Saturday, 19 June 1965. When I started to walk back, I couldn't! I have a home on one of the family islands (previously referred to as out islands but the gov't. Spurred by a recent state law aimed at easing California's housing shortage, a Los Angeles family turns to architect . I am going to make some people very angry (my fellow AA family and I do NOT care). In my opinion, the people were gracious, kind and honest. Look at the states there's bombing, mass shootings, and so on but if you dear say anything bad about the US people will let you have it! It is not worth getting hurt. Most of the serious crimes committed in The Bahamas center largely in Nassau (New Providence). Drug possession and drug use are illegal in The Bahamas. We did encounter a pushy tour guide one time out of all our trips but I have run across worse here in the US.especially up north. If you could manage this, the world of wonders are there for you to experience and appreciate. My wife and (my then) 12 year old daughter where constantly being propositioned by the young life guards at Atlantis. Blank screens, moving items and disappearing files. Walking to the Starbucks I encountered one beggar and no issues and it seemed safe. Are things really bad there ? Wherever you go if there isnt a knowledgeable justice system that can immediately help you if you encounter any trouble then dont go there. Our plan was to just following the local walking tour map. I felt a tug on my phone from behind and I instinctively yanked my phone back. Monday, 16 April 1984. I had a really sad and frightening experience and the worst part about it is the cops DON'T care! Just be mindful of your surroundings and you would be fine. My family and I have visited the steps made by skaves and Oh Andros as well as McKensies is my favorite places to eat. I plan on Snokeling and Diving and was planning on bringing my own dive knife.. but I did not want to get in trouble for carrying a weapon. It's the same in every country/city be smart don't flash your money jewelry fancy clothes around there's always someone that has less and will take yours where ever you go. Drug possession and drug use are illegal in The Bahamas. This is a gross misrepresentation, and must not continue. This islands are amazing. It's cheap tourism for middle class Americans. Dont keep your valuables all in one place. When i was of everyone around me, even my spouse. When he ran OFF the property I knew he DIDNT work there! If anyone tries to rob you, hand over whatever it is they are asking for. 1953-0041. My boys always like to see how their bargaining skills are so they try to get some items cheaper than they have marked. Nassau is where 70% of locals live, and the best place to learn the customs and history of the country. Agree Nassau has gone down hill in every aspect. Just finished a cruise that stopped in Nassau. I know I was drugged and the only ones that could have done it was the bar tender!!! To see that local police do nothing is all it takes for me to write this place off. Tourists were sitting on the bench nearby. The four wheeler would not start. Go to one of the smaller family islands. There is NOT one safe all black country or territory in the world, NOT one (yes, as a black man I have accepted the truth that WE as black people can not run a country without the assistance of other races in order for it to be safe)!! You know what, youre on your ownI get the feeling its a norm and not much will be done. To understand how this may impact cover under your policy, please go to our FAQs and select your country of residence. We decided to take the walking tour we were not going to risk going any place near the danger zones like "Over Hill" etc.. Before you jet off to The Bahamas, find out how to stay safe while enjoying all the activities on water and land. The tourist area is alright, but still really pushy and a little rude. I went to the beautiful hill top mansions where the we'll to do folks stay. Until they begin hanging the assailants (they use to) again in the streets it wont stop. I was approached by a guy saying let me help you back to your room, I work here and would point at his badge. 2. Where there were thugs with automatic rifles all around me. (I now know he was just scoping us out from a better view). With 150+ adventure activities covered and 24/7 emergency assistance. Please be safe when drinking also, you have to remember these are VERY poor people and they resent and hate seeing others coming to their country spending money when they have none. Be careful there-stay in groups. The ferry service in The Bahamas is safe to take. Ps I agree with the comment above Buffalo. You can't let a small amount of senseless individual soil the image of a whole island. A gravity knife is considered a weapon because you can easily open it with one hand. So we decided not to ever go back. I worked aboard the SS Oceanic with Premier Cruise Lines (out of Cape Canaveral before Disney bought us out to make way for the the Wonder) in 1999. In the Bahamas right now. My husband began checking the unit out to see if it was a minor fixable problem. I don't know how he got away, but he called me crazy n a few other choice words! Yes I witnessed the "Cat Calling" at the women that is mentioned in many of the reviews here, so it is true, especially if you are a young female below 40. Knives from a long time have been part of the country's culture it has been in the country in various sects . This most recent growth