The authorities wish to ban all boats on the estuary, except tourist boat concession holders. This will have a drastic effect on the town as it will impact directly on the local tourism sector and eliminate a large section of people from the market. There are many boat owners in the country who from time to time would like to have the pleasure of using their boat on lake St. Lucia. If one may take a look at the under lying causes of the steady decline of the number of boats using the estuary over the last few years one will soon realise that the local authorities do not know how to deal with individual trouble makers, and so solve their problem by banning the use of things like 4X4 's water bikes, motor bikes, 4 wheelers, trailers on the beach, etc.

The authorities have also made it difficult for the public to use the estuary for pleasure boating or fishing. Over the last few years no repairs have been done to any of the old public jetties, and even the owners of private jetties have not been able to build on the water front due to legislation.

All of this has had a drastic effect on the boating public, and now there are many boat owners who hardly ever use their boats due to the regulations which have been passed. The authorities now want to ban all boats on the estuary, citing pollution by boats as their main problem.

Those who wish to use their boats on the lake and estuary are invited to use the bulletin boards set up by Mtuba4u, as discussion forums to facilitate the formation of a few lobby groups who will attempt to oppose the passing of the new proposed legislation. If we do not act fast and get our act together soon, we will suffer the same fate as the 4X4 ban.

We all know what the 4X4 ban has done to the tourism industry with in the greater St. Lucia wetlands park, as there is a large section of our visitors who come to the area specifically to go fishing, and the good spots are all along the beach which has no or very limited vehicular access, from  Richards bay in the south to Kosibay. in the North.

Sure there are still places which are making money, but their money is mostly from foreign based tourists who visit our shores once, or perhaps two or three times in their whole life. The regular visitors, who come fishing at least twenty days each years are chased away by the foolish attitude of the authorities, and the lack of co-operation between tour operators and businesses with in our region. They do not realise that the fisherman brings his whole family along to enjoy the day at the beach, and relax in the sun. Because the fisherman is made uncomfortable within our region he will choose to go else where and take his family and friends with him to an alternate destination where he is made to feel comfortable, welcome and appreciated.

There is a great deal of jealousy amongst the tour operators, and very little co-operative and collective marketing of our region.  Each of these tour operators wants the business for himself, but is unable to attract enough clients to the area for his own business, but yet they fight amongst each other and do not even socialize together.

The general public who wish to enjoy life and the pleasures of the out doors need to stand together and force the tourism industry to take note of the local visitors who have supported them throughout the years. The tourism industry appears not to  want locals in the area, which is becoming apparent by their attitude towards :

1. The use of the beach
2. The use of the lake
3. The game parks
4. Driving of 4X4 on the beach
5. The use of motorbikes within the area
6. The use of boats on the estuary

These are just a few of the things which need to be addressed, and the  locals need to take action against these individuals who are busy  hijacking our heritage, and putting it up for sale to foreigners only.

Visit any one of the discussions on these issues, and leave your comments for the world to see.  Clicking on any of the links above will take you to a discussion forum on that issue.

many thanx for reading this page, please visit at least one of the discussions to read what people have to say about the banning of our pleasures and favourite pass times.

This web site is hosted by Host Africa

Copyright © 2009  INFO4U . All rights reserved.
Revised: April 18, 2012 09:35:38 -0400 . (South African standard time)