The police in Dominica are contradicting a blog on popular travel website ‘Tripadvisor.com’ which labels Dominica as crime ridden.
According to the blog posted on June 8th 2014 and dubbed “Crime and Safety in Dominica,” a visitor stated that he and his wife were “victimized by crime,” beginning with their scuba gear being stolen from their hotel room.
The writer then alleged that they were targeted while hiking at Emerald Pool by two masked men in camouflage gear armed with machetes and were warned that they should not make a report of the crime to the police.
Furthermore, the writer claimed, they were randomly asked in the Roseau Market about the mugging.
“We tried to leave the market when a man jumped out of a car with a large knife and came after us,” the writer wrote.
The writer also claimed that he and his wife had to take an early flight off the island and the best way to avoid their experience is to hire a local to accompany visitors, which they said was not a guarantee to safety.
But police PRO, Inspector John Carbon, has given a different version of what was reported on Tripadvisor.com.
He confirmed that an incident of robbery at the Emerald Pool was reported to the Castle Bruce police station on April 13 but the crime was done by one masked man with a knife.
He said the visitor was robbed of about US$35.
Carbon also pointed out the visitor was on a cruise ship and has left Dominica making it difficult for the police to pursue the case.
He remarked that there are no police records of scuba gear being stolen at any hotel in Dominica or any attack at the Roseau Market.
There were at least six comments in response to the blog.
One blogger wrote the entire matter was “nonsense” and felt “completely safe at all times when visiting the island.”
Other bloggers thought the news was disturbing and added that in the past there have been violent crimes perpetrated by locals to visitors.
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They say poverty is a crime but I say poverty leads to crime. If there was work in Dominica young people would most likely not have time for crime. Wise up my people its time for change.
I do not fully agree with you. You are upholding crimes. The change you want will not prevent crimes from being committed in D/ca. Wait and see. As the world progresses, so do evil people and crimes. In bygone years there was nothing to steal. Today there is a lot to steal. What people have burn their eyes therefore they steal.
Many people are unemployed and they do not resort to crimes. Furthermore, in this era, they receive financial assistance from the government. It appears the more some people get and have, the more they want. They allow themselves to envy what others have.
You can add to this that due to their godlessness, selfishness and non-caring, they have turned to crimes.
How were they nurtured? What type of friends they associate with? All these could influence them and contribute to a life of crime.
Those who commit crimes should be dealt with according to the Dominican Law.
I read the original blog and there is no doubt in my mind that the post was malicious. Most responders stated that they had been to DA several times and the post was exaggerated and bogus.
Thats your opinion and you should be honest these people have nothing to gain .
This is really awful news for us! Trip Advisor is usually very good. I’ve left feed back for years and they’ve always promoted Doninica. How on earth can they allow one experience by a tourist (albeit very disturbing) taint out beautiful Island??? We all need to defend our DA. I’m really pleased that the first defence came from the Police. Well done Mr Carbon!!!
DNO please correct the spelling of Dominica for me. This was a typing error. Many grateful thanks
One experience? Read the feed backs for Batibou Beach on Trip Advisor around 2012. I did not go there because locals warned me too. It`s better now though I`ve read and I hope it stays that way- for every body!
Although I think the market story was made up just to hype their displeasure with being so violated, “victimized by crime”; just put yourself in their place while trying to enjoy yourself on an island. This is no joking matter. The police are looking like jokers seeming to make excuses when they should be tightening up security for people to enjoy our island. When you are so victimized by crime, it is very painful.
My wife and I vacationed in Dominica twice before deciding to move to the Nature Island. We lived there without any problems and are looking forward to returning as soon as we can. Dominicans are friendly, welcoming, helpful, proud, and honest. They embrace visitors to their island, and local guides are not a necessity for safety, but will definitely enhance your experience in this incredible country. All the negative comments regarding mugging and robbery are not representative of our time in Dominica. We highly recommend it for travelers who are willing to enjoy and respect the beauty and uniqueness of the island and its local culture.
Sir brian Alyne warned that the legal professiion needs to be regulated…
THE judges and magistrates are trained defence lawyers.
Too many lawyers see the criminals as a secure source of income rather than giving proper legal counsel.
The court and the lack of professional integrity among the lawyers is the problem.
i am just one of the countless investors who have had to abandone investments in Dominica because we simply cannot depend on the juditial system.
After being warned to apear as a witness of armed robbery at least twice a year from 2008 to 2014 and the case cant get started because the magistrate breaks every rule to favour the defendants, my son corrected me as he concluded: “Dad you were wrong. Crime does pay”
Even the police officers said: “how do they expect us police to remember what happened after so many years?
