Port Lucaya Marketplace was jam-packed yesterday with eager young people from colleges and universities all over the United States, Canada and other parts of the world.
Females clad in sexy bathing suits walked along the sidewalks while excited males dressed in only swim trunks followed closely behind.
This daily spoke with a few of the excited young co-eds over the weekend and the general consensus was, “whooo, this is so cool.”
“We’re really having a great time in The Bahamas,” said one thrilled young lady and her boyfriend agreed, “We’re having a blast.”
Every bar and eatery was occupied, but the liquor stores appeared to be raking in the most money.
Most hotels contacted yesterday reported near to full occupancy and straw vendors and hair braiders seem to be cashing in big time. Hotels that cater to the spring breakers include the Sheraton at Our Lucaya, Port Lucaya Resort, Royal Islander, Victoria Inn as well as Club Viva Fortuna.
Taxis and tour buses were in and out of the Marketplace like mad, and some car and moped rental companies were sold out.
The beaches were swarming, as the young tourists rode jet skis, sun bathed, parasailed, enjoyed the booze cruise and other activities.
Shop owners in Port Lucaya say this is the busiest it’s been in a long time.
Tourism officials cited strong marketing campaigns as the major tool for attracting the majority of spring breakers.
General Manager of Product Development Tourism Betty Bethel said the Ministry of Tourism will host a one day event of activities in the International Bazaar that would expose the students to Bahamian culture.
While on island, the students will enjoy paintballing and other classic spring break activities like wet T-shirt contests, limbo dancing contests, drinking contests, tug-of-war, and beach volleyball, among other activities.
Port Lucaya police, however, said they’ve heightened patrols to ensure that law and order is maintained.
Police and security officers say they won’t interfere in the fun that the spring breakers are having unless it is necessary.
Authorities say a special police task force has been established for the 2006 Spring Break period and is ready to crackdown on any potential criminal activity.
“If someone is intoxicated and causing problems then we will interfere,” said a security officer in Port Lucaya. “But if they aren’t bothering anyone and are out of harm’s way, we’ll just leave them alone. We will only interfere in cases that we feel we should to avoid an incident.”
This initiative, dubbed “Operation Spring Break,” involves officers from both the uniformed and plain- clothes divisions and, according to the range of on-island events planned for the students, marine patrol will be mobilized as well as the K-9 unit.
Among the objectives being targeted by this operation are the prevention of illegal narcotics being sold to students, prevention of serious offences being perpetrated against them and to ensure, as much as possible, that they enjoy a hassle-free holiday on the island.
By ANGELO ARMBRISTER, Freeport News Reporter