included a few home additions including the kids bathrooms (on suite) added on to the East end, the two original bathrooms were converted into one larger hall bath, the kitchen wall was blown out, entrying into a complete 22'x22' great . I believe the Scary Stories over the Happy Face PC stories. I've spoken to some locals and had some pretty good conversations. The jitneys always lively and with lots of laughs and lots of music and friendly banter . You should prioritize booking organized tours that are run by reputable companies, which will help your family stay safe while exploring The Bahamas. Was more disappointed in the sheer amount of uninteresting junk for saleI actually had trouble spending money which is unusual for me. Animal Contagious Diseases (Prohibition of Meat Imports) Order. We ended up eating lunch at a place called the Pepper Pot Grill. . As a citizen of the Bahamas I am very offended by these statements, how safe are you guy's cities? My wife and I have been to Nassau several times on cruise ships. The Bahamas is a male dominated culture so be ready to experience a myriad of overly loud, forward and aggressive men wherever you roam. I screamed and was crying and struggling to get away. Unfamiliar areas or high crime areas doint go wondering about that much after dark especially alone I've always faver purses that go across you doint keep more cards or on you then necessary type thing. As a black man, I have to say, the above couple of comments from fellow black people are indeed true. DON'T GO!!!!! With a murder rate of 128 sad souls, that equates to 1 murder for every 2,000 people. That said, it's still possible that you may be offered drugs outright when you're in The Bahamas, whether it's out on the street or at the bar or club. Integrity is the fundamental quality of any person who If you give the impression that people can do certain things to you then they would. You won't get it in Nassau. Don't be paranoid and don't be careless..just keep cool and be sensible. It is a small island about 7-9 miles, but I had the best time, we were told by locals that the crime rate there is extremely low and I witnessed a woman leave her purse in a golf cart and go back inside building an no one bothered it. 1984-0013. To make matters worse, the ship stayed an extra hour, but ended up leaving without him. Lived there. Snatch-and-grab crimes involving travelers bags, jewelry, smartphones or cash are some of the most popular petty crimes that happen to visitors in The Bahamas. For the latest travel warnings and alerts around the world, read about lockdowns and border restrictions. Being we were the only tourists around. I caught a Taxi and went over the hill to Berthas Go Go Ribs and I returned in one piece. I would never take anyone there for a vacation and would certainly never recommend it. Among the 788 homicides reported in 2021, the knife was the weapon of crime in 242 . To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. The people there do not realize tourism is their lifeJust stupid. Visited Nassau October 12th 2019- You wouldn't leave your purse unattended in your own city would you ?? We met her at the hospital where the doctor said this happens A LOT. Health concerns after a lot of wet weather include Chikungunya virus and Dengue Fever, the two main mosquito-borne illnesses. The deaths here are more in line with car accidents, primarily at night time when the Bahamians are drinking big-time & driving like crazy-nuts every day of the week, Sundays no exception! THE BAHAMAS IS IN THE ALANTIC OCEAN NOT THE CARRIBEAN! New York - 333 murders population about 8.5 MILLION They were all working together. laws are all loose and up to what the local officer decides - if he likes your knife, its illegal and chances are he will sieze it. It all depends who you are as a person. If you opt to take something, make sure its small. Thank you for enlightening me. Point of the matter is, there is crime and bad people everywhere. There is no law banning the carrying in public knives with sheaths, knives that take both hands to open and any knife with a fixed blade and certain non-prohibited folding knives, if they are not carrying for a purpose dangerous to public peace or for the purpose of committing a criminal offense. Meanwhile, New Providence Island (where the nations capital Nassau is, for those who don't know) has a population of about 250,000. Laws in general are pretty loose in the . Try going to downtown areas for more affordable options. If you are polite, yet firm, you should have nothing to worry about. We took Taxes into Nassau on 4 different days. I last visited approximately 25 years ago and was looking forward to returning within the next year. Just thankful we got back to our port in one piece. Drove West down West Bay St beside the ocean and stopped at a pull off spot to take pics because we saw other tourists doing the same. We left our bag on the beach while we swam and no one bothered it. Clients' first home and there forever home with a family of four and in laws close, this home needed to be able to grow with the family. Of course with this being the first trip to a place as pretty as the Bahamas I will want to take my camera. We were never harassed in the straw markets or tourists areas, and we witnessed no crimes being committed. We never experienced anything scary. The world has thousands of beautiful places to be explored, go there instead and enjoy the planet. Nassau is located on one Island in