“The Lord hates a dishonest scale!”
Saddly
this is just one of the many ways Dominica is reaping the soar fruit of the seeds planted.
Very sad! I gave up too. And it still hurts because so much potential- and I don`t mean my financial benefit.
There is crime every where but this one I don’t believe, in one day all these crimes happen to one couple. I meet a co-worker who visited DA with her husband and she was so impressed with the welcome they received. She showed me pic of the sensay, costume bands, ect and she said they will visit again. Some one is out trying to destroy Dominica’s image but we should not allow them.
Batibou beach- teenager- rape… Do I have to say more? Some guys in Dominica were trying to destroy not only the image of Dominica but the soul/body/mind of a young girl beeing on holiday in Dominica.
The couple, while bathing whose vehicle was broken into. They chose D/ca to spend their honeymoon. Their traveling documents were stolen (I read they got them) and their wedding ring was stolen. The officer who interviewed them told them to leave their wedding ring and clothes as evidence. Just imagine. He could have taken a picture of them as evidence since the couple were traveling elsewhere soon; didn’t use his sense.
For those who knew about it, remember the saga of the wedding ring which they never got. The box arrived with a hole at the bottom but not their wedding ring.
I do not know if some people have encountered such problems in one day but a few different times.
Granted, everywhere has crimes but when tourists are raped and a teenager at that, are attacked, injured and their personal effects as also money stolen, if they survive and return to their country, do not expect them to keep quiet about their bad experience.
Those who had an enjoyable time will also not keep quiet about it. As I always say, news travels faster than lightening especially bad news.
There should be more police patrol all over the country especially in areas where tourists visit and bathe. Otherwise, if crimes continue to flourish especially when tourists visit, D/ca will lose their business and this will be bad for its reputation and economy. It is already bad enough.
sorry to hear about this drama, yah all over the world this crime happens. I meet Europeans and Americans they told me they enjoy thier stay in d/ca and will be back again, some buy homes which was so cool. They should be thanking god, some criminals don’t give you a change to tell your story. Some Islands in the caribbean it is worst. Dominica is beautiful.sad to say you don’t need to travel here in the Caribbean stay home in your crime free country.
A few years ago in August, remember the couple who owned a hotel/restaurant who were attacked? I remember it was in August because it was the Caribana weekend. I attended a BBQ that Sunday. The following day I received an email to that effect as was reported on DNO.
The couple went to Florida for treatment. I have not heard if they returned to D/ca.
A man, from Great Britain who worked as a manager at another hotel and was at their hotel was murdered in cold blood.
There are more cases as reported on DNO.
Both the incident that happened to these people, and the police response are sad. Even I knew this was coming. The victims mentioned last year that they were going to expose this over the internet. Woop, there it is. What makes me shiver is the tipical police attitude that I have heard before, and also the crime by those idiots. Tourism is a fragile thing, just ask St. Croix. Police need to patrol the tourist frequented areas, use the bikes from the Chinese donation, show presence to help keep crime down.
I really don’t believe this actually happened, but I am happy that a story like this came out. We Dominicans should be more conscious about preserving our tourism product and know that any crime committed against our visitors in what ever magnitude can do serious damage.
Smh …. That’s. Just a malicious attempt by some tourist with too much time on there hand or frustrated about what ever….this is all the reason why we need to invest in agriculture.. Cause these simple messages by somone could cause our fragile tourism industry to crumble….
Yes to agriculture, and not just produce, but value added products. Not just bananas, but banana-flavoured baby food, etc.
Why are you blaming the tourists what about the criminals and the police . No one travels to another country spending money on airfares and accomdation in order to cause problems . By tbe way there are far to many people living in Dominica who have far to much time on there hands , prefer sitting around instead of working.
Many lazy ones who refuse to seek employment. They are a menace to society and create havoc. Satan finds some mischief for idle hands to do. I would also add, idle feet.
Contradiction here. If the people came on a Tourist Boat,how come,they have Hotel Room for their scuba gear to be stolen?
Crime against tourist is a serious problem here, believe it or not. My friends and I decided to go to Mero Beach one hot sunny weekday afternoon about 2 pm because it was too hot in the office. On arrival at the beach we saw two guys lurking in the bush with long cutlasses, looking across the beach we saw an old white couple suntanning on the beach. As soon as we saw this we immediately identified that we had come on the scene just in time as these guys were going to attack these old tourists. Our arrival foiled the plans and that couple experience in Dominica was saved by our presence on the beach. The guys stayed a good while before they could finally decide to give up and retreat. Seems like they were hoping we did not stay long. when they realized we were gonna be a while, they left, and came back, then left again. When we left the beach the old couple had already left. We just decided to go to the beach out of the blue…. it was for a special reason…. actually we ditched work after lunch that day to go on the beach and i have not felt guilty for it, it was for a cause…..
