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(Howard) wrote:

The magnitude of the fees charged in the Bahamas (or other countries)
is, as one of you said, the business of the Bahamas. They will have
to live with the benefits and/or consequences of their decision. We
will have to decide whether we want to weather the increase or make
alternate choices.

The real issue that deters me from visiting is the attitude. This is
evidenced in a variety of ways, but the initial and most disturbing is
the inconsistency in the administration of the regulations (i.e.
determination of the fee). On my clearence into Governor's Harbour

My question would be - where did you come from that Eleuthera was the
first port you could clear into? I know people go all the way to
Nassau before clearing in, but it makes me uneasy not to clear in at
close to the first opportunity as it could be inferred that I was
trying to get away with something.

The attitude of different agents is different just as customs agents
in the USA or Canada or anywhere else is different. They are not all
the same. Some are better and nicer than others. I've cleared in at
Bimini twice and the agents have always been really nice to me and
bent over backwards to make it easy.

The cruiser's radio nets frequently relay information on which customs
agents are particularly grumpy and make it harder for people.

the agent wouldn't even let me see the 'policy' to which she referred
(many times). Since this was my first clearance in, combined with the
arrogant and dictatorial attitude of the official agent and the
'unofficial' agent (on the porch), I was skeptical about the validity
of the fee charged. In addition, there was, in my opinion, a slight
of hand when the cruising permit was issued for a year but the
immagration was issued for only 7 days (with no mention made of this
technicality) (and of course, no mention made that the 'year' ended
when I left, even after 7 days, and then would have to re-enter).

The cruising permit is typically issued for a year. The immigration
permit is different depending on circumstances. Sometimes 30 days,
sometimes 60 days. You can get it renewed usually unless there's a
reason they want you to leave. You just have to check in again and it
doesn't cost any more. If you leave your boat there, you don't have
to get another cruising permit for it (that's what we did.)

Are you a US or Canadian citizen? Or were you from another country
without a passport. I know that only US or Canadian citizens get into
the Bahamas without a passport. A boat came into Bimini and they
cleared in before me. One of the people on the boat was English and
had a US driver's license and an English birth certificate as ID. The
boat and the other people on it could have 30 days or more, but she
had to leave within 7 days because she didn't have a passport and that
was required for entry since she wasn't a citizen of Canada or USA.

And it's possible that you just irritated the immigrations officer
enough so that they stuck it to you. It's not a good idea to do that
with officials wherever they may be, especially if you are not a
citizen of that country and have no leverage with the powers that be.

All in all, it is not the fees (although an issue and deterrent) but
the 'world, particulaly the American world as explicitly stated on at
least two occasions, owes us..........'.

Yes, there is a lot to offer and reap in the Bahamas. But the
Carribean is a large place with many (friendlier) countries. And, our
boats and crusing ranges are getting bigger and bigger. I am tempter
to cruise right on by....

Of course, with the reduced tourist dollar they will have to
compensate with higher fees...........

Bye bye Bahamas.........

Howard

grandma Rosalie