BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, March 22, 2010 - Despite being credited for introducing a number of innovative and creative ideas for St. Kitts and Nevis tourism product, Michael Bridgewater is peeved with what he describes as government’s attempts at stagnating his growth and development.
Speaking to the media recently, Bridgewater said that since introducing the Big Banana Safari Tours he has been constantly denied access and various opportunities to enhance his product. “I am frequently requested by the tourists who come here but because of personalities I am being denied access and the opportunity to grow this business that I single handedly invented here in St Kitts,” a visibly upset Bridgewater said.
Bridgewater said that he, like many of the other taxis drivers, is peeved that while they are expected to deliver service at a very high standard they are barred from walking around Port Zante to speak to the tourists. He argues that the best person to promote one’s service is the individual himself, noting that once the tourists are convinced and satisfied they would make use of the service. He noted that there has been no provision for people like him to solicit work at Port Zante, despite the continuous growing requests by tourists to use his service.
Bridgewater is contending that despite meeting with officials of the Tourism Department, where he had disclosed his plans in helping to better promote the island through his business, he is still at the same position. The taxi operator revealed that he would not be doing any island tours, noting that he intends to do something different because he needs to survive.
Bridgewater is of the firm belief that the decision to ignore and not to grant him the required permission border on victimization and discrimination. He noted that while officials of the Tourism Ministry have been giving him excuses for his dilemma, he regularly sees selected taxi drivers being allowed to operate freely and “loosely”.
“I have told them everything but they don’t have me in any of the categories. But what is strange, is that the others who came after me and follow suit my business ideas have been accommodated and being allowed to do what I am doing…but I am constantly harassed,” he said.
He is however optimistic that things would get better and that he would not give up his daily battle in continuation of his business.
Bridgewater declared that by not having the taxi industry being properly managed, minus the politics, it would only further ruin the industry, which would ultimately result in it not being able to be the breadbasket of the Federation.
He stressed that many tourists do return after their first stay on the island, and a number of them have convinced others to come to the Federation because of the service they received primarily from the taxi drivers and also from the one-on-one contact they would have been engaged in while at Port Zante and its surroundings. He however noted that the industry could only get better if the mindset of those within the tourism industry understand that there is need for a drastic change in the way things are done.
“The mindset of these people has to change and they need to look seriously at recognizing the critically important role that Big Banana and others like me have and continue to play, as we continue to do our thing at a very high standard,” Bridgewater said.
The Big Banana founder said that this is very much needed to move tourism forward, and as more money is generated from Safari operators like him, the Federation would have more to spend, which would result in a better standard of living for all, especially the small businesses in the rural areas through his island-wide tours.
