A team of police and Defence Force officers along with the Port officials were in Exuma yesterday to detain an unregistered and unlicensed vessel found operating charter tours from Hurricane Hole, New Providence on July 2nd.
The Ministry of Transport on 2nd July, issued a Cease and Desist Order by the Acting Port Controller, which provided for Four Cs to effectively discontinue any further operations, pending the outcome of the investigation into a boating accident.
This came two days after the June 30th boating incident that killed American, Maleka Jackson, seriously injured her husband Tiran, as well as several others, who were airlifted to the United States.
The ministry said that once the boat is detained, further action will be taken in the courts.
In addition, the head of The Bahamas Maritime Authority’s Causality Investigation Department is in the process of completing a report into the matter.
The Port Department said that the report will be then be handed over to the government.
The Ministry of Transport also provided details into the stabbing incident that involved Jet Ski operators off Rose Island on 10th July.
The Acting Port Controller hereby advised the public that Rose Island is not an area that is regulated by the Port Department for commercial activities under the commercial recreational watercraft act.
Additionally, the persons involved in the incident have not yet been identified, nor have they been charged.
As such, the port department is not in a position to take any action against any individual holding a port license, and who is allegedly involved in this incident.
The prosecution of any individual by the Royal Bahamas Police Force, who is licensed by the port department as a Jet Ski operator, will result in the immediate suspension of that operator’s license by the acting port controller.
Thereafter, by the revocation of that individual’s license by the New Providence port authority board.
