The United States issued an updated travel advisory on The Bahamas at the end of March due to crime in the country.
The advisory said, “violent crime—like armed robberies, burglaries, and sexual assaults—can occur anywhere in The Bahamas. Most crime occurs in Nassau and Freeport on New Providence and Grand Bahama islands. Stay alert in the “Over the Hill” area in Nassau, south of Shirley Street, where gangs have killed residents. Stay alert in vacation rental properties, especially where private security is not present.”
The advisory also warned US residents on beach safety and jet ski and boat operations. It noted water craft safety, sexual assaults by jet ski operators and the ignoring of weather forecasts as some of the concerns.
Minister of Transport and Energy, the Hon. Jobeth Coleby-Davis told reporters on Wednesday that a review is being conducted by the Port Department. She said, “we have been reviewing and assessing how we are processing jet skiing and the areas and locations where we have them presently set up to launch for business for the tourist sector and there have been some concerns raised and so there was a meeting where they shared some of they concerns and they also spoke to recommendations and the Port is now internally preparing a report for me to advance conversations at Cabinet.”