These things happen a lot, some don’t get reported.
As always, there is no smoke without fire. Among other crimes, I recall reading on DNO that a couple was accosted at the market or the old market. The criminal took the woman’s chain and purse. DNO will have to search for this one.
If those criminals are caught, they must be informed of the harm also done to D/ca’s reputation internationally. They must be dealt with appropriately. Some of their own fellow D/cans have no wish to visit due to their crimes.
Let us not defend them and state it never happened. Some are luckier than others that it did not happen to them on a visit.
Dominica is not crime ridden but the country is led by a bunch of people who behave like criminals and promote a sense of lawlessness. They disrespect and disregard our laws including our constitution.
As they say, a fish always start to spoil from the head. Likewise, the crime that we have in Dominica emanates from the head of state and government.
That is why CHANGE is a must.
Oh yes.dominica does have an crime infestation
Reporting doesn’t always mean that the crime will be investigated , and some of the investigations will not go further than the charge office or the C I D office what about the sexual assault report which was made on the 12th. of June 2013.
unfortunate incident
our police tight on de internet man
quick response
i’ve wished for a similar quick response on other matters not directly related to tourism
I agree. Such as doing their job enforcing the Noise Abatement act, when neighbors are being tortured by neighbors with loud music and they call Dominica police, they never do their job and SIMPLY enforce the LAW. Carbon we know that’s Dominica police.
The churches and politicians should make a concerted effort to address the crime issue in Dominica. Labour and UWP leaders should denounce the violence on the same stage. Winning elections is one thing, protected the people and visitors to Dominica is another. Speaking out against homosexuals and unwelcome visitors and entertainers is well and good, but so is addressing the crime situation in Dominica.
This is one of the reasons why I take there reviews with a grain of salt.
I read that post and I find these people are the most unlucky people on earth. They need to stay in their home and watch TV.
really a the market place? and no dominican came to yuor aid? at THE MARKET? awa pa la. i know DOMINICANS BETTER THAN THAT. im not believing that one
Or this could be another case of robbery in the same area and not the April 13th one. If the perpetrator was successful one time, no matter the small $35USD, chances are they will try again w/ or w/o assistance (one person or two persons).
Hopefully this matter gets cleared up.
I see an inconsistency in the story and not a contradiction. The police is actually confirming a robbery toke place. On the point of view of tourist it does not matter if is one or twenty masked men. The point is they were robbed.
We cannot solve crimes even if the police know who did it so what difference it makes that the folks leave.
Mr. Carbon sounds like he is making excuses and it is sorry.
Yes shaka Zulu if you were anything like your namesake there head s would be sitting upright on a spear . The police are lazy and ineffectual.
Carbon what was your reason for mentioning US$35. Was it to create that subliminal message that is was a mere …………….. So what are the stats on tourism related crime…. How many reported cases and what are the nature of the cases as at last year in comparison to this year. Isn’t that the way to disseminate information instead of that nonsense about ………..
but the crime was done by one masked man with a knife!! Whats the same difference between 1 masked man and 2 mask men!!!!!
I don’t even see the need for Dominican to respond, the person gave their experience and others gave their positive experience, case closed. There are other more important issues to post about.
Dominicans are very hospitable and warm but it only takes one bad event, threat, or perception of threat for the world to know, particularly in this internet age. We must do alot better to first and foremost protect the health safety and security of our own people and may the tourists so benefit. Too little proactive thinking on that. We want to react to issues that tourists raise, but what about our own people who go through the grinds too. The same issues such as unsanitary conditions, garbage disposal, crime, security, vagrancy, drugs, abandoned property, disregard for the environment, etc affects the everyday person. Why do we want to pay attention to stinky drains, vagrant or other assaults, muggings, bad roads, crumbling infrastructure only because the tourists complains. We all pay taxes and expect health and safety and decent standards of living. May the tourists benefit when we expect reasonable standards for ourselves and hold our leaders feet to the fire to elevate our standard of living. We deserve more ourselves first.
It is stupid for the police to deny something like that when in fact there is plenty of Crimes in Dominica, and the police seem powerless to do anything about it.
