Antigua is still a safe place to visit, says expert

Holidaymakers have been told by one expert this week that Antigua is still a safe to destination to holiday in and were advised not to panic after a recent high-profile case of violence.

The idyllic Caribbean holiday destination, which is said to have one beach for every day of the year, came under the spotlight on Sunday July 27th when a British couple were shot in their hotel room.

Catherine Mullany and her husband Ben were on the last day of their holiday when robbers broke into their sea-view cottage and shot them both.

Ms Mullany was killed instantly and her husband was later proclaimed brain dead upon arriving back into Wales on Monday August 4th.

The tragic event has attracted a frenzy of media attention and the details of the pair's newly married status has elicited much pathos.

However, according to Adam Vaitilingam, author of the rough guide to Antigua and Barbuda, the island is normally a relatively safe place to go on holiday.

"Attacks on tourists in Antigua, and indeed in the whole of the Caribbean, are thankfully very rare but this is such a horrendous attack and such gratuitous violence and because it's been so high profile it's bound to have an adverse effect," he said.

Mr Vaitilingam added that the British honeymooners' fate was the result of a rare attack of violence.

"The trouble is, because it's so horrific, it will carry enormous publicity - as it should - but people normally in Antigua feel incredibly safe wherever they go. It's a most unusual event," he concluded.

Indeed, the British Foreign Office is urging holidaymakers to travel with caution.

The government department issued a statement stating that violent crime in Antigua has increased overall in recent months.

"You should take sensible precautions and be vigilant at all times. Avoid isolated areas, including beaches after dark. Do not carry large amounts of cash or jewellery. Valuables and travel documents should be left, where possible, in safety deposit boxes and hotel safes," holidaymakers are advised.

According to the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime and Interpol, the overall Caribbean murder rate of 30 per 100,000 is higher than for any other region of the world.

The two bodies note that violence towards women in particular is widespread.

Mr Vaitilingam disagrees, saying that in fact the Caribbean has a low but significant crime rate.

He adds that in order to be safe people should act in Antigua as they would at home, i.e. avoiding dark and lonely areas at night time and not flashing valuables.