Houseboat in the Hills
Ambler Isle
V and S
Sun 9 Jan 2011 18:07
1/2/11
Still at Norman's Cay. We walked to the the
highest hill on the island to inspect the old houseboat. In 1980
when Norman's Cay was held hostage by Carlos Leder, the infamous drug
smuggler, he ordered all residents off the island. Most left. He
also was annoyed by cruising boats anchoring nearby. One boat in
particular was a 35' houseboat. The owners left the boat anchored on the
west side of the island and frequently went home. Leder sent thugs to tell
them to take their boat and go away. They didn't. So, while
they went stateside, the thugs towed the boat ashore and down the road to the
highest hill. They dragged it to the top through heavy scrub and
growth. It would never bob in the current again. It was
rumored that Walter Cronkite brought his boat to Norman's Cay too and
protested his treatment there during this time.
But Carlos Leder had bigger problems than boats
anchoring by his island. The U.S. and Bahamian governments were
plotting a raid to clean up Norman's Cay , and many other little islands
harbouring criminals. He was arrested and brought to trial in the
U.S. His grip on Norman's Cay was over. |
