My first job out of school was working at a marina as a fuel dock attendant and dockmaster. I spent three years in that industry and learned early how deeply a busy marina supports an entire community.
When boats come in, the economy moves. Cruisers eat in local restaurant, they shop, hire taxis and fishing guides, and they buy fuel. They need mechanics, air-conditioning repairs, and routine maintenance at boatyards. One vessel supports many livelihoods.
In Abaco, marinas are not amenities. They are the heartbeat of our communities. When slips are full, communities thrive but when marinas sit empty, the damage spreads quickly and quietly.
Today, the message is unmistakable. Cruisers are staying away from Abaco and from The Bahamas because of drastic increases in cruising permit fees. Marina operators across Abaco are feeling it, and the empty slips tell the story better than any press release. This fee hike was poorly thought out and badly executed, with little to no consultation with those whose livelihoods depend on boating tourism.
The government chose higher fees over smarter policy. Instead of hundreds of boats contributing steadily to our local economy, we are left with fewer visitors, less activity, and weaker revenue overall. The math does not work, and neither does the policy.
If the government truly needed revenue, it should have started by cutting waste. A $58 million travel budget speaks for itself. There are overdue taxes already on the books. Bahamians and visitors should not be asked to pay more to cover government overspending.
What is most troubling is the silence of the outgoing Member of Parliament for Central and South Abaco, who also serves as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation. This decision directly harms Abaco, yet there has been no strong public opposition. Abaconians deserve to know whether their MP supports this policy or simply chose not to fight it.
Our communities deserve better representation. They deserve a voice that will speak up and push back.
The Free National Movement is committed to reversing the damage and unlocking the full potential of maritime tourism. Under an FNM government, we will reduce and standardize taxes on charter services to make The Bahamas competitive again. We will modernize fee, permit, and licensing systems so they are simple and accessible. We will relaunch focused initiatives to reenergize our boating, yachting, and cruise economies and expand cultural and marine festivals that create jobs and drive tourism across our islands.
Each passing week brings more empty marinas and fewer tourism dollars circulating in Abaco. That strain is real, and families are feeling it.
Abaconians, hold on. The bell will ring. Change is coming. A new class of leadership will take its seat, grounded in compassion, accountability, and common sense. I intend to be one of those voices, speaking clearly and forcefully for Central and South Abaco.