News
Treasure Cay Marina Manager Hunts Down Stolen Boat
Nassau, Bahamas, December 5, 2016 – A 34-foot SeaVee center console sport fishing boat, worth $140,000, stolen on Tuesday November 22 from Treasure Cay, Abaco, was recovered in Nassau, thanks to the prompt action and dedication of an Association of Bahamas Marinas member.
On Sunday, December 4th, a second boat was stolen from a Treasure Cay canal residence. The 31-foot Jupiter was found in Baker’s Creek, with engines missing. Police are following up on leads concerning a car license plate.
The hunt for the SeaVee, however, was a 10-day chase across two islands. Captain Cliff Bootle, Marina Manager of Treasure Cay Beach, Golf and Marina Resort, reported the SeaVee missing in the morning of Wednesday November 23rd. The hunt ended when a close friend of Bootle’s found it on Saturday December 3rd, partly covered by a tarp in a lot behind a Nassau Village church.
The hunt was successful, says Bootle, due to the determination of his friend, social media posts—and a fortunate mistake by the thieves who set off a rescue beacon signal, picked up by the US Coast Guard. The sporty Boynton Beach vessel, called Desperado, was found stripped of its twin 250HP Yamaha four stroke engines but otherwise in good shape.
When the boat, owned by a Georgia resident visitor, was discovered missing on Wednesday morning, Bootle started searching the Treasure Cay area and reported the boat to the police. He began calling his industry contacts and his sister spread the association’s alert on Facebook. Days later on Monday the 28th, the post caught the eye of a dock staff worker from a Nassau marina who had seen a matching boat being towed down Soldier Road by a black truck.
Bootle summoned a close friend who, on Tuesday, began canvassing south Nassau. A lucky break came on Wednesday November 30th when the US Coast Guard picked up a signal from the boat’s rescue beacon, accidentally set off by the thieves. The Coast Guard picked up two signals: one in Nassau Village and another in Marshall Rd. Bootle’s friend focused on the Nassau Village signal.
After days driving round, Bootle’s friend’s determination finally paid off. On Friday December 2nd, he spotted it in a Sequoia Road car wreck work yard, off Buttonwood Ave, behind the One Accord Pentecostal Ministries church. He thought it was the Desperado, but wasn’t sure. Captain Bootle caught an early morning flight from Treasure Cay and confirmed Desperado’s identity.
To secure the vessel, Bootle summoned the marina association’s contacts at Nassau-based Royal Bahamas Police Force’s Marine Unit, through ASP Carlton Adderley. PC Jones ordered a wrecker and the boat was secured with armed guards and taken to the police compound for fingerprinting. The engines that were seen on the boat along Soldier Rd on Monday the 28th, had gone.
“Now we have to figure out who stole it. This time we were lucky,” said Bootle who attributes the good result to his determined friend, Facebook and the US Coast Guard.
“This is a case of doing everything possible to help a customer,” said Bootle. “We’ll move heaven and earth to recover any vessel from our marina.”
On reflection, Bootle says the government must do something drastic to stop the thefts. It’s hurting the Abaco economy and reputation.
“The police in the whole of Abaco only have one boat. It should have at least four, one for each area. The thieves know it’s hard to catch them. It’s an easy life and good living for them. We’ve tried to get government’s attention to make the penalties and bail conditions harsher, but the industry feels that the system is ineffective and not doing enough,” says Bootle.
“Although thefts are down 50% from last year, it’s still a major problem,” said the captain. “The laws are way too light. These thieves are caught but the next day they’re on the streets again planning the next one. Giving these guys light bail is a serious problem. They should all be electronically monitored. But even that doesn’t work sometimes.”
At the recovery scene, Pastor Preston Collins of the One Accord Pentecostal Ministries church, said he saw the boat being trailered into the yard behind his church, figuring it was innocently being bought for repairs. A witness saw the boat’s name: Desperado, Boynton Beach.
“The engines were on at the time,” said Pastor Collins, “But now they’re gone. They also sanded off the name. You can see the white marks where the words were,” said Rev. Collins pointing to the hull.
“The boat’s electronics and radar are still there,” said Bootle. “So, the thieves didn’t get everything.”
The marinas association President, Stephen Kappeler, praised his manager Bootle for having the care and dedication to fly all the way to Nassau to make sure the boat was recovered personally and quickly.
“This was superb case of going the extra mile to assist our marina customers. He didn’t have to go, but Cliff wanted to serve his owner-customer in the most safest way. He rushed to the plane with no concern for himself—no clothes, no toothbrush. He had to ask his family to put some clothes on the next plane. We’re proud of Cliff’s dedication and perseverance,” said Kappeler.
“Our thanks also go out to ASP Adderley and his Nassau RBPF Marine Unit and other officers. They came to the crime scene and brought in armed support to protect it from any further loss,” added the marina association chief. “We hope the brazen thieves will be caught, appropriately punished and put out of action, behind bars—with strict terms or no bail.”
