our guests going on before 2018 and brought up in at other Caribbean leaders at official State visit at Mar-a-Lago with the President of the United States and Dr. Minnis and warrants full investigation.
Utterly flabbergasted.
Given the dangerous situation existing from before and 2018 date, no further growth of this industry should have been allowed to grow by the PM Dr. Minnis who allowed the jet ski businesses to start up and expand.
Govt should pay off the businesses and shut them down and sent the bill to the PM responsible if he is found guilty under a Court of Law.
Sign in to comment
OpenID