By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Energy and Transport, echoing jet ski operators, said recent rape investigations involving jet ski operators exposed significant involvement by unlicenced individuals not authorised by the Port Department.

In a statement on Friday, the ministry said these illegal operators do not reflect the broader watercraft industry, which is regulated under the Commercial Recreational Watercraft Act. Officials said the ministry remains committed to safety and law enforcement through police vetting, penalties, and licence revocations for non-compliance.

The announcement follows a US Embassy advisory warning travellers about sexual assault risks tied to jet ski rentals in The Bahamas. The alert highlighted two incidents in the past month, including the alleged rape of a 23-year-old American woman near Junkanoo Beach. A man has been charged in that case.

Authorities are urging residents and visitors to verify the legitimacy of jet ski operators, noting that operations are permitted only in designated areas such as Paradise Island, Goodman’s Bay, Long Wharf Beach, and the beaches behind Baha Mar and Sandals. Port enforcement officers are stationed at these locations to check operators’ credentials, which must include Port Department-issued identification and properly registered craft.

National Security Minister Wayne Munroe said a police-led task force reviewing the industry has proposed fitting life vests with body-worn cameras to help monitor incidents that occur away from public view. He voiced support for the idea, saying it could improve safety and transparency.

Bahamas Hotel, Catering and Allied Workers Union president Darrin Woods supported the move, describing it as a possible safeguard for both tourists and operators. He said isolated misconduct should not define the industry, but stressed the importance of preventing unregulated actors from operating.

However, Free National Movement deputy leader Shanendon Cartwright launched a scathing rebuke of the government’s handling of the situation and Mr Munroe’s remarks. He said the minister’s comments showed a “glaring disregard” for public safety and international concern, accusing him of trivialising sexual violence and blaming victims for their trauma.

He said the Davis administration had failed to enforce existing laws, allowing unlicensed jet ski operators to act with impunity. He warned that the situation had deteriorated to the point that international advisories were now threatening a key pillar of the country’s tourism economy.

“Our beaches, a vital part of the Bahamian tourism industry, are now marred by safety concerns and international advisories,” he said. “This does not only harm our reputation but also threatens the livelihood of those who depend on tourism.”

He pledged that an FNM government would enforce a zero-tolerance policy for criminal behaviour that endangers lives and reputations, promising full accountability and proper regulation of the sector.