Saturday, March 21, 2009

TOURIST MUGGING

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7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Monsieur Gielly may consider that this incident is not a general reflection on St Lucia, but tourists considering a visit to the island will not be so indulgent.

Swift and bold action must be taken by the government and by the public. Work against poverty, education, neighbourhood clean-ups and increased police presence are positive steps but ultimately St Lucian citizens must reprimand those in their community who perpetrate crimes against other St Lucians or tourists.

Tourists and investors, myself included, are concerned and alarmed by crime in St Lucia.

March 21, 2009 at 8:23 AM
Thommo said...

Every society has its share of misfits, delinquents, ne'er-do-wells, and criminals. This is the basis of Monsieur Gielly's comment.
What will really hurt our image as a tourist destination is the frequency and the increasing brutality of these attacks, not to mention the inability of the police to successfully apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators.

We cannot overemphasize the need for effective poliing of the streets of Castries, but the reality of our meagre law enforcement resources makes this a tough challenge.

Thus it is encumbent upon the part of our well meaning citizens to come to the aid of the victims in any way possible without unnecessary risks to life and limb. I applaud those who assisted the victims after the fact.

The eyewitnesses of this crime should be helpful to the police and the police need to act in their professional capacity with all deliberate speed.

Crime fighting can only be excuted successfully through a partnership of civil society and law enforcement.

If there ever was a time when we as a people needed to take matters of criminality and civil disobedience seriously it is now.
fragile economies like ours will not survive this global economic meltdown if the lifeblood of our economy is being threatned by wanton criminality and lawlessness.

March 21, 2009 at 12:48 PM
Anonymous said...

How about government getting more serious about creating jobs for the young people of St Luica. It's a shame that so many young people in the country are growing up helpless and aimless.

To Mr. Gielly, please siraccept my apologies on behalf of the people of St Lucia. A lot of us are not like what you just experience.

March 21, 2009 at 4:10 PM
Anonymous said...

Visitors should be warned not to wander away from the safety of the designated tourist areas, until some of our current and thieving riff-raffs evolve into law abiding citizens. The government must increase the presence of police officers to protect the public instead of them skulking around Castries giving parking tickets. The city has absolutely no parking to do business because the staff of businesses takes all the parking first thing in the morning. Paying some of these rude and obnoxious traffic individuals is a waste of government resources. Where does the government expect drivers to park when they have allowed the minibus drivers to occupy all the available parking and the vulgar display of greed that they have adopted towards parking spaces? Why doesn't the government use the GARDENS area by the Gros-Is-Let bus stop as a BUS Terminal for all as other countries have in a in order to reduce the congestion of traffic on this overwhelmed pear-shaped rock of 238 sq miles? The infrastructure of St Lucia cannot support it’s growth any longer. In fact, this has been so for quite a while. Despite all the visible prosperity in spectacular proportion, St Lucia has actually digressed 33 years since I left there in attitude, tolerance, kindness and most of all truth. Despite these terrible characteristics, I've spent many coming back to St Lucia for family reunions and friends every year since I left. The corruption and greed in some of it's unscrupulous citizens, government and lawyers that exists in St Lucia today is absolutely deplorable, disgusting for such a beautiful and wonderful place that it was. Doing business that involves lawyers and these unscrupulous people I mentioned, is an incredulous and an unbelievable experience not to be wished on one's worst enemy. St Lucia must stop the crime spree by any legal means necessary. Tourism is the number 1 resource of revenue for St Lucia. Yet, some of the people treat tourism as if they can do without it by threatening the very goose that lays the golden egg with criminal acts. Also, many of the staff of the grocery businesses and some hotels are also dangerous, just without the gun or a knife. Their disinterest and indifference towards tourism are truly appalling by their "country bookie" attitudes and mannerisms. St Lucia must move forward rapidly with a new attitude towards themselves, their neighbours and most of all, "tourism" If these changes are not implemented immediately then St Lucia will absolutely self-destruct sooner than previously anticipated.

As one who loves and promote St Lucia, I am hoping St Lucia will change ASAP. Just follow president Obama's slogan "Change" it is the only option we have left.

Very concerned and disappointed Ex-pat

March 22, 2009 at 1:23 PM
Anonymous said...

Stupidity is not written on anybody's face and that's why some are biting the very hand that feeds them.

March 22, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Anonymous said...

To:

Very concerned and disappointed Ex-pat

Sir/Madam, I applaud your logical piece...no one could have said it better. Only hope and wish the authorities (government, that is)...be privy to your piece.

March 23, 2009 at 8:17 AM
Anonymous said...

Mr Gielly and Mother, I am so sorry you had to go through this ordeal.

Let me assure you that the general public does not share that violent sentiment, but is shared only in a few riff raffs (which, with God's help must be prosecuted).

Our sincerely apologies to you and your family.

March 23, 2009 at 8:30 AM

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