customs bahamas

[kgi]

To all you good people who may be crossing the pond to do the carribean, be aware that the bahamas has just jacked up its clearing in charges to$150 for boats to 35 feet and $300 for boats over 35 feet, in my humble this is a flagrant attempt to make some fast money off the floating community, i would urge people to seriously think about giving the bahamas a miss this year, many from the US and Canada have already indicated that this is going to happen, get onto the bahamas website and let them know why you think its wrong, if you don,t express an opinion now then its only going to get worse, remember four years ago it was $15 dollars including your fishing permit, two years ago it went up to$100 , now its 2003 and the minimum is$150..........I live in the bahamas, and frankly, i am disgusted...........keith

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[Stingo]

Keith

Thanks for the info. Do you know what the web address is for the Bahamas website?

John

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.stingo.co.uk>http://www.stingo.co.uk</A> <font color=blue>- still showing at a computer near you</font color=blue>

 

[AndrewB]

Under consideration?

I thought from a posting on the CWBB board recently (<A target="_blank" HREF=http://old.cruisingworld.com/forums/arch_067/index.pl?read=316552>here</A>) that the Bahamas had decided to reconsider this rise. Is that not the case?

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[kgi]

Re: Under consideration?

Don't hold your breath on this one, the speed things get done over here.....it could take eighteen months,....on the other hand the more people that bend there ears via the websites, e mail personal letters to the PM etc will get results.......keith

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[jax]

copy of my post to Sct'but 17th July:-

Just got the folllowing from cruising friends in Florida:-

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 were 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 or
the vessel's cruising permit which is good for one year - a single
entry - if you leave and return with the vessel you must pay fees again to
obtain a new cruising permit.
We spoke to Ministry of Tourism in Marsh Harbour, Customs in Marsh Harbour
and Radio Abaco to confirm the mentioned fees are in place. It was suggested
that we express our opinions in writing to the appropriate officials of the
bahamas or any organizations that may be able to voice our displeasureand
comments.
the addresses to write that I have are (a) earl miller at the bahamas out
island promotion board.. earl@boipm.com (b) ministry of tourism
bmotca@bahamas.com
if anyone else has a person to send a protest note to,please circulate it 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
GreenTurtle Cay in Abaco and was charged $300 for his vessel and $150 for
the Whaler - a total of $450. Since the vessel was 33', he should have been
charged only $150 for the mother boat. Apparently, they are considering your
tender a separate vessel under 35' and subject to the $150 fee. The same
happened at West End - mother boat charged $300 and $100 for dinghy. No
consistency in what they are charging at this time.
We will do our best to keep up with any additional changes which may occur
and let you know ASAP. Please forward to others that need to know.






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[yachtbkr]

Its gotten ugly I am afraid. A local cruiser/sailor here in Florida posted website to oppose fee raise named aptly www.boycottbahamas.com ( good reading by the way) anyways he has since receieved 11 death threats from bahamians and some from bahamian government officials. Seems the Bahamians are not happy let alone the local yachties.

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[kgi]

it would appear that the reason for the price hike was to make the sportfishing boys pay for what they are catching.....unfortunately the cruising community got caught in the middle.....as to boats getting charged for their dink, its probably not totally legal, but to circumvent it hoist it out of the water before you clear in, don't forget that west end was always a bad place to clear in, the customs pirate....oops agent !!!! always charged what he thought you could afford......keith

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