There have been increasing instances of vehicle theft at the employee parking lot of the Lynden Pindling International Airport, according to several people who work at the airport.
Airport operations employee with the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation Roshan Lewis said yesterday that she had her car stolen from the airport's employee parking lot on Sunday.
She lamented that when she went to the Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) to ask what could be done about her missing vehicle, she was told that NAD does not accept liability for vehicles in the employee parking lot.
A sign exists at the parking lot entrance stating that NAD will not be responsible for vehicle left in the parking lot.
However, Lewis said her company pays a yearly fee for her to park in the lot and she is required to have a decal in her vehicle in order to do so.
"They (NAD) should take some kind of responsibility," she said. "The company I work for pays a fee to park there.  It was so frustrating. I walked to the lot on Sunday to find out that my car wasn't there and I just broke down in tears because I couldn't believe something like that had happened."
NAD officials told The Guardian that they would look into the incidences and report back on their findings.  However, nothing was received up to press time yesterday.
The last time The Guardian inquired about vehicle thefts at the parking lot, NAD officials restated their position that employees park at their own risk.
However, they suggested they would look into increasing the lighting in the lot and possibly installing video surveillance equipment.
While there is supposed to be a security officer at the lot, according to Lewis, she said she has never seen one.
Yesterday The Guardian also attempted to reach officials at the airport police station, which is a mere quarter of a mile or less from the airport's employee parking lot. However, the phone at the station rang without an answer.
Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade told The Guardian yesterday that there is a "huge market in The Bahamas for stolen cars and for stolen car parts to effect repairs."  He did not talk about the situation at the airport specifically.
"The average young person cannot buy a new car so they look for deals," he said.  "Lots of criminals in our society steal cars to fill the wants of such persons.  This is real."
Another Ministry of Tourism and Aviation employee who utilizes the lot, Tara Evans, said it is unnerving to park in the lot knowing that her car could be stolen.
"It's frustrating to know that you're parking here hoping that your car will be safe, only to find out when you get off that it's not there," she said.

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