Guest Author - Lea Ann Fessenden-Joseph
Ten Ways to Stay Safe in the Caribbean
Fatality in Antigua
The beautiful island of Antigua is still reeling from the fatal shooting of a Welsh honeymoon couple, Dr. Catherine and Ben Mullany. The husband and wife, both 31 years of age, were attacked in what appears to be a “robbery gone bad” at their Coco Hotel cottage on Sunday, July 27, 2008 at approximately 5:00a.m. Dr. Catherine Mullany died immediately following the fatal gunshot to her head and her new husband died after being airlifted back to Wales.
I used to be a frequent visitor to Antigua myself. It is a truly lovely island with gorgeous beaches. But I too met up with a few unsavory characters on one of those beaches. Most of the time you will encounter some rastas trying to sell you a coconut, put aloe vera on your sun burnt back or anything they can think of to get you to give them a dollar or two. My suggestion is just smile and say “no thank you.” They can be very aggressive but don’t let them intimidate you. If you feel uncomfortable, notify the staff on the beach and they will see to it that they are quickly removed.
Sadly, the Caribbean islands are very poor. Most tourists only see the ultra-clean, well appointed all-inclusive resorts and don’t really see the ghettos and shacks where most natives live. Many local Caribbean people do not have toilets, running water or even electricity. Those that do spend their entire paychecks paying for these expensive services and have little to nothing left to feed themselves or their children. Jobs are scarce and tourism is obviously the main contributor to the island’s economy.
Caribbean police and tourism boards honestly do try everything in their power to curtail the robberies and occasional victimization of tourists, but every now and then a thief or two will fall through the legal system and decide it is a quick way to pay for their illegal habits.
Here are a few tips to help you enjoy your visit safely:
1. Always keep all doors and windows safely locked to your hotel room.
2. Do not bring the bling. Leave your extravagant jewelry at home or locked in a hotel safe.
3. Do not flaunt your money, keep large quantities hidden and only keep a few bills in your wallet.
4. Hire reputable guides to show you around. Every island has guides who for a small fee will travel with you and show you the interesting sights. I hired one in Jamaica and he did not let me out of his site. He even showed up the next morning to make sure all was well. It was worth the $30 or so to have him drive myself and my friend and watch over us.
5. As tempting as it may be, never invite anyone to your room or even tell them your room number. If you want to meet up with someone, choose a different location to meet.
6. It’s very common for locals to ask where you are staying, mostly just out of curiosity and trying to make conversation. It is best to avoid giving a straight answer.
7. As mentioned earlier, the police do not want tourists to ever be harassed or mistreated so don’t hesitate to contact them if you feel you are being watched, stalked or singled out.
8. Do not walk around at night in dark areas such as unlit gardens or beaches, unless with a large group.
9. Try to keep drinking under control. Nothing spells “target” more than a falling down drunk.
10. Enjoy your self but watch your back as you would anywhere.
My recommendation is to continue to enjoy the incredible riches the Caribbean offers: the beaches, the sunsets, the ocean, the history, the culture, the shopping. No matter where you go in the world, you will undoubtedly find that there are bad people, some worse than others.
