Aug 30

Golf in the Bahamas: Unsafe for women

The Bahamas continues to shoot itself in the foot when it comes to tourism.

Recently, a female tourist who was robbed in Nassau was turned away by three police stations while trying to get help, according to Bahamas B2B.com

In a separate story, a recent report by the United Nations/World Bank ranked the Bahamas No. 1 in the world in terms of sexual violence.

Overall, the Caribbean has three of the top-10 recorded rape rates in the world, the others being St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Jamaica.

The violence against women has gotten so bad, leaders of Caribbean nations have called a region-wide conference to address the issue.

I worked in the Caribbean as a foreign correspondent for the Associated Press, and if it’s like other Caribbean conferences I’ve covered, there will be a lot of talk and little action.

I’ve seen this before, most notably in the case of St. Croix. Government officials stood by and did nothing as crimes against cruise ship passengers escalated. Eventually, the cruise lines pulled out and now downtown Christiansted is a ghost town.

The Bahamas is headed down that same path.

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6 comments

Comment from: J. Miller [Visitor]

After reading this article, it would become clear it has nothing to do with golf.

According to all police reports for the past 6 years, no woman “at all” was ever a victim of any criminal activity on a gold course in the Bahamas. Thus, the motive of this article, "Golf in the Bahamas: Unsafe for women" is in question.

If no woman was ever victimized on any golf course, this article has a hidden agenda.

08/31/07 @ 15:14

Comment from: Charles [Visitor]

What hidden agenda? If you get mugged on the way to the golf course, I guess that would make golf unsafe.

It is not that golf itself is unsafe for women. It is golf "in the Bahamas" that is unsafe for women. Anything in the Bahamas is unsafe for women, given the total disregard for women in the country.

The writer has a responsibility to report that fact, since a lot of people visit the Bahamas to play golf.

09/01/07 @ 11:01

Comment from: Tim McDonald [Member]

Charles, I was going to write a response, but you've saved me the trouble. Nice job.

09/04/07 @ 09:58

Comment from: BV [Visitor]

Tim - I'd stopped visiting Jamaica for many of the reasons you noted, and have been going to Freeport and Lucaya in the Bahamas. I haven't actually heard about any issues in those areas...so folks might want to look into them as destinations.

09/18/07 @ 13:30

Comment from: Darrel [Visitor]

I have been to several Carribean countries including many trips to Jamaica. And I have taken my girlfriend and our 2 pre-teen daughters. I am always asked if I am worried about the violence. My response is simple, if you put yourself in bad situations, bad things will happen to you. Now I don't mean to sound insensitive, but if a female tourist goes there with a "Stella gonna get her grove back" mentallity she is putting herself in a bad situation. If you go there to smoke a little weed, you are still dealing with drugs dealers. Don't do things that you wouldn't do at home.

10/03/07 @ 11:25

Comment from: Peter Smolens [Visitor]

Darrel is correct. The Carribean is just like any other vacation spot. Like any major major city there are good places and bad. If you put yourself in wrong place, chances are you will have problems. On the other hand, the resorts I've been to are protected and safe.

I've been to Jamaica five times and have never had a problem. I stay at an all-inclusive resort. I only go on monitored trips. I've played many of the golf courses in Jamaica and found them to be wonderful. Some of the best courses in the world. While playing golf I've met some of the nicest people.
Peter

02/16/08 @ 06:51

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