Contagion spreads from Florida to Exumas

[Waterway Guide]

SARS is spreading fast – no, not the respiratory disease – the "Sailors Are Rotten Scoundrels" virus, which has firmly taken hold in South Florida, has now spread to the Bahamas' Exuma Cays... Contagion spreads from Florida to Exumas | Bahamas | Waterwayguide.com News Updates

[ontherocks83]

Good article. Definitely gives you some food for thought.

[Paul L]

Interesting article. It certainly is true that many, if not most, cruisers who go to the Bahamas from the East Coast stock up to the max before they go, and therefor purchase little in the way of groceries and boat goods while in the Bahamas. Before we went over winter before last, we had all the old-hands telling us how much to stock up and how not to buy anything in the Bahamian stores. Personally I don't see the connection between not purchasing goods and mooring balls.

[a64pilot]

Pretty simple really, he thinks you should pay more for the privilege of visiting, moorings is one way to generate revenue

[UNCIVILIZED]

How's that saying go: "As a sailor, you quickly learn that the only rights which you have on land are the ones which you pay for".

[zboss]

How about they buy some pump out boats and mandate pump outs? Seems like a win/win to me. I don't mind paying $30 a month to not swim in swill. Its really not that much sewage in the scheme of things...

Yes yes, I am aware that there are no shore side sanitation or sewerage works in most areas but this is how you build a free economy... let see, the boaters bring in money to treat sewage, then you need to hire people to build a plant, then to run it.

As far as not purchasing goods... how about not doubling the cost of food through taxes. Frankly, the transport is not THAT much more expensive (if at all) than transporting veggies and foods from California to Virginia. We would not have a need to bring so much food.

[Stu Jackson]

The retraction was much nicer.

[waggy]

Originally Posted by zboss

Ho. I don't mind paying $30 a month to not swim in swill. .

Would you pay 100? How bout 200?

What does it cost stateside?

Originally Posted by zboss

Its really not that much sewage in the scheme of things...

I really think the shittee might have a different perspective.

[Sailingcouple13]

This is how we provision for the exumas. $17.00 a case or $58.00 a case once there. You tell me, we do eat out and drink out often.

Sent from my SM-G900P using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Sailingcouple13]

Have no problem paying usage fees just increase the cruising permit to $1000 per year and let us provision as we please. Can't seem to find a spot at the bar? I am lost.

Sent from my SM-G900P using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[kentobin]

He's a politician and all politicians want revenue like an alcoholic wants booze. Get a small special interest group with no political clout and you have a tax.

I'm not saying there might not be some merit to what he's saying. The world is getting more crowded. There are definitely more cruisers making a physical impact on the environment and at some point it won't be able to recover unless it's regulated. To do that you need money to enforce them and money to manage your resources.

It's when the money gets put in the general fund and doesn't help the people paying it that I get livid.

I remember some 25 years ago a friend of mine felt that with the advent of gps any idiot could now navigate and that pristine anchorages all over the world would now be destroyed. He might of been right.

[Island Time O25]

Originally Posted by kentobin

I remember some 25 years ago a friend of mine felt that with the advent of gps any idiot could now navigate and that pristine anchorages all over the world would now be destroyed. He might of been right.

Same as with the advent of cable and satellite TV and the internet along with bribes in the form of political contributions any idiot can get elected and push his or her interest group driven agenda down everybody's throat.

[zboss]

Here is one idiot with a GPS that is heading to the Bahamas before it all comes crashing down.

[onestepcsy37]

Couple of years ago I was talking to the manager at Exuma Park and he told me that nearly all their income is from park fees and charitable contributions. The Bahamian government had only given them $2000 for the entire year!

Keep in mind that 90%+ of foreign visitors go to Nassau. The rest of the country depends heavily on yachties.

[Dsanduril]

Maybe someone should point the BMT to this thread:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post1643877

Then ask who will have the liability when poorly maintained moorings fail with moderately expensive boats attached? I know, it will be a government enterprise and so will have no liability In some cases I'd be happy to pay for a mooring if I could have confidence that it was installed and maintained properly.