Executive Director of the association, Bob Bower says: “Boat theft remains a major threat to boating yachting and fishing tourism in The Bahamas. For a real solution, this must receive attention from the highest levels. In Abaco, the police need to be equipped with more than a single boat for responding or patrolling the entire Abaco chain, where the problem has been more severely felt,” he said.
“An island chain of this length needs a minimum of four active police interceptors: one for Hope Town and Elbow Cay, one for Marsh Harbour, a third for Green Turtle, and one in reserve for repair. In fact, each habited major cay or settlement could use one. That would total about eight patrol craft. And all the police should be trained in boat seamanship and equipped for night interception with night vision and searchlights. Inter-island and inter-settlement communications could do with a major upgrade,” said Bower.
The marinas association is trying to encourage all boat owners to do everything possible to secure their boats and engines. Boaters are urged to install tracking devices, alarms and engine and prop locks and dock owners and marinas are advised to employ bright lighting and video surveillance.
“Nowadays, every boat and engine should have tracking devices. They’re increasingly affordable and easy to install,” Bower said.
Bower, reflecting the opinion of his association’s membership, believes the penalties for boat theft need to be far more severe than they are at present. “The penalties are far too low”, he said. “The association has been asking government for seven years and more to address the boat theft problem. Police catch these life-criminals but easy bail terms let them out to steal their next boat. Bahamians and visitors—as well as the police—are tired of asking and the frustration of nothing getting done.”
“A big, nationwide effort against boat theft needs to be organized,” summed the association’s director. “Every stakeholder needs to be present at the table, and a definite plan made and close follow-up. The police are overloaded and don’t have anywhere near adequate resources.”
The Association of Bahamas Marinas is the united voice serving the Bahamas’ yachting, boating, sport fishing and marina industries.
PHOTO 1: SeaVee stolen boat being recovered Nassau Village Dec 3 (white hull)
Police from Nassau’s Marine Unit tow the recovered 34-foot SeaVee from the car wreck yard found behind a church in Nassau Village. The boat was hunted down over a 10-day period by a friend of Cliff Bootle, Marina Manager at Treasure Cay, a member of The Association of Bahamas Marinas.
PHOTO 2: Jupiter Boat stolen recovered Bakers Creek (black hull)
By Deandrea Hamilton
The Cassandra I remember never backed down from a fight.
She had an effervescent personality and was fiercely committed to her family—and that included her church and her friends. She deeply
appreciated the people God had given her, drawing on their love and support to push through circumstances no child, no teenager, should have to face.
Today, voters in a country far from where she grew up have trusted her to champion more accessible communities and better responses to people facing mental health and developmental challenges.
It speaks volumes about what happens when we believe in our children. When we refuse to set limits on who they can become, regardless of how they started. When we recognize God’s hand on their lives and support their ability to contribute and make an impact, wherever He places them.
Cassandra Toussaint is now councilwoman-elect for Ward 1 in Avon, Indiana, after defeating Republican Doug Elmore in the November 3 election. She ran as a Democrat. (youarecurrent.com)
Of Haitian heritage, she grew up in Turks and Caicos, attending Oseta Jolly, briefly Maranatha, and then TCIPS.
Her connections remain strong: friends, family and Lady Turks Gift Shop, a boutique venture she created with her best friend, Novie, from an idea they shared as teenagers.
Her family includes her father, Eliezer Toussaint, and her brother, Stoycov Toussaint, who graduated from Indiana University. Stephane Ambroise is playing basketball in Canada. Her mother, Ertha Etienne, died when Cassandra and her siblings were children.
In Turks and Caicos, her cousins Brenda, Steven, Lendcy and Sarah Cenary are, she says, successful and passionate about helping young
people and giving back to their community. Their mother, her aunt Rose Philomene Cenary, has worked in the Islands’ hotel industry for years and holds a special place in Cassandra’s heart.
“My aunt is the glue of my family,” Cassandra said, describing her love for the family and how she has always done her best to support them all.
A registered behavior technician, Toussaint says her childhood experiences inspired her to advocate for children who feel misunderstood.
Her campaign priorities included improved roads, accessible parks and facilities, and police training to better recognize and respond to autism and intellectual disabilities.
With limited money and little preparation time, she took her campaign directly to residents, knocking on doors and connecting at community events.
“Every resident deserves to be met with understanding,” she wrote.
The young woman I remember is preparing to bring that conviction into public office.
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (November 6th, 2026) – The Turks and Caicos Islands welcomes Porter Airlines as it begins its service to the destination with its inaugural Toronto (YYZ) to Providenciales (PLS) route on Friday, November 6th. The airline will service the route five times weekly from the Toronto Pearson International Airport.
On December 17th, Porter will launch its Ottawa to PLS flight, a new route for the Turks and Caicos Islands. That route will be serviced twice weekly from Ottawa International Airport (YOW).
