and there’s the terrible responsibility of it
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]t the 2011 Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Symposium, we talked at length with Prescott Smith, owner of the Stafford Creek Lodge. He’s one of many offspring of the famous Charlie Smith, inventor of the “Crazy Charlie” bonefish fly.
Prescott, a 2011 impression . . .
. . . well educated, articulate, charming, energetic, ambitious and a gifted presenter of the Bahamas bonefish resource. All admirable traits, and we thought a natural poster child for Welcome to The Bahamas.
Things change as do people
Prescott Smith with a happy client.
Why did he reportedly become the conspirator, plotter and ringleader of the “Bahamas Flats Law” written to rid foreign ownership of fishing lodges in the Bahamas? Why did he, reportedly, allow himself to be reelected as president of the BFFIA (Bahamas Fly Fishing Industry Association) through a corrupted voting system? Why did he want new flats laws with Draconian DIY daily fees of $20 a day. Why did he want iCloud on the ground only permitting? Why did he want iCloud use of those collected fees? Well, lets try-on that it sounds suspiciously like Boss Tweed days. But hating ones own clients?
Nationalism, envisioned by the “Flats Law” signatories, is shortsightedness with negative international billboard appeal
Under the drafted laws proposed restrictions, with the reported authorship of Mr. Smith and and co-conspirator Shawn Leadon, Owner/Operation Manager at Andros Outdoor Adventures & Andros Island Bonefish Club, the Bahamas tourism industry and existing fly fishing lodges have already taken financial hits.
Bureaucratic delays to overturn the proposed “Flats Law” are already creating tourism losses and those losses will soon reflect harshly on hard working Bahamian citizens.
A Bahamian says it better. And why does the Bahamian government sit silent? Is there a conspirator in its ranks?
By NATARIO McKENZIE / Tribune Business Reporter / Nassau, Bahamas
A petition has (was) been launched for anglers to register their opposition to the proposed Fly Fishing law and regulations, as a well-known lodge owner yesterday told Tribune Business: “The damage has already been done.”
Oliver White, the Abaco Lodge owner/operator, said he has already seen several client groups cancel trips because they felt they were no longer welcome in the Bahamas.
Mr. White told Tribune Business that the response to the proposed regulations has been “overwhelmingly negative” within the fly fishing community. A petition has been launched by Nervous Waters, the operators of family fly fishing lodges around the world, calling on anglers to oppose the Bahamas’ proposed regulations, arguing that the Government will be making a ‘monumental error in judgment’.
At the center of the firestorm that has erupted within the industry is the proposed requirement that all visiting fly fishermen, even experts coming to the Bahamas for decades, have to hire a local guide at a cost of $600 per day.
Mr. White said: “I find most objections center around the xenophobic language, and the vague wording regarding licenses and permitting and lodge ownership. Any foreigner who reads the draft can draw no other conclusion than they are not welcome.
The heavy language of foreigner versus Bahamian leaves a sour taste in their mouth. While they all recognize the Bahamas has every right to manage their fisheries and country as they see fit, they also don’t want to spend their money where they are not welcome.
The proximity to the United States means that many anglers know the Bahamas well, and love the Bahamas – the fishing, the beauty, the people. Many of these people have been coming to the islands before independence, another reason the language seems so harsh.”
Mr White added: “Many people spend months in the Bahamas, second home owners, for example. They would like to see a daily, weekly and annual option, as $20 a day [for a permit] for six months is egregious.
Anglers fear the licensing process is subjective, that the ability to get a license or access to water isn’t certain and that makes it impossible to plan a trip. No one would object, and most would be advocates of a fishing license that is easily obtainable, non-subjective, and offered unrestricted access to the flats by foot or via any vessel legally in the Bahamas, with the funds being used to preserve and protect the resource.”
Mr White said the language in the regulations is also “troublesome.” He explained: “The Bahamas has a process for foreign investment. It is exhaustive and arduous.
Any company that has gone or gets approval from the Foreign Investment Board should continue to be welcomed. These companies create jobs and provide a lot of benefit to the local economy.
For example, I employ over 25 Bahamians in my business. We buy our food, alcohol, gas locally. We used local contractors to build the lodge, and still use locals for our repairs and maintenance. Our BEC bills, like most people in the Bahamas, seem to forever grow higher.”
Mr. White added that the Internet has been abuzz with negative feedback from anglers over the proposed regulations, arguing that the industry stands to lose tens of millions of dollars annually.
“The outcry has been severe and damage is done,” he told Tribune Business. “As an owner of two lodges in the Bahamas, I have had several groups of clients cancel trips because they felt unwelcome. The negative impact on tourism is real and already happening.
If this were to pass as written, which I hope is unlikely, I would promise the negative impact is in the millions – and probably tens of millions – dollars annually. Already I feel the impact is approaching a seven-figure number.”
Mr. White said the Nervous Waters‘ petition was making the rounds on the Internet. “I’ve been copied on hundreds of e-mails. For days I have done nothing but answer e-mails and talk on the phone, I imagine everyone with a foot in the industry is doing the same,” he added.
“As I would hope. I implore everyone to write in with their thoughts. That is what it will take to shape meaningful legislation.
Everyone is optimistic the Government will change course. There are issues that need to be addressed and proactive legislation can be a great thing. The language in the draft is concerning, but is easily repaired.
We are all waiting for someone in government to stand up and say we look forward to amending this document with the support of all stakeholders, foreign and Bahamian, to create legislation that promotes the industry and the protection of the resource.”
