Honesty The Best Policy - Briland Tourists Vow To Be Back.

Visitor Bill Wilderotter with Harbour Island Resident Leah Neely

An act of honesty extended to a group of American Tourists to Harbour Island earlier this summer implanted in them a desire to share their story with Eleuthera and the world, through The Eleutheran.

It was on June 22, 2008 that a group of 11, including Bill Wilderotter of Jacksonville Florida and his wife, traveled to the picturesque historic North Eleuthera destination of Harbour Island for a one week visit.

They arrived in two parties; a group with most of the women flew to North Eleuthera airport, while  Bill and some of the others arrived by boat, that docked at the Harbour Island Marina. They had rented the Blue Dolphin House on Bay Street and after clearing customs at the Marina at about 7:00pm, they then traveled several times between the Marina and the House. It was during one of these trips that, unbeknownst to the visitors, a duffle bag belonging to Mr. Wilderotter fell off of the cart. When the group did realize that the bag was missing, they immediately retraced their route, slowly in the dark, but were unable to find it. It was a big loss, as the bag contained Bill's driver's license and other forms of identification as well as credit cards, cash and a new digital camera.

“My wife and I spent the evening canceling my credit cards and the loss of the bag put a damper on our first night.” said Wilderotter.

The next morning, while her husband was out fishing,  Mrs. Wilderotter, decided to check with the Harbour Island Police Station to see if by some chance the bag had been turned in and according to them, “The bag had not only been turned in, but not one thing was missing, not even the cash”.

It turns out, that a Harbour Island resident, Miss Leah Neely had found the lost bag and took it to the Police Station in an exemplary display of honesty.

In the words, of the grateful, visitors, “Miss Neely’s actions promote your beautiful island in a way that no expensive advertising can buy. We will be back!”