the Bahamas, please go get a map! Im scared after reading the comments. I visited Nov 2019 on a Royal Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral. It is clearly stated in the U.S. Code 1243; No real crime in East Asia very safe.I am SHOCKED at the violence in Bahamas these days ! They lost 5,000 jobs when 1 resort in Lucaya shut down after hurricanes in 2016. We had no experience with the Bahamas and picked Eleuthera after seeing an HGTV show. I will think twice. Please note that not all content is translated or available to residents of all countries. BUT what they don't know is that they are literally taking bread and butter outof the mouths of bahamains for one negative comment. Fortunately my amazing father after our family had to abandon the Bahamas later on established a second home for us on the island of Menorca which is the same size and shape as Nassau but with NO crime and a refined and civilised populace. The straw market was safe and yes there is pressure sales all around just stay away from the very far end when you walk outside the market. The "natives" are dangerous, rude and ignorant. NYC for example (where I live) had 333 murders in 2016. I doubt there is a law banning. Recommend Andros, Abaco or Exuma if you want a real Bahamian experience. Think of it this way, the US and UK . On departure day I avoided their set up taxi driver and snuck off at a different time. I told myself my intuition was wrong when he then got back into the car without incident. Of course the island is not as wealthy so you have people just trying to make a dollar which is ( NORMAL ) I didnt see any difference in the culture how I thought only thing I didnt like its just like a state in the US. Mar 14, 2015. My son and I boated to Bimini, then Grand Island and finally Nassau. I moved my phone to my other hand away from him, and he then tried to take my purse, but it was on my shoulder. Just like with any city or any place you are unfamiliar with, you need to proceed with the proper caution. The fact is there are many islands in the Bahamas that are quite safe, and there are many islands that haven't had a murder in years. Nassua is terrible and exactly like most of the negative reviews. We told the ship's security what happened and they remained professional and also said it was not uncommon as they have incidents like this each time the ship docks in Nassau and it even happens to their fellow crew members. Carrying or possessing knives in Canada is illegal if it counts as a prohibited weapon. Maybe that gave me the edge I needed to stay coherent enough from that damn drug they gave me!!! Those people are humans at the end of the day. In California, it is legal to carry a pocket knife with a blade length of less than 2.5 inches in most areas. Yup. They jus wrote it off like I was drunk!!! Abandoning once great estates, when no longer suiting profit or investors interest. Violent crime, such as sexual assault, robberies and gang violence, tends to happen most in Nassaus Over-the-Hill neighborhoods and are mainly targeted to Bahamians. We did and then took the path back towards the ship without any further incident. I'm glad I didn't read this before going or I would have missed a fun experience. The Bahamas are now merrily selling their souls to the Chinese but I suggest they look at what happened to Sri Lanka. Thursday, 01 January 1953. I felt very safe. I went to yank it back and then looked to my husband to see another native black man holding a gun to his fore head. You can buy at home or while traveling, and claim online from anywhere in the world. :spyder: Control the HEAD.and you control the SNAKE! Still sitting I turned around to see a gun in my face with a very anxious almost scared looking native man holding it. The entire time I had a sense we were in imminent danger; not exactly something you want while on vacation. As a black man myself, I would not give them a dollar as long as they normalize the crime out there and do nothing about it. So to the point, Nassau was not nearly as dangerous in our experience as is being reported here, BUT it was as dangerous as the average port city through which a drug trade functions, so it dangerous! I wouldn't recommend staying on Paradise Island if you like to swim on the beach. Knife laws in California and New York are almost as bad as Britain if not worse in some areas like NYC but the knife crime in both states eclipse the entirety of England and like you said most of those knives are everyday items like a kitchen knife or machete. List of Illegal Knives In Tennessee School Property I would strongly suggest, you leave it at home. Ive been to Nassau 13 times a single mother and my daughter traveled there alone. I have this debate all of the time with my friends and relatives. It is important to research and understand the laws in your area before purchasing or carrying a pocket . I promise you there is more to the Bahamas then they've said. Been going to Nassau for over 20 years. The islands are world-renowned for their beaches, seafood, eco-friendliness and adventure activities. I visit The Bahamas every chance I get and have never had any negative experiences worth writing about. If crime is so rampant there this would've been the place we'd gotten whatever. And there is always someone who gets the price down.) I purposely only carried a small pouch wallet(hidden) and almost never let go of my fiance's hand. We declined and continued walking. As an African American I have been