By DANA SMITH
Tribune Staff Reporter
dsmith@tribunemedia.net
ADMITTING that recent robberies of tourists have “sullied the good reputation” of tourism policing, National Security Minister Bernard Nottage said the government and police are committed to “keeping our city centre safe.”
He was speaking in the House of Assembly yesterday, where he said additional cars and manpower have already been deployed to areas frequented by tourists.
Dr Nottage also pledged to remove “vagrants” from the down-town area.
“Until recently we have had no significant incidents against visitors in the city of Nassau,” he said. “Unfortunately a number of recent robberies have sullied the good reputation of tourism policing and have called into question their effectiveness.”
The minister explained that young men “who have nothing else to do” have been preying on tourists.
“As the Minister of Tourism has reported to this honourable House, the commissioner and director general and their teams recently met with cruise ship executives to address concerns in relation to cruise passengers while onshore in the city of Nassau,” Dr Nottage said.
“Subsequent to this meeting, the commissioner has redeployed additional cars and manpower to areas frequented by tourists and specific actions have already been taken against vagrants.”
Bay Street has become a place for “loitering and hanging out and drinking and living,” Dr Nottage said.
“And I’m sure everyone saw a video that went viral in Nassau of such a person – I don’t know if you call her a vagrant – but such a person who is there most of the day and was thought to be a public disturbance. We’ve resolved now that we are going to remove those persons from the public square,” he said.
Dr Nottage said there is still “much work to be done in the city centre” but he is assured that all stakeholders, led my police, working in tandem with the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of National Security, “will commit to keeping our city centre safe.”
He added: “I would wish to be able to report that absolutely no crimes are committed in our city centre.”
Comments
John 11 years, 6 months ago
I was in Miami this week and came across a group of Bahamians,three adult females and three children. They were in Miami to watch the Miami Heat game and to get an early start on back-to-school shopping. But someone had broken into their rental car and stole all their belongings. Clothing passports,cell phones game tickets,plane ticketd and several thousand dollars in cash were all gone. Now the family had to spend hundreds of dollars more to replace these items. The store owner said it is a common occurance for persons driving rented vehicles to get rob or have their vehicles broken into in the area of 20th street or near flea markets. He believes the thieves especially target Bahamians because they are known to travel with large amounts of cash and other valuables. CAN Mr. Nottage or the ministry of foreign affairs check with the counsulate in Miami and tell us how many Bahamians are robbed in Miami and South Florida each year? How many stolen passports have to be replaced? Whats my point? That we not localicze crime to the Bahamas and Bahamians Yes tourism is an important industry and one we need to protect,especially from the vexing scourge of crime. But Florida is also a tourist destination.When Bahamians go there, many go as tourist. Bahamians pump millions of dollars in the Florida ecomomy each year. And when one gets robbed it hardly,if ever, makes the newspapers , much less the front page. No one comes to represent the Florida government or its tourism board to assist victims of crime and ensure thst they get back home. And while the police in Florida are really efficient in taking your statemnt and getting you a crime report, they will tell you that the incidence of csr break-ins and robbery of non-Florida residents are on the increase.
ThisIsOurs 11 years, 6 months ago
Hmmmm...will the vagrants be moved to Sandford drive?
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