AN UPDATE On my previous description of Green Turtle, Abaco, Bahamas.
Recently returned from an all too quick trip (fly over) to the Abacos - Green Turtle to be exact. My wife and I hit on G.T. 21 years ago (completely by accident on our honeymoon) and have been going back ever since. This time I went with my son for a little diving and and island hopping with a rented 15' whaler. It took this trip for me to realize that G.T. has really been discovered.
Things started changing in the last three or four years. Originally, When I first discovered G.T. there were no cars on the Island. Electricity was only provided for the village of New Plymouth. The clubs at the other end had their own generators. A flashlight was a necessary item for travel since the electricity would go off regularly. "The good ole days in the Bahamas". Radio was the primary means of communications (and still is, only now VHF instead of CB). And of course you didn't see any satellite dishes that have sprung up all over the place.
During the years we have been going there we have got to know lots of the locals, watched many get marry and start families of their own. Recently with the change in government there has been more emphasis for development of the out islands ("Family Islands") versus Nassau & Freeport, two cities I have no interest in - maybe Nassau every couple of years. The new President is from Abaco and as an election promise he has started to improve the roads and infrastructure on Abaco's mainland. As a result even little Green Turtle Cay, off shore has seen development. Land has been sub divided and some lots (1/2 acre) are now selling for up to $300,000 (on water). Seems the son-in-law of the origional owner of the G.T. Club, the islands major resort (now that his wives father has died) is getting a little greedy. The old man was happy with just breaking even, but is seems his son in law wants to make a killing. Normally I wouldn't care, but I'm afraid his plans will change the Island's character into something other than what everybody has fallen in love with. Anyway how can this little island support the development planned? Yes there is a minimal garbage dump there and limited electricity but they can't support the planned development. That is the big question.
Another change, for the better, depends on your point of view. Recently they have changed the time period that duty would be assessed on your boat if cruising in the Bahamas. Before you would get hit with a 25% duty on the value of your boat and equipment if your stay exceeded six months! Now you can get an easy extension of up to a year. You can now even get a special cruising permit ($500 annually, I think) that will let you stay indefinitely. As a result the cruising charted companies have started to return to the Bahamas. Most are Based in Marsh Harbour. This gives the islands even more exposure. Add to this those "BIG RED" Disney Cruise Boats that stop in Great Guana Cay and ferry people to the neighboring cays of Man-o-War and Green Turtle.
I guess what we have here is the classic catch 22. The native folks like it for the increase in business but to the tourists who have been going there for years it's down here from here.
I am Sorry to get into this dissertation, but wanted the readers to know a little about me and where I'm coming from. Yes I have been to other islands in the Abacos, Man-O-War, Hopetown on Elbow Cay and Little Harbour and other uninhabited Islands to numerous to name but G.T. has always been my favorite. I have been to the other Island groups where I have discovered the a new home away from home. Here I'm sure progress will arrive but not for long time, I hope. It is not on the Sport fishing circuit nor the charter fleets charts nor within range of the "Big Red"boats. With what is going on at G.T. I will soon have to change my allegiance. Maybe it's just progress, but for me, I prefer to be one step ahead of it.
