x-no-archive:yes
(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

Give it a year or two, when the Bahamas see how much they are loosing with
their new fees, they will change their toon.

I found a great website that talks about these ridiculas fees:

www.boycottbahamas.com

check it out


Sherwin Dubren wrote in message ...
Hi Jim,
I think all U.S. boaters should boycott the Bahamas for at least one
year. These money hungry politicians are probably pocketing the money.
They should pay us to go over there and spend our money in their shops,
restaurants, etc. I think we should also encourage the extension of
this
boycott to cruise ships, and tell all our friends not to cruise to the
Bahamas. I will stay in the Florida Keys where I can deal with the
people and government.

Sherwin Dubren

Jim wrote:

Very Important Update on fees for entering the Bahamas via pleasure vessels
. Effective July 1,2003 at 1200 hours, the fees for entering the Bahamas we
re increased as follows: $150 for vessels under 35'; $300 for vessels over
35' (up to 4 persons aboard. An additional charge of $15 per person over 4.
Children under 6 years of age - no charge.) These fees are for the vessel'
s cruising permit which is good for one year - a single entry - if you leav
e and return with the vessel you must pay fees again to obtain a new cruisi
ng permit.

We spoke to Ministry of Tourism in Marsh Harbour, Customs in Marsh Harbour
and Radio Abaco to confirm the aforementioned fees are in place. It was sug
gested that we express our opinions in writing to the appropriate officials
of the Bahamas or any organizations that may be able to voice our displeas
ure and comments.

We have had the following incidents reported which took place on 2 July. A
33' sailboat towing a 14' Whaler cleared in either at Spanish Cay or Green
Turtle Cay in Abaco and was charged $300 for his vessel and $150 for the Wh
aler - a total of $450. Since the vessel was 33', he should have been charg
ed only $150 for the mother boat. Apparently, they are considering your ten
der a separate vessel under 35' and subject to the $150 fee. The same happ
ened at West End - mother boat charged $300 and $100 for dinghy. No consist
ency in what they are charging at this time.