By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

COMMUNITY activist Troy Garvey was arrested by police on Monday morning after blocking the path of a tour bus carrying cruise passengers to the Taino Beach Resort in Lucaya.

Mr Garvey, and a group of protesters, blocked the median near the intersection of Jolly Rodgers Drive and West Beach Drive around 10:30am.

When Mr Garvey refused to move, a senior police official told him that he was being arrested for obstruction.

As Mr Garvey was being led away, the officer informed protesters that no permit was granted for a demonstration at that location and that they would have to leave.

As Mr Garvey sat in the back of the police squad car, the protestors shouted, “Free Garvey! free Garvey!”

The demonstration got underway sometime around 9:30am. Mr Garvey and some 20 persons are opposed to the operation of a foreign-owned business at the Taino Beach Resort.

The Bahamas Adventures, which is operated by foreigners, opened two weeks ago, he said.

Mr Garvey claims that the company is taking business away from Bahamian vendors at the nearby Taino Beach by illegally busing cruise passengers from the harbour directly to their business.

“They are supposed to be operating a water park, but they are also operating a food and beverage business at the same location.

“They are stopping Bahamians from making money; they taking 100 and 200 tourists and busing them from the harbour through a local bus charter company,” he claims.

Mr Garvey said that business is being directed away from a small ski operator, straw vendors, and a local food vendor at Taino Beach.

He stressed that all water-related activities and businesses are supposed to be reserved exclusively for Bahamians.

Mr Garvey said the company is also employing foreigners to work in positions that can be filled by Bahamians.

“It is unacceptable that they have foreigners employed as cashiers, you don’t need foreigners for that,” he said.

Another issue, Mr Garvey said is that taxicab drivers are losing out on taking those passengers to and from the harbour.

“Tour buses are not supposed to be moving visitors from the harbour,” he said.

Mr Garvey believes it is not right that Bahamians are jobless and struggling to earn a decent living in Grand Bahama .

“We want to let them know we tired of things like this happening in Grand Bahama. During the PLP government’s election campaign, they talked about Bahamians first,” he said.

Jah Shiloh said most of the protesters are unemployed.

“We are gathered here to take a stand because we are tired of what has been taking place in the community.

“They want to be heard – they are people who are looking for jobs,” he said.

Etienne Farquharson said Mr Garvey is a true community activist who speaks for the rights of Bahamians.

“It is a sad day,” he said of Mr Garvey’s arrest. “Troy is the singular principal voice of protest on this island and his arrest shows that freedom of association does not exist in the Bahamas.”

Mr Farquharson said the economic situation is not good in Grand Bahama. He said the country is also facing record high unemployment levels.

“People are hurting; they are losing their homes and they cannot pay their light bills, or children’s school fees in Grand Bahama.

“The country’s unemployment rate is at 20 per cent – the highest ever in the country,” he said.