The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Deputy Leader is expressing serious concern over how news of Saturday’s deadly boating tragedy is getting out to the international community.
On Saturday June 30, a 38ft charter vessel with 12 people on board, exploded off Barrataree, Exuma.
I. Chester Cooper said since the incident, he has consistently fielded calls from various US news outlets like CNN, ABC and CBS, but have referred them all to the Ministry of Tourism’s communication desk.
“I believe there has started to be a fragmentation of the message that’s going abroad. We see multiple communications, one from the Ministry of Transport.
“We’ve seen comments from the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Health. I personally believe there has to be a consolidation of the message so that it’s a consistent conveying of what occurred and what’s being done to mitigate future circumstances like this,” Mr. Cooper said.
Mr. Cooper, the MP for Exuma, added that the mood on that island is still somber almost a week after the tragedy.
“This will be a temporary moment of reflection to improve our game, recognizing that accidents do happen.
“We will discover that as tourism rebounded after even more significant events like the 9/11 incident, people will travel again.
“People will recognize that truly we are upping our game in Exuma consistently to provide the type of experience for our visitors and guests and of course the buoyancy of the economy for the residents of Exuma as well,” Mr. Cooper said.
Newlywed Maleka Jackson was one of 11 passengers on board the boat. Mrs Jackson died from her injuries. Her husband had a leg amputated.
Since the incident, boating company, 4c’s Adventure, is under a cease and desist order and is prevented from undertaking any operations pending the completion of an investigation into the incident.