As we in Anguilla continue to evolve our tourism product, it appears as though some opportunities are slipping through the cracks in our system as easily as the sand on our beaches slips through our fingers. These are opportunities that persons in the hospitality sector can otherwise capitalise on to enhance their own businesses.

Over the last several weeks, especially during the Christmas holidays and into this past weekend, a number of luxury yachts have been spotted anchored in the waters just off our shores. And while we welcome visitors to our island to enjoy its beauty, amenities and pleasures, we also expect them to contribute to the island’s economy by patronising our local businesses.

However, what has been observed is that many of these luxury yachts and power boats seem to operate in a manner that is self-contained, meaning that they offer their patrons all-inclusive packages which allow them to operate independently of anything that is happening on the island or where businesses on land can benefit from their presence. The vessels seem to be stocked with their own water sports equipment for their patrons to use – jet skis, snorkelling gear, water slides, shuttle boats, paddle boards, etc. They also provide meals, drinks and entertainment on board, not only while the passengers are out at sea, but even when the yachts drop anchor off our shores. So, other than Government getting some revenue from these vessels for cruising our waters, how do local Anguillians benefit from their presence in our bays?

Those of us who are familiar with how a cruise functions know that when a vessel goes into a cruise destination, oftentimes the operator is restricted from doing certain things when the ship is in port. For example, they have to close the shops on board the vessel and cannot sell items to their patrons, they cannot lower their own water sports equipment for their patrons’ use, but instead, everyone is expected to use the facilities that are available at the destination site.

But there is a more troubling phenomenon that has been going on for many years as well in Anguilla’s bays. Many persons are now speaking up about it and have brought it to the attention of The Anguillian newspaper. We see quite a number of catamarans and other power boats from neighbouring St Maarten cruising Anguilla’s waters and anchoring a few yards away from our beaches. They bring passengers into areas like Maundays Bay, Sandy Ground, Crocus Bay and Little Bay.

We know that there was a time when similar vessels had contracts with some of our hospitality service providers in Anguilla to bring patrons to their restaurants for lunch. This contributed some economic activity for businesses in Anguilla. But now, most of the vessels anchoring in our bays are operating as self-contained pleasure boats offering to their passengers an all-inclusive package with meals, drinks, entertainment and water sports included, all while they “find themselves and lose the crowd”. But this contributes nothing to Anguilla’s economy.

For those visitors, Anguilla as a destination is just that, a destination – a place to swim, snorkel, jet ski and take selfies. And for the boat operators, it affords the perfect background for producing real-time fun videos and photographs – perfect for advertising their own destination and sporting packages while marketing Anguilla and its cays as easily accessible “offshore cays where visitors can find themselves and lose the crowd”, then leave without ever contributing anything to the island’s economy.

It has been brought to our attention at The Anguillian that there are situations where some of these boats come from St Maarten, pick up guests from some of our hotels in Anguilla and take them on a tour of some of our offshore cays, take them sightseeing around the coast of Anguilla, and sometimes take them to St Barths and St Maarten. This activity has left some Anguillians with troubling questions.

Persons want to know if boat operators in Anguilla have similar access to guests in St Maarten? Can an Anguillian charter boat go to St Maarten, bypass customs and immigration, anchor in the harbour close to a hotel there, pick up guests, take them to St Barths or around St Maarten or, take them to Anguilla and its off shore cays, then back to St Maarten? Do all the boats coming in to Anguilla’s bays – Maundays Bay, Little Bay, Sandy Ground, etc., or to Anguilla’s offshore cays – Sandy Island, Prickley Pear, Dog Island, Silly Cay, etc., clear Immigration and Customs in Anguilla?

By the looks of what was observed by The Anguillian this past week end, these boats appeared to come from St Maarten directly into Maundays Bay without first stopping at the port at Blowing Point or Sandy Ground. How could that be? And if these boats are not first cleared through our sea ports, what prevents them from smuggling people, goods, drugs, weapons, and anything else into Anguilla? It seems as though our boarders are not only porous, but they appear to be wide open – especially to non-Anguillian boat operators. If Anguillians were deemed to be entering into Anguilla without first going through the customs and immigration process, they would be stopped and possibly arrested for illegal entry into the country.

So, is there a need for the Ministry with responsibility for Tourism, and the Ministry responsible for Immigration and Customs to look into this questionable matter – with some degree of urgency? Or, provide some explanation or feedback to the many Anguillians who are concerned about these developments?
Somehow it seems unfair for boat operators in St Maarten to just come into Anguilla, pick up passengers and transport them anywhere, and boat operators in Anguilla not have reciprocal privileges in St Maarten. And, it definitely is unfair if boats from our neighbouring island are in fact allowed to transport visitors to Anguilla, drop anchor in our waters, fully entertain the passengers on those boats and not contribute anything to Anguilla’s economic development.

On Sunday morning alone, The Anguillian witnessed at least six boats come into Maundays Bay, drop anchor directly in front of Belmond Cap Juluca, and remain anchored there for about four hours. Meanwhile, the passengers on board jumped into the water and enjoyed swimming and drinking. They engaged in pleasure activities using equipment that was thrown off the boats into the water – paddle boards, floating devices, snorkel gear, etc. After a few hours, the passengers then got back onto the boats and had food and drinks – none of which was purchased in Anguilla – as they cruised away from the bay. The boats continued to cruise around the coast, dropped anchor offshore again, this time at Little Bay, and the scenario was repeated.

While some persons might express joy and appreciation that the passengers enjoyed the pleasure of Anguilla’s natural resources – sun and sea – some persons question how does anyone in Anguilla benefit from this type of exploitation? This has been happening as far back as the 1990s, we are told, but it is now happening more frequently and in greater capacity. Many persons in Anguilla believe that these pleasure boat operators are treating Anguilla as an offshore cay of St Maarten – a place for their passengers to enjoy a daytrip or have an excursion.

Meanwhile, as the boat operators and their passengers continue to capitalise on the resources of Anguilla – at the expense of local boat operators and restaurateurs, who in Anguilla is minding our shores, bays and cays? Who is in charge and who has an explanation for what appears to be happening, really?

We, at The Anguillian, are highlighting this issue because it has been brought to our attention as an area of concern and vexation to many Anguillians. We feel it is an issue that needs to be investigated fully, discussed publicly and addressed officially.