The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I refer to a published Notice of a meeting to be held this evening (October 10) at Queen’s College, hosted by Atlantis, who are seeking government and public support for establishment of a water drome in Montagu Bay to operate seaplanes.

While the planned location is outside of the established shipping channel access to the harbour, the proposed location will of necessity become a restricted area.

Those immediately impacted will be the commercial fishermen, jet ski operators and pleasure boaters who use the Montagu ramp. The proposed area is also used for wind surfing, waterskiing, and kiteboarding from Montagu Beach.

In addition, the activities of the National Sailing School and events like the very recently held Opti National Championships hosted by The Nassau Yacht Club, and The Bahamas Sailing Association native sloop regattas would all be severely impacted.

It makes a mockery of the National Sport, sailing.

This area is also heavily travelled by pleasure boaters sailing out of various moorings and docks in the bay area to access The Narrows and points east to Porgy Rocks and beyond.

With development already having deprived most Bahamians of beach access, are we now going to encroach on their boating and sailing liberties and deprive them of the use of Montagu Bay also in order that Atlantis can offer seaplane excursions?

In my opinion, approval for this project should be given a resounding NO!

IAN MABON

Nassau,

October 10, 2023