Lundy, U.S. Ambassador Meet Following Embassy Warning on Jet Skis

Minister of Transport and Aviation Leon Lundy convened a high-level meeting with United States Ambassador to The Bahamas Herschel Walker and senior government officials following a security alert issued by the U.S. Embassy in Nassau warning American citizens against renting jet skis in The Bahamas.

The embassy advisory cited serious accidents involving U.S. visitors, including deaths, injuries, and reports of sexual assaults allegedly committed by some jet ski operators.

Responding to the concerns, Lundy said the government is treating the matter with urgency and has launched a coordinated response involving multiple agencies.

“Reports of deaths, injuries, and sexual assaults involving water sports operators in The Bahamas are deeply serious. The safety of every visitor to these islands is not negotiable,” Lundy said in a statement. “The concerns raised by the U.S. Ambassador this week are being met with a full and immediate response.”

The minister condemned incidents involving unsafe operations and criminal misconduct within the water sports industry.

“On this issue we are unequivocal and condemn without reservation. Deaths that could have been prevented should never have occurred. Sexual harassment and assault by any operator is criminal conduct. Unsafe watercraft, unlicensed operators, and disregard for weather and marine conditions put lives at risk. Each of these failures demands accountability, and each will receive it,” he said.

The meeting, hosted by Lundy, brought together senior officials from several government departments, along with Ambassador Walker. Also participating was Port Director Berne Wright, who has been leading an inter-agency enforcement task force focused on water sports safety since April 2025.

According to the minister, discussions centered on immediate measures to strengthen visitor safety as well as long-term reforms aimed at improving oversight and accountability across the sector.

Among the proposals discussed were enhanced information-sharing protocols between Bahamian and U.S. authorities regarding incidents involving visitors, as well as quarterly meetings with private-sector stakeholders and members of the resident consular corps.

Officials noted that the inter-agency task force was established in April 2025 with a specific mandate to improve safety standards and professional conduct among water sports operators throughout the country.

“That work is ongoing, it is serious, and it is producing results,” Lundy said. “Though one incident is one too many, reported incidents of sexual assault involving jet ski operators have decreased in recent years. Under my tenure I have zero tolerance for abuse.”

The minister also revealed that the task force met on June 16 with representatives from the Port Department, Royal Bahamas Police Force, Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Beaches and Parks Authority.

During that meeting, participants agreed to engage regional and international partners to identify best practices in water sports safety, operator training, and regulatory enforcement.

Lundy said protecting visitors and restoring confidence in the industry will remain a top priority as the government continues its enforcement and reform efforts.