fortunate enough to travel to MOST of the Caribbean countries and have never had any real issues (St. Martins-the French side-is basically a ghetto with a nice beach NEVER GO THERE and in Antigua the people at the airport are extremely aggressive taking your bags and loading them in taxis without asking and then putting the damn hand out looking for a tip! A VERY deep purple almost black four door car (we think Honda Accord or similar) with dark tinted windows pulled up behind us. Go to the out islands such as Eleuthera, Exuma, or Abaco (even though destroyed last year in a hurricane). I felt very safe. He CHASED me. Always remember what happened to that Natalie girl in Aruba, to be aware is to be alive!! Everything we took off the boat except my phone. It may also be known as a push knife, punch knife, or punch dagger. Which is quite dumb when you look at it but they are very friendly to tourist they even have to have a three month class every 3 years from high school to retirement about how to care for tourist that comes to their island. Do not attempt to leave the islands with marijuana, and reconsider buying any from locals as it will be difficult to verify the quality, You must be 18 years or older to drink alcohol in The Bahamas, but laws are often not enforced. Free shipping for many products! Per 265.10 (5), a person who disposes of a "switchblade knife, gravity knife, ballistic knife, metal knuckles knife, or undetectable knife" to anyone under 16 years is guilty of a misdemeanor. There's a jerk everywhere you go don't Label all of Nassau We even went to fish fry at 11:30 pm had a beer with taxi driver Now I wouldn't walk through there in a bikini with a Gucci purse but some people would Cable beach has better beaches stay at the marley resort $$$$ but worth it !! I found people to be aggressive sellers but expected that. It turned out that she wanted to warn us to go back to safety, pointing out a group of five young men coming our way that she said were 'very bad". I have never experienced anything that would stop me from going back. For my money I'll skip Nassau. It states in the article, and the stories prove: people are safe in groups, or if uninteresting- most valuable possession is a book bag and you are male. And I for one have never witnessed or been murdered. WE went on local buses many times walked around shopped at grocery stor nothing bad ever happened, no problems but that was around 2003. Man's knife not big enough to break law Wed, Mar 31st 2021, 06:00 AM Tribune Stories A MAGISTRATE discharged a man who was arrested for unlawfully carrying arms after he explained the knife he was found with did not exceed the six-inch blade limit stipulated in law. See when tourist find this out the use this to downgrade the Bahamas because they know that this is there number one industry. Just because something happened to you once doesn't means it going t happen again. One of my coworkers, Cameron, was taken hostage and held for a day in a random house where he was ultimately stabbed and left for dead. It was a 2 day stay and we stayed at the Hilton Resort Hotel. My husband and I will be moving there by the end of this year or beginning of next. As we kept walking to the entrance two thugs grab my wife and daughter and put knives to their stomachs demanding their phones and backpacks. Rio palace has great employees and great food, but the building and amenities ate not worth the price. I just returned from Nassaulet's just say I am sad to be home. I don't look tough at all. Gravity knives are knives that can be opened with one hand, using the force of gravity or the centrifugal force, and locked in the open position. Protect your family from heat exhaustion by exploring early morning and late evening on hot days. Another night went under the bridge between New Providence and Paradise Island for dinner. I doubt it's worth the risk and more importantly, visiting crime ridden tourist traps like Nassu is giving the government of Bahamas a green light on crime, when the light should be amber, moving to red My family (wife & 11 year old son) along with our friends and their 9 year old daughter just celebrated Christmas in the Bahamas. The Bahamian dollar closely matches the US dollar, which means you may not get as much bang for your buck as you expected. Because something happen to ou in Nassau doesn't meant it a cure on the family islands, some family islands don't even have 10 persons on it and it is very quiet of course Nassau being the capital it will have plenty people and lots of crime. It's best to always be with a group of people. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-29090104', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Nassau and, Harbour Island. If I ever took another cruise there which I wouldn't I would never go anywhere alone. I always carry mace/pepper spray and a knife mandatory (being from NY it is what it is and I will NEVER get got or go down lightly). I was naive and friendly and talked to the locals. I was 18 at the time, now 21. Don't take a purse travel in a group. Additionally, it is illegal to possess any type of switchblade knife regardless of blade length in the state of Florida. Does anyone have a link for laws about pocket knives in St. Maarten or St. Thomas? Where I'm pretty sure no tourist would ever go by themselves because it's like one of the worst places in Nassau. Security did NOT even tell him what had happened!!! I would be careful on where you go and who you ride with. We were all in shock so we went directly back to the ship. Cat calls, suggestive comments to my wife by a guy running a store when I was around the corner, aggressive people at the straw market in your face finally had to tell them to F off. Various governments have changed their travel warnings to restrict travel during this time. Also I would not get off the boat if I went back nothing there worth seeing for that level of harassment. My now husband n I went to get married there on the beach. As a result, police presence has increased in the traveler hubs for the safety of visitors, Yes, marijuana is illegal although it is commonly smoked by some Bahamians. Nasseau downtown Pay attention to your drink. Just curious as to why you would need a dive knife. