Several Jet Ski operators insisted yesterday that "licensed, professional" operators have been mischaracterized as rapists and expressed concern about a United States Embassy advisory which revealed that five U.S. citizens have allegedly been sexually assaulted by Jet Ski operators in the last year and a half. It is alleged that a Jet Ski operator sexually assaulted an American tourist on Saturday.

The embassy is now prohibiting its staff from patronizing Jet Ski operators and strongly advised American citizens to boycott such services.

Renwick Rolle, owner of J.R. Action Water Sports, said as a professional in the industry for over 30 years he is hurt that people are looking at Jet Ski operators now with "jaundice eyes". Rolle, a father of two, said he owns 15 Jet Skis, which operate from Melia Nassau Beach Resort.

"You know they put everyone in one basket, which is not so," said Rolle, before meeting with Minister of Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin to discuss the warning and the way forward.

"[As] I said, I am a professional operator and a family man. I won't deny it, there are some bad apples in the industry. But I mean, so far, because of the legislation that has been passed the Port Authority has been doing its endeavor best to weed out those that are bad apples. I am very, very concerned because this is the way I have been feeding my family for the past 30 years. It was really like a blow to me because I am wondering if I am able to make a living tomorrow."

Rolle also said any suggestion that the industry is not properly regulated is unfair. He pointed out that officers from the Port Authority visit Cable Beach every day; operators are required to keep up to date with licenses and are required to display identification cards when working. He also said operators do their best to police themselves.

"If we see anyone who is not supposed to be there, we go ahead and make a call," Rolle said.

He said he hopes to meet U.S. Embassy officials to assure them that owners in the industry are taking the matter seriously.

Hanna-Martin also spoke to The Nassau Guardian minutes before her meeting with operators. The minister said while the industry has problems, the government has been addressing them. She maintained that the man accused in the alleged assault over the weekend was not a licensed jet ski operator.

Asked whether there is a need for more security at beaches across New Providence, Hanna-Martin said, "We are looking at that now to see how the Ministry of National Security can assist us, because the beach is more than just the water sports industry.

"There is a lot of activity and a lot of people out there."

Shaun Lewis, of Lewis Water Sports, said he was also hurt by the advisory. He said as a young entrepreneur he has done his best to maintain the reputation of the industry and country. But he said there are too many unlicensed people who are purporting to be operators, giving the industry a bad reputation.

"It affects me and it affects my comrades, who are there trying to do their best to make the country a better place and to make the tourists who come here happy," Lewis said.

He also called for more security presence on beaches.

Photo: Torrell Glinton | NassauGuardian

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