Boat cruise operator David Durham says he's had enough of a thankless job and will stop offering late-night excursions for youth aboard the M.V. Longtail .

The move follows complaints to Police from an upset Hamilton mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, claiming her son and a group of visiting family and friends were intimidated by troublemakers demanding money, and that a Canadian youth was punched in the face while on a Monday night cruise aboard Durham's 65-foot catamaran.

She also said marijuana was smoked openly on board the Longtail , which operates from Albouy's Point, and that cruise sponsor, John Barritt & Sons Ltd., failed to provide adequate adult supervision for the 43 youths aboard.

"What can I say,'' countered Bruce Barritt. "Our banners were all over the boat but I don't think it's up to us to provide the supervision.

"We've supported the cruises for the last year and a half and have never had a comment, good, bad, or indifferent. No one's ever said `thanks Barritts.' "We give the M.V. Longtail free syrup and prizes for dances but that's all we have to do with it,' said Mr. Barritt.

Mr. Durham and his daughter, Sancha, 16, were present Monday night and deny an assault took place or that marijuana was present.

A 12-year-old boy was put ashore early into the cruise, said Ms Durham.

"At the very beginning he walked on with this cane, this stick. This woman claimed she didn't want the kid on the boat,'' said Mr. Durham.

"This woman is making a situation out of nothing. She doesn't know what she's talking about because she wasn't on the boat.

"She's created the whole problem; from the time she got there to the time she left everything was negative,'' said Ms Durham.

Mr. Durham however, who has been running the youth cruises for the past five summers, has had enough.

"It's a lot of work and it's getting to be a thankless job. I'm not going to stand by on the dock and let me and my daughter get cussed at. Things have happened in the past; there have been scuffles on the dock but never on the boat.

"It's a lot of responsibility; you always have to watch and if a kid gets out of hand you have to be there,'' said Mr. Durham.

"It's like anything else where you get a group of people together. There are going to be a few problems; it happens with adults and kids,'' said Mr.

Durham.

"But I have to cancel, I have no choice; I can't afford the bad publicity. If (this lady) thinks I'm doing such a bad job let her buy a million-dollar boat and do it.

"I think it's important to mention her name. A lot of kids are going to wonder why the cruises are cancelled ... There's nothing for them to do and a lot of Bermudian kids looked forward to these cruises. This woman should stand by her word. She's changing the whole thing for the youth,'' he said.

There were also ten adults on board, including the Captain and the two mates, said Durham.

Police spokesman P.c. Gary Venning says a complaint was received Monday night but it was reported after the fact.

"There's little we can do after the fact. We've had problems with party boats in the past. Every time a boat goes by playing loud music people call to complain,'' said P.c. Venning, who added Police are also looking into a second noise complaint lodged over the weekend.