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-29098810', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Nassau. Stupid and aragence is failure as they are experiencing and have been for over 30 years. Just letting everyone know since it's bothering me that no one seems to know this obvious fact, I mean look at a map! He was 20 years old, 6'3" and a good looking Canadian man by any standards. This article states that 128 people were killed here in 2015. Australia is one of the strictest countries when it comes to knife regulations. My family wanted to do the Mayan temple slide one more time but I wanted to go take a shower and get ready for dinner so my Mom allowed me to go ahead to the room. Although I toured around and spent time on the beach, I was not impressed. Photo by Ksenia Makagonova on Unsplash. So I must exempt my opinions that follow from that type of crime which I've never myself experienced. It is all about how racist "whitey" is and how great it was to kick him out of power. The Florida Keys is suddenly looking very inviting. If you have to go to experience Nassau for all that it is, stay in the tourist districtsjust like JamaicaPeriod! The Caribbean is exceptionally poor and poverty breeds crime. It takes frequent trips between Nassau and Eleuthera, Andros, Long Island, or Grand Exuma. The people of Nassau are hard working friendly and kind. Firstly, before we get into the various types of knives, we must ensure that everyone is knowledgeable about the laws of carrying knife. They took everything but my phone and jumped back in their car with a third man in the drivers seat who never left the car. Very friendly and helping at the end of the day its crime in every country , island , state , city I dont care where you are. An icon used to represent a menu that can be toggled by interacting with this icon. What blades are legal in the Bahamas? Your safety needs will vary across the islands and largely depends on where you visit. Staying on Paradise Island at Rio Palace. We were even here during Junkanoo which is a drunk fest like Mardin Grass and no trouble. We have been to Govenor's Harbour before but this will be our first time in Nassau. As far as blaming the increase in the crime rate on the fact that it is a majority black population is at the very least, ignorant but can be considered foolish if one does not factor in the lack of education, lack of employment opportunities and outright housing discrimination that the black majority experienced for many many years. You'll find plenty of accommodation options that are generally known for their tolerance of LGBTQ+ couples. Be sensible, be vigilant, trust your instincts regarding safety and don't go looking for trouble. There is no law banning the carrying in public knives with sheaths, knives that take both hands to open and any knife with a fixed blade and certain non-prohibited folding knives, assuming they are not carried for a purpose dangerous to public peace or for the purpose of committing a criminal offense. Plus you have to stay in the tourist area. While 330 murders is a sad sight to see, keep in mind that New York City has a population of some 8.5 million. The Bahamas is not different at all. The article above spoke about a warning of crime in the Bahamas. All of this was caught on the hotel security cameras. We had our beautiful wedding on the beach!!! When a segment of the population is marginalized, discriminated, under-educated, etc., over many many years, eventually there will be a de-sensitized sub-group that arrises that increases societal costs and collaterally makes it undesirable for all of the citizens. We took a water taxi ($5 pp) to another close-by island, Harbour Island, and rented a golf cart to explore the island. The community has cultural significance as the birthplace of the national festival of Junkanoo, but much of the violent crime in The Bahamas is concentrated over the hill. You are ok with what happened, losing, imperfection of a craft. As we got another block away another man on the corner told us to watch out as the drug selling men were waiting for us to go down an alley or side street to rob us and he told us to stay on the main path until we get on Bay street the main tourist area. Ensure you use reef-safe sunscreen to protect the islands natural coral reefs. Prohibition of Importation of Poultry. Currently her mother is breaking her back trying to get enough money saved to move herself and her daughter out of the Bahamas completely and come to where my family lives, she doesnt understand why anyone would ever go there willingly. I sat on a yellow metal bench, and began looking through our things for the number of the man that rented us the four wheeler.