By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

EXECUTIVES of the Cable Beach Boaters Association yesterday defended the Port Department and acting Port Controller Berne Wright against accusations of harassment and selective enforcement, insisting that efforts to regulate the water sports industry are focused on fairness, structure, and safety — not victimisation.

Their response followed complaints from several operators who accused the department and the association of using new enforcement measures to sideline small businesses and reward insiders.

The association, formed just over a year ago and comprising more than 20 licensed members, said its purpose is to bring order to the industry, protect the environment, and strengthen cooperation among operators, the Port Authority, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the police, and the Ministry of Tourism.

Executives said the group is open to all licensed operators at Cable Beach and that membership is voluntary.

They explained that members pay dues, attend meetings, and are expected to follow the same rules established by the Port Authority. The association, they said, works closely with the Port Department but does not replace its authority. They described the group’s role as helping to bring structure, reduce friction between operators, support hotel coordination, and promote safety for tourists and residents.

Executives said the formation of the group, along with the government’s new rotation system, has sharply reduced conflict and confusion on the beach, replacing the previous free-for-all with a structured system. Before the change, they said, operators often clashed over tourists, sometimes leading to violent incidents.

The association now enforces a daily rotation system that they said ensures fairness by giving each registered operator an equal opportunity to work. The list, which functions like a taxi call-up system, runs from 9am to 5.30pm, with carryover to the next day.

They said only operators with vessels properly registered through the Port Authority are included in the rotation, and that the system prevents unlicensed or unauthorised operators from working in the area.

Executives rejected suggestions that the association acts as a regulatory body, saying the Port Authority remains the sole regulator. They added that some of the operators claiming exclusion were previously members who withdrew after refusing to follow the rules, while others are registered in different areas but continue to operate illegally at Cable Beach.

According to the association, coordination between its members, the Port Department, the Defence Force, and the police has resulted in a noticeable decline in beach-related crime and safety incidents reported by the United States Embassy. They credited the rotation system and stricter enforcement with making the area safer and more professional.

Executives said the association’s doors remain open to all operators who meet the Port’s licensing, insurance, and safety standards. They argued that those who follow the rules have no issues, while the ones protesting are often those who fail to comply.

They also praised the Port Department’s leadership, saying Mr Wright has been approachable and responsive to concerns.

The association acknowledged complaints from some operators, including Reno Deveaux Jr of 10 Summaz Adventures, who said he has been unfairly targeted, as well as Derlano McMinnis of Aquanaut Adventures and Sterling Martin of SJS Adventures, who claimed they felt pressured to join and were hurt by repeated equipment seizures.

Executives described those claims as isolated, saying most stem from operators unwilling to meet safety or licensing standards. They said stricter rules were long requested by compliant members and are now being properly enforced.

They added that the focus should now shift toward helping struggling operators meet requirements and transition to legitimate opportunities through training or alternative employment.

They said tourism has become increasingly fragile, making it vital to preserve recent progress and provide realistic pathways for those left behind.

In defending Mr Wright, members described him as accessible and solution-oriented, saying he has been willing to meet and address issues raised by stakeholders.

Senior Deputy Port Controller Craig Curtis, speaking previously on behalf of the department while Mr Wright was abroad, has said there is no victimisation, only enforcement of licensing, insurance, and safety standards — and that those who “cry foul” often fail to meet the requirements.