CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC- St Lucia hoteliers and government are implementing a number of measures to reduce crime against visitors following a US state department alert cautioning Americans to be careful when visiting the country.
Allan Chastanet, president of the St Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA), told the Caribbean Media Corporation that among measure being looked at was the establishment of a special unit to deal with tourism within the police force.
He said while hoteliers were implementing their own measures to improve security, they were also discussing with government the proposed establishment of a security company to be an overlay of all hotel security departments. This company would also provide a central command, regular patrols, and a rapid response system, he said.
“We proposed to fund this company and have requested the government’s endorsements and support to ensure a seamless coordination with the St.
Lucia Police Force.”, he said.
He said a consultant had been hired to help design the best structure which would be presented to government before implementation.
Chastanet described the US notice which made special mention of smaller properties where three acts of violence were perpetrated against American visitors in recent times as “unfortunate embarrassment”.
“Our luck has run out”, Chastanet said, noting that as long as the advisory remained it meant that St. Lucia was on “an alerted system” and any further acts of violence against Americans were going to be more accentuated.
Also commenting on the advisory was Tourism Minister Phillip J Pierre who admitted that it was not good news for the island’s tourism sector. He said his Ministry and the Tourist Board were working to counteract the note.
“We need to now play up the positive comments of the majority of American visitors, particularly in American foreign offices,” he said.
Pierre noted that the three visitors that were attacked “were unlucky to have become the victims of a few selfish, unscrupulous people who believe they need to attack tourist because they did not care about themselves or others who benefit from the industry”.
Americans account for over 35 per cent of over all tourism business to the island. Seventy five per cent of these visitors stay at all inclusive properties while the remainder stays at smaller properties.