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| Many cruises and tourists: so far, a routine in Nassau |
Weeks ago an interesting article (Cruiselawnews) described Nassau as a very dangerous place and warned tourists about drugs, local gangsters and robberies. So did the American Embassy on the main island. Last year a guest from the giant Atlantis Hotel was deadly shot by a teenager just near the Sidney Pottier Bridge, which connects the city to this resort, on Paradise Island. From the pictures, Nassau and its turquoise waters seem to be the ultimate paradise. However, taking a closer look, we realize the nature of this popularity has been changing. The crime and bad feedback from the visitors, which are the most important source of income in The Bahamas, are a reality that overcomes its well known characteristics. The ever-increasing level of violence presents to the beautiful destination a forthcoming way to decadence.
For the tourists, Nassau is represented basically by its downtown and Paradise Island. They barely know that the island is so small that the ghettos are easily found in a few steps from the main street. The gangsters are around and ready to act anytime. A recent article on the popular Bahamian newspaper The Tribune reported the history of the crime in the country and related it nowadays to very young people. Bad news: who is "killing" now in Nassau is between 15-25 years old. To understand the roots ot this insane youth is not difficult. Better results cannot be brought by children being raised in an enviromment stuffed with drugs, alcohol and guns, lack of a strong father figure at home, domestic violence, schools and neighbourhoods riddled with gang activity.
In fact, one of the society's biggest fears is exactly this. Young people, uneducated, bored, unable to live together and armed with knives and guns. When we think about Nassau's population's size, about 300.000 inhabitants, we could take the situation as much easier to handlle with. But the government seems to be more interested in promoting the Tourism, instead of being consistent about what is important to do properly. To take care of its people may not be so hard. It would be nice to understand a simple thing: the hotels are full today but maybe in a couple of months the same guests could regret it or never recommend these vacations anymore. Thinking this way, in the near future the dangerous paradise could lose the Tourism welcomed revenues and become poorer, ruthless and even more abandoned.
PS. On the homepage Virtual Tourists there are many warnings for people who intend to come to Nassau. The author was impressed about the easy way to drugs, the cheating of the cabs drivers, the unprofessionalism of the jewelry stores, expensive restaurants and unreliable locals doing the typical hair braids and anything else. What a shame!
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