By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

THE government is considering an increase in fares for horse surrey operators in a bid to ensure the upkeep and good health of horses, among several other long term changes to the service, Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna-Martin announced yesterday.

During her contribution to the 2014/2015 budget debate in the House of Assembly, Mrs Hanna-Martin said reforming the service which is a prominent feature of the Bahamas’ tourism product, was long overdue. She referred to the high volume of negative commentary the practice has attracted both nationally and internationally from animal rights activists. 

Ministry officials have also selected two Bahamian men who will be trained as hoof health experts.

Mrs Hanna-Martin said that for the first time the government has agreed to a veterinarian chairing the Cabs and Hackneys Board, which has oversight of surreys. The board will be headed by Dr Maurice Isaacs who is a veteran public officer.

The board has acted with a view to addressing the problems and inefficiencies of the service, Mrs Hanna-Martin said.

“This plan has led to improved enforcement by establishing a clear protocol for the handling of complaints, it has facilitated the active implementation of the Provisions Act, it has foreshadowed a proposed raising of the fees that the surreys can charge, and it has outlined steps for reducing the cost of the operation of the surrey horses by a proposed communal stable to share the costs of housing the horses,” she said.

“It has identified strategies to reduce the cost of supplies and other inputs such as animal feed, surrey inspections which are carried out monthly have been enhanced through the improvements of forms to capture data as well as the taking of information on the horses every month to establish baseline on the health of the animals. Data collected each month include weights, respiration and heart rate.”

With these changes, Mrs Hanna-Martin said there was significant reduction in the number of complaints about the condition of the horses.

She said looking to the future, officials plan to seriously consider fare increases and the possible implementation of a communal stable.

“The current surrey fares established in the Act are and have been well below what would be considered reasonable to provide for an income for the operators which would allow them to adequately care for their animals to keep them in good health and the surreys in a good state of repair.”

The Bahamas Agriculture and Industrial cooperation (BAIC) will facilitate surrey supplies and equipment at a discounted rate to owners, Mrs Hanna-Martin said.