The Bahamas have been among many Americans’ most preferred tourist destinations for several decades. However, the US Embassy in Nassau issued security alerts in January and February, citing a spurt in crime. The travel advisory warned American tourists to preferably defer visits or to be extremely alert and avoid specific locations in the Bahamas.
The US advisory mentioned a spurt in murders in January, although all the murders involved locals. However, two sexual assault incidents took place in different resorts involving three women, two of whom were from Kentucky and one of whom was an 80-year-old woman from Canada who a 61-year-old Canadian raped.
Officials in the Bahamas are worried that the spurt in crime is affecting tourism. Many Americans follow the government advisory and do not plan short holidays to the island nation. The nation’s officials say that drugs, gangs, and poverty are leading to a spurt in crimes.
Low levels of education and high levels of poverty, together with joblessness, homelessness, and more, are factors that are contributing to youth joining gangs and peddling drugs.
The police acknowledge that these socio-economic factors are responsible for the increase in drug peddling as well as the gang wars between drug trafficking groups.
Residents in the Bahamas are worried due to the increase in drug trafficking as it not only increases the lack of security in their lives but also affects their livelihoods as tourism is a significant industry. The rise in crime and government advisories against travel have a detrimental effect on the trade.
The tourism industry provides thousands of jobs and boosts the economy. Reports say that half of the Bahamas’s gross domestic product (GDP) is accounted for by tourism, and a fall in the number of tourists will also adversely affect the GDP.
On Monday, Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis addressed religious leaders in New Providence and said, “I want to call upon the press to be sensitive. I think they should see their role as trying to help the country. I am not saying not to report, but where you report, it may make a difference.”
Journalists and reporters said that it was their job to report such crimes, and many of the murders were happening back-to-back.
On Thursday, PM Davis said, “I’m not trying to censor the media; I’m not a dictator.”
When crime and murder are tackled, the beautiful island nation could see the return of tourists and boost its economy.
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