Walter Francois that visited La Marin, Martinique on February 10 th to 11th. Unauthorized Boat Boys operating at Malgretoute and Jalousie continue to create problems for visiting yachts. As a solution, the authorities in St. Lucia and the Charter Companies in Martinique need to encourage yachtsmen to only use the services of authorized SWTA members. This will help to address the harassment and security problems, which is slowly killing our yachting industry. Association members can be easily identified by their SWTA T-shirts, ID cards and an official price list from the Association for the various services they offer.
All reports are that the current season has been a busy one for the dive industry.
Also, some member operators are reporting that bookings for dive groups for the remainder of the year are significantly up indicating a continuation of the increase in interest in St. Lucia as a dive destination. At this time, fish populations are good and divers are finding that the waters of St. Lucia are meeting their expectations. In the aftermath of Hurricane Lenny we are finding noticeable recovery in areas that had received some damage boosting our optimism for the future. On another positive note, all indications from government officials are that members can now proceed with plans to import new dive boats. By following the proper application procedures operators can expect approval.