By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
POLICE arrested a Jet Ski operator over the weekend in connection with an alleged sexual assault of a female visitor.
The incident happened last Friday off Cabbage Beach near Paradise Island.
Police said the woman reported to officers that around 3pm, she was sexually assaulted by a man on a Jet Ski in waters off the popular beach.
A man is currently in custody helping police with their investigation.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean said this is the second sexual complaint this year involving a Jet Ski operator and a tourist.
In November 2014, Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe said he was “very concerned” about reports by some tourists and the US Embassy in Nassau regarding alleged cases of sexual assault on Americans by members of the water sports industry, mainly Jet Ski operators.
His comments came after The Tribune reported that a tourist, who posted her claims on an international complaint website, said she developed post traumatic stress disorder following an encounter near Paradise Island with jet ski operators who allegedly tried to sexually assault her.
Earlier that month, the US Embassy in Nassau released a warning over a spike in reported sexual assaults, some of which were linked to the loosely regulated water sports industry on Paradise Island.
Mr Wilchcombe told The Tribune at the time that as “the eyes of the world are watching us,” it is imperative for the Bahamas to “have programmes to ensure that our visitors are protected”.
He said last year that even though most tourists are not subject to any crime, the government could not ignore the reports.
Comments
TruePeople 9 years ago
Bey is always some non-sense with this jet Ski industry. Tourist is our main national income.... and we letting them get touch up and / or kapunkle up by the hands of / in the hands of these reckless jet ski operators
ms_frustrated1 9 years ago
Something seriously needs to be done about this!
Emac 9 years ago
Ya think Glenys Hanna give a shite about what goes on in her ministry? The only time she appears is when someone speaks out against her incompetence. This woman is the most reactive minister in the PLP. She does everything after the fact. So maybe after tourists start to boycott the Bahamas, then she will come out spilling diarrhea from her mouth.
sheeprunner12 9 years ago
Who was driving the jet ski and who was been driven??????
Emac 9 years ago
Doesn't matter. The operator could have stopped the jet ski in open waters. Seen it happen on many occasions. And I am certainly not trying insinuate. that this operator is guilty. But think about it. Man in shorts, woman in a swim suit. Man gets turned on and tries to move in on woman. Man is used to seeing women being disrespected in our society, especially from certain politicians. Further, man is used to Bahamian women NOT being offended by these moves, so he thinks that it is ok to do it to a non Bahamian. Ultimately man thinks that he can get by with it because he knows that the laws of the Bahamas are not enforced and that the industry he works in is slack. But whatever, the Bahamas is like a jungle. What happens in a jungle? Monkeys swing from tree to tree just grabbing anything they wish without a care in the world.
lazybor 9 years ago
Incredible
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YesiJed 9 years ago
The jet ski operators run wild and do as they please. This is not the first time that a female has gone with one of these operators and been taken to a remote island and been told " Put up or get left".
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