The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

THE introduction of auto rickshaws could be a “great alternative” to downtown Nassau’s surrey horse attraction, Bahamas Humane Society President Kim Aranha said yesterday.

She was responding to one idea presented by a member of the local surrey horse activist group. Though, Mrs Aranha added, the Humane Society is working with the industry to better regulate the trade rather than push to wholly “get rid” of it.

“Surrey horses are not as they were,” she said, noting the streets of Nassau have changed in past years. “The government has ideas of what they would like to put into place – national stables, vetting, and shoeing – but it will be very expensive.

“The tuk-tuk is cheap. It doesn’t need a stable, it doesn’t need food. You don’t have to worry about treating it humanely.”

Although auto rickshaws are powered by a motor, Mrs Aranha noted there are also cycle rickshaws which are powered manually and “you don’t have to worry about putting gas in it”.

However, regardless of which one you choose, she said, both have the benefit of a much wider range for services.

“The tuk-tuk could go all over the island,” she said. “If you thought, ‘Hey, let’s work Paradise Island, today’ – it’s dead easy to go over the bridge and work Paradise Island.

“You could take them out as far as Albany. You could keep them in town. They’re much more flexible, clearly, than a living, breathing animal. They’re very successful in other countries. I think tuk-tuks would be a terrific addition to Bahamian tourism.”

Last month, the Bahamas Humane Society issued an ultimatum to the government over long-standing concerns about the condition of surrey horses in New Providence.

Mrs Aranha warned that the animal rights organisation will withdraw from government committees unless significant improvements are made by December 15.

Tourism and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin announced shortly after that the government was in “the final stages of an action plan” expected to create a “new paradigm” in the industry.

“The strategies forthcoming will involve issues relative to stabling, to ensuring there is qualified personnel to inspect the animals because we have veterinarians, but I am being advised that there is no one who is specialised,” she said.

“Also in the discussion is the increase in the rates, which have not changed since the 1960s.”

Mrs Hanna-Martin said there were some five or six horse and carriage owners, adding that strategies discussed focused on quality training for drivers and new tour routes.