Minister of Tourism, Hon. Zhavargo Jolly said the expansion of air service from Canada reflects the growing strength of that market to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
“Canada is showing strong and growing interest in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and we are pleased to see that reflected in the expansion of air service from the market. Porter Airlines’ new nonstop flights from Toronto and Ottawa strengthen our connectivity with Canada and give travellers more convenient options for reaching our islands. Canadians have always shown a genuine appreciation for the culture, heritage, natural beauty and, of course, the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Perhaps it is that shared warmth and friendliness that keeps bringing them back, and our partnership with Porter will simply make it easier for Canadians to continue showing their love for our Beautiful by Nature islands. Toronto builds on an important existing market for us, while Ottawa opens an entirely new gateway to the Turks and Caicos Islands. This increased access will make it easier for more Canadians to discover and enjoy our destination, while supporting the continued growth of this important market.”
Hon. Arlington Musgrove, minister responsible for aviation, Turks and Caicos commended his team at the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) for developing this relationship with Porter.
“The launch of Porter Airlines’ new services from Toronto and Ottawa to the Turks and Caicos Islands is another important milestone in strengthening our connectivity with the Canadian market. Canada remains an important source market for our tourism industry, and these new routes will give Canadians more choice and easier access to the warmth, beauty, and hospitality of the Turks and Caicos Islands. I
commend the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority for leading this initiative and for its continued efforts to develop air service and build strong relationships with our airline partners. I also extend our sincere appreciation to Porter Airlines for its confidence in the Turks and Caicos Islands and for choosing our destination as part of its growing network of sun destinations. We warmly welcome Porter, its passengers and crew to our shores and look forward to a successful and lasting partnership,” he said.
To celebrate and promote the new flights, Experience Turks and Caicos hosted a reception in Ottawa for travel advisors and media. Organised by VoX International, our marketing agency in Canada, the event featured remarks by Market Intelligence Manager, Sharissa Lightbourne and Chairman of the TCIAA, Dwayne Gardiner. Nikeva Ariza, Director of Corporate Affairs, Communications and Public Engagement was also in attendance.
The new flights are operated by Porter’s 132-seat Embraer E195-E2. The aircraft features a two-by-two seating configuration, meaning no middle seats for any passenger. Porter’s elevated onboard experience includes complimentary beer and wine served in glassware, premium Canadian snacks, and free, fast WiFi for every passenger.
To book your flight, visit www.flyporter.com.
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (November 4th, 2026) – The Turks and Caicos Islands recorded its highest number of stayover arrivals for the third quarter of the year, with approximately 130,000 visitors welcomed between July and September, representing a three percent increase over the same period in 2025.
Preliminary figures from Experience Turks and Caicos show that the destination recorded 514,670 stayover arrivals for the first nine months of 2026, an increase of 25,048 visitors, or five percent, compared with the same period last year. Growth was recorded in every month from January through September, underscoring the destination’s continued appeal among travellers and the sustained demand for its tourism product.
Stay Over Arrivals by Quarter (2025/2026)
September closed the quarter on a positive note, with 20,204 stayover arrivals, seven percent more than the 18,795 recorded in September 2025. The year-to-date total of 514,670 is the highest number of stayover arrivals ever recorded for the January-to-September period.
Commenting on the record stayover arrivals, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Zhavargo Jolly said: “These record arrivals are an encouraging achievement for the Turks and Caicos Islands and a reflection of the continued confidence visitors have in our destination. However, I’ve always maintained that the true measure of tourism’s success cannot simply be the number of visitors arriving on our shores. It must also be measured by the opportunities we create for our people.”
“Our vision is to build a stronger, higher-value tourism industry where Turks and Caicos Islanders are not simply employees, but entrepreneurs, business owners and active participants in the economic opportunities tourism creates. This is why our recent Community Connect meetings across the sister islands were so important. We want to engage directly with our communities, understand their challenges and ensure that as our tourism industry grows, the opportunities for our people grow alongside it. Ultimately, tourism must do more than bring people to our shores. It must improve the lives of the people who call these islands home.”
Cruise arrivals reflect return to regular itineraries
Cruise passenger arrivals at the Grand Turk Cruise Port followed a different trend during the first nine months of 2026, with figures reflecting a return to more typical cruise itineraries following an unusually strong period in 2025.
Last year, cruise lines added Grand Turk to their itineraries, resulting in exceptionally high passenger volumes and cruise calls. With itineraries returning to more regular patterns this year, cruise passenger arrivals declined year over year throughout the first nine months.
The destination received 62,095 cruise passengers in September, a 22 percent decrease from the 79,341 recorded in September 2025. From January through September, total cruise passenger arrivals stood at 838,533, compared with 1,016,532 during the same period last year, representing an 18 percent decline.
Cruise Arrivals by Quarter (2025/2026)
While the cruise figures reflect a normalisation from last year’s elevated numbers, the continued growth in stayover arrivals provides a positive indicator of the destination’s performance in its overnight visitor market.
It is projected that the month-on-month increases in stayover arrivals will continue into the upcoming winter season, especially with the additional airlift expected from new and existing gateways in Canada and the US.
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