I must be joking, you think. Well, think again. Here's the whole story:
When we entered the Bahamas with our friends Peter and Nancy, Lou went to immigration while we waited, as per the law, on board. The office was closed so he had to walk to the officer's house and return to the office with her to fill out the papers. When he handed me the papers for safekeeping, I filed them, without looking; because the officer would only give us a 3 month visa, Lou posted a reminder in the boat to get our visas renewed in April.
April comes, and while looking at our file in order to identify the appropriate papers, Lou discovers an error. Instead of 3 months, I had been given 14 days. How did this happen? We realize Peter or Nancy must have been given 3 months instead of me. So, we walk to the immigration office on Great Abaco Island, and explain the situation to the clerk at the desk who tells me I will have to leave the country. She admits that a mistake was made, but tells us that we have to take the consequences of not looking at the papers when they were filled out; that we waited 3 months to come in (despite the fact that we hadn't known) and that was that. When I tell her we can't leave, we're on a boat, she replies, "Which part of ""You have to leave the country, don't you understand?""!!! After a while of continued repartee, she leaves and returns to usher us into the office of her superior.
We take off our caps, sun glasses, and sit down. Mr. Hutcheson informs us that everything we have been told is accurate, it's the law; how do I want to leave? At this point, Lou and I are not only in shock, but are aware of the power this man wields over us. After all, he could refuse to extend Lou's visa, or not let me back into the country. I wonder to myself whether he gets a kick-back from the airline. So, we're polite; it's Mr. Hutcheson this and Mr. Hutcheson that until he drives me to the airport sans toiletries or change of clothes because it is too late in the day to make the last flight. And, it is also too late to do a return flight in the same day, so I'll have to stay overnight in Ft. Lauderdale.
At the airport, the clerk gives me a discount rate, I kiss Lou goodbye, and fly off in the Yellow Air Taxi you see in the picture above. It's an 8 seater and the 2 hour trip is gorgeous as I fly over the islands, the ocean, and approach the skyscrapers lining the Florida coast.
In the airport, I'm able to easily call the reservation desks of several nearby hotels by pressing the button aligned to the ads on a horizontal kiosk; I pick Best Western which has the best rate. Pick up and delivery are included as well as a full breakfast.
The rest of the day went smoothly and was quite enjoyable. With my free wifi in the room (thank goodness I had our laptop with me!), I was able to post 3 new updates on my blog, make inexpensive calls using Skype from the computer, watch TV (there was nothing on), take a long, hot shower, and get in and out of a bed without having to do any gymnastics.
Next morning, the full buffet breakfast turned out to be good enough despite the inedible powdered scrambled eggs. With time to kill before my flight, I walked to the nearby mall where I picked up a DVD containing 20 black and white early comedies for only $6.00. (We've already watched the Chaplin, Laurel & Hardy & Albert & Costello - great fun!)
After an uneventful trip back, Lou met me at a local restaurant where we shared stories over rum and coke.
Well, if you have to get deported, this wasn't so bad, except for the $400.00 it cost me. My son Damien, ever the financier, asked what would have happened if I hadn't had the money...good question, but I'm glad I didn't have to find out. Other than the inconvenience and expense, what I will retain from this experience were the feelings of humiliation and powerless- ness as if I were a third class citizen; and that was a result of the attitude of the immigration employees.
What would have happened if we hadn't been honest and tried to extend our visa? We've met many cruisers who say they don't do anything and have no trouble. Yet, one man did admit having the same experience the year before; his delinquent visa date was caught by accident despite numerous previous trips to the Bahamas.
Now I'm a statistic. One of the few sent back. But don't think I won't do anything. I plan to send an email to the department of tourism in response to their request for comments regarding our trip to their country.
