Dear Editor,
Easter Monday is almost here—the unofficial start of the beaching season for Bahamian citizens and residents. As per custom, families will gather on our shores to eat, laugh, build sandcastles, unwind, and soak up the sun, as they have for generations. In the capital, we will compete for space at the few oversubscribed beaches still accessible to ordinary people.
My question is simple: where are the trained lifeguards at public beaches across the archipelago? It is dangerously unacceptable that, year after year, we allow thousands to flock to the sea with no structured safety net in place.
Beaching is our birthright, and we should not take safety for granted. We have all heard stories of drownings and near-drownings, and we have also heard stories of heroic rescues by vigilant lifeguards at private hotels and resorts. The contrast is concerning.
I urge the Davis administration to re-examine its priorities and take meaningful steps to protect our people. Lifeguards are not a luxury; they are a necessity. Regrettably, far too many Bahamians cannot swim—and even those who can are not immune to tragedy. The government must do its part to minimize risk and prevent unnecessary loss of life.
In addition to staffing beaches with trained professionals, this administration must urgently:
Improve signage
Maintain showers, playgrounds, and restroom facilities
Enforce regulations on watercraft activity, especially in areas frequented by families
Now to my fellow beachgoers: let’s do our part and take personal precautions. Watch children and the elderly closely; never swim alone; and wear flotation devices. You may not consider them fashionable—but they save lives.
As wonderful as your pets are, not everyone is comfortable around animals. Please control your four-legged friends.
Be courteous, and refrain from smoking near others who are trying to breathe fresh air and catch that pure ocean breeze.
Finally, clean up after yourself. Leave only footprints in the sand.
Beaching is a central part of Bahamian culture. It is time for beach safety to become a national priority. Look out for each other this Easter Monday and in the months to follow. A beautiful day at the beach should never end in sorrow.
Sen. Hon. Maxine Seymour
