The Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association (DHTA) has sent out an alert to its members concerning an incident in which four visitors to the island were robbed.
The incident took place on Sunday March 8, 2015 at the Syndicate Visitor Center, nestled in the foothills of Morne Diablotin in the north of the island.
According to the alert the four visitors were robbed of cash and valuables by men who were armed and masked.
The visitors were not hurt.
The matter has been reported to the police.
“The DHTA is making every effort to facilitate investigations into the matter,” the alert, obtained by DNO, said. “The DHTA encourages all tourism enterprises to advise any clients intending to visit the Syndicate site to do so accompanied by a certified tour guide.”
my girlfriend and i visited Dominica in november of 2014. we missed the last bus from Roseau to go back to Marigot one day and had to try to catch a ride and ended up in the big circle of the new highway at night in the rain.. And I never felt unsafe. A few people asked if we were okay. We got a ride from someone who works at the resort. I live in the US, and I loved Dominica and hopefully will be able to return some time soon.
I have been visiting Dominica several times over the past 8 years, was in January in Syndicate. I guess we were lucky, no problems. Was planning to come again next year, will monitor the news and will decide later his year. Please make Dominica save. It would be sad if tourists are not save anymore and decide to go somewhere else.
Garcon, it is about time that