Press Release by the Ministry of Transport on Jet Ski Safety in The Bahamas

Government commits to stronger action on jet ski safety after meeting with US

Ambassador Hershel Walker

Immediate Release

Nassau – 17 June 2026

Reports of deaths, injuries, and sexual assaults involving water sports operators in The Bahamas are deeply serious. The safety of every visitor to these islands is not negotiable. The concerns raised by the US Ambassador this week are being met with a full and immediate response.

On this issue we are unequivocal and condemn without reservation. Deaths that could have been prevented should never have occurred. Sexual harassment and assault by any operator is criminal conduct. Unsafe watercraft, unlicensed operators, and disregard for weather and marine conditions put lives at risk. Each of these failures demands accountability, and each will receive it.

Minister Leon Lundy hosted senior government officials from several departments who met today with United States Ambassador Herschel Walker. Also in attendance was Port Director Berne Wright, who has been leading an inter-agency enforcement taskforce on this issue since April 2025. Attendees discussed immediate actions that can be taken to improve visitor safety as well as structural solutions that should be implemented over time, including closing communication gaps through clear incident-information sharing and the hosting of quarterly meetings with external stakeholders from both the private sector and the resident consular corps.

We note that the current inter-agency taskforce on this issue has been active since April 2025, having been created with the clear mandate to address safety and conduct standards in the water sports sector. That work is ongoing, it is serious, and it is producing results. “Though one incident is one too many, reported incidents of sexual assault involving jet ski operators have decreased in recent years. Under my tenure I have zero tolerance for abuse.” said Minister Lundy.

This interagency taskforce also convened yesterday, 16th June 16th in a meeting featuring representatives from port authorities, the RBPF, RBDF, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Beaches and Parks. The interagency taskforce agreed to reach out to regional and global partners to gather information on best practices in water sport safety and training.

The breadth of representation across both the taskforce and today's meeting with Ambassador Walker reflects the whole-of-government approach this administration is taking. A coordinated commitment is the only way to root out the failings that have put visitors at risk.

Measures already in force include stricter licensing requirements for all water sports operators, mandatory ID badges, random spot checks, and the deployment of beach marshals to high-traffic tourist areas. Compliance with weather and marine safety protocols is a condition of licensing and will be enforced. The Government is also advancing the introduction of body cameras and GPS tracking for operators as further accountability tools.

Any operator found to be unlicensed, uninsured, operating unsafe equipment, disregarding weather conditions, or engaging in any form of harassment or assault will have their licence revoked and will face prosecution. There will be no exceptions.

The vast majority of water sports operators in The Bahamas work hard, uphold the highest professional standards, and take pride in welcoming visitors to our shores. They too are harmed when those who operate outside the law are allowed to continue. This Government is acting to protect every visitor who comes to these islands, and to protect the honest operators whose reputations have been damaged by the conduct of a few.

The Bahamas and the United States share a deep commitment to visitor safety. The Ministry of Transport welcomed today's meeting with Ambassador Walker. Both sides are committed to the coordinated action that will follow, with updates to be made public in due course. This Government will not rest until every Bahamian and every visitor to these islands feels safe.

END

Photo (Ministry of Transport): Dennis O’Sullivan, RSO US Embassy; Kimberley Furnish, DCM US Embassy; HE Hershel Walker, US Ambassador to The Bahamas; Hon. Minister Leon Lundy, Minister of Transport; Donella Bodie, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport; Jerusa Ali, Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Berne Wright, Port Controller, Ministry of Transport; Betty Kerr, Under Secretary, Ministry of Transport.

Photo (Jet Ski Taskforce): Senior Lieutenant Adrien Stubbs; Chief Petty Officer Osworth Smith, Harbour Patrol Unit; Inspector of Police Domenico Boyd, Tourism Police, Tidal Wave Jet Ski Operations Joint Task Force; FSO M’Kyle Rigby; Devon Burrows, Manager of Visitor Safety and Security, Ministry of Tourism; Petty Officer Eric Rolle, Port Security, Port Department; Senior Commander Bern Right, Acting Port Controller; Craig Curtis, Senior Deputy Port Controller; Director General Jerusa Ali; Dale Roye, Assistant Port Controller; and Lonna Bethel, Assistant Port Controller.

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Ministry of Transport Press Release(Ambassador Walker Meeting).pdf

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