Either they are not skilled and capable of fighting crime, or they simply does not want to do anything to eliminate the high volume of crimes in the country. My family has been the victim of crimes such as murder. As recently as this year, one of my nieces was beaten to death!
A few years ago my nephew was also murdered in Wesley, to this day the murderer is still walking the streets. The man who actually beat my niece to death is on the island of St. Lucia, while my niece is in the grave!
Gong Emanuel house is firebombed, the culprits in the crime are allegedly know as of this day they are yet to be to be prosecuted. Tourist as well as citizens are held up at gun point: how does the police classify that, are such actions not crimes? As everything else the Dominica police are trying to sweep that under the rug too.
Visitors who are victims of crime in our country will not go home to their prospective country’s and help Dominicans, and in fact Dominica police cover the truth. We need to face it, and do something to resolve the problem of crimes in our country. How do you tell a person who came to Dominica, and some piece of human garbage attacked them, beat,an steal their money and personal belonging, “we are sorry, go home to your country, and remain silent about what happened to you while visiting Dominica?”
The truth must be told!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Man you are talking as if you have first hand knowledge of the validity of these reports. You have not even given us the benefit of the doubt but rather have already sided with the blogger simply on the grounds that you and your family have experienced crime here in DA. Although I don’t doubt that you have experienced those incidences of crime which you have cited, I do believe that other individuals on other Caribbean islands could cite similar or even worse incidences which they have and continue to experience. I have lived in a number of places both in and out of the Caribbean which have a far greater crime rate than Dominica, so please stop trying to make it seem like we are the absolute worse. I don’t appreciate your tone.
I could care less about the reports!
Now, tell me how do you account for my nephew, who was found in my village of Wesley with his throat lashed, murdered? How do you account for the one who went to the police and took responsibility for killing my nephew. The police refused to listen to him implicate himself.
They let him go, days later after they the police refused to arrest him stating he is incompetent, and does not know what he is talking about, days after they let him walk free, he also was found murdered in the same Village of Wesley, with his throat slashed in the same fashion as that of my nephew he claimed he murdered. How do you account for my niece who was brutally beaten to death actually by someone two months, he fled the island and is on the island of St. Lucia, and Dominica police has done nothing to get this culprit back to Dominica: Keep running your stupid mouth of while people are getting slaughtered right left and center, and the same police turn the other way. Tell me how do you account for Claudette, a former girlfriend found dead in the village with a broken neck! How do you account for the many people Kenneth Telemaque found dead in an area next to his home on Eden Road? Those are in the village of Wesley alone, people are harmed by violence in Dominica every day of the year, and the police act as if they are powerless to do anything about apprehending the criminals. How do you account for the for the foreigner living in Calibishe, a woman who was beaten raped and robed sometime last year.
Do you want me to go on? Are you not ashamed, and afraid that I will expose more. What about even the native Dominica who are held up at gun point in the middle of the day in the heart of Roseau, and their money taken away. How do you account for the robbery of the gas stations at gun point, what about the robbing of Credit Union in Woodford Hill, in broad day light, held up by two feet animals with machetes (cutlass).What about the robbery in broad daylight in Marigot, are these not crimes? Are you so blind, or brainwashed that you no longer understand what is a crime. The people who reporting had to be the victims of something vicious in Dominica which caused them to inform other of their experience. You know I took one of my daughters to Dominica with me. I do not know if someone took us for tourist. The dirty man with his plastic shoe on his feet, and green, and red rubber hat on his head, with some nasty long beards, introduce my daughter to two pieces of coconut shell hanging from a black string, forcing her to buy his crap.
I told the guy we do not have any need for such things, I am from Wesley, I have coconut trees in Wesley, my daughter was born in Antigua, and her grandmother owns coconut trees there if we wonted dry coconut shell scraped and dip into vanish we can do that ourselves. the idiot commenced cursing me, the thing he called is Bugger-man,(homosexual). Now if I am black, and was dealing with a black idiot, who treated my daughter and I so disrespectfully. Do you expect someone like that to treat a white foreigner any different? Man go flight a kite on a piece of wire in a thunder storm!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
The crime is high , cases are not reported .
@ Francisco Telemaque:
Whew!! You spewed a mouthfull of hate at me bro. I was having a civil discussion with you or so I thought. But now I see that you are more pig than human.
Name a country where there is no crime.
Dominica is a blessed country.
The whole world is full of crime and Dominica is no better .
Does not make much sense, but sorry to hear that.
Minister police ..even off they were robbed of .50 cents..its there money any dcans should respect that….
we do have a crime problem. Increase poverty equals increase crime full stop.