CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC – The US government has issued a travel advisory against St Lucia following growing crime on the island since the start of the year.
The alert, posted on the US State Department website, advises its citizens to chose hotels carefully and research the property’s internal security arrangements before booking. It said that since the beginning of 2006, there have been three reported incidents in which U.S. citizens staying at hotels in rural areas have been robbed at gunpoint in their rooms.
It also reveals that victims were beaten, and, in the most recent case, one was raped. The posting noted that authorities here detained and later released suspects in two of the three assaults.
The US government said St Lucia officials were making efforts to tighten security on the island but advised visitors to inquire about their hotel’s security arrangements before making reservations.
Also in the alert is information about gang activity and driving habits of locals. It says roads are reasonably well paved but poorly marked, narrow and winding, with steep inclines/declines throughout the island.
The US market accounts for over 35 per cent of overall arrivals with American visitors spending more per day than visitors from any other country.
The advisory follows recent discussions by tourism and law enforcement officials about the crime situation here.