Democratic National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney said yesterday that government inaction and a lack of enforcement are to blame for the U.S. Embassy's latest travel advisory on the dangers on the water sports industry in the country.

"The level of inaction displayed by successive government administrations on this issue is a scathing indictment of the country's leaders who have ignored, and thereby allowed, a potentially dangerous decision to develop," he said in a statement.

"At a time when employment opportunities are few and far between and over taxation threatens the viability of many small businesses I imagine that none of these entities can afford to lose patrons or its portion of a $145 billion industry; yet little has been done to address these long standing concerns. Since the release of the embassy's warning, the government has attempted to clarify the details surrounding the incident.

"In a statement, Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin insists that the perpetrator was not a Jet Ski operator as reports have suggested. Her comments, outside of promising a meeting with industry stakeholders, offered no real comfort and no real plan of action on the way forward particularly as it relates to greater regulation of the sector."

In an advisory on Tuesday, the U.S. Embassy in Nassau warned its citizens not to patronize the water sports industry after an American tourist was allegedly raped by a Jet Ski operator over the weekend. In response, Hanna-Martin said the man charged with the rape of the visitor does not a have a license to operate a Jet Ski.

McCartney said the water sports industry in The Bahamas needs effective regulation and enforcement. He proposed the establishment of a regulatory body that would oversee the safe use of various watercraft and would also be responsible for issuing licenses to operators.

"The DNA also proposes ongoing training and vetting of all member operators to ensure that persons of character are being attracted to the industry," he said. "Add to that, wide scale enforcement of the laws currently governing the industry and we have the potential to capitalize on a massive and ever growing industry. This will require that we as a people do what is necessary, and that our leadership demonstrate the political will to do just that."

The water sports industry in The Bahamas is regulated by the Commercial Recreation and Water Craft Act and all operators are subject to full vetting by the Royal Bahamas Police Force, according to Hanna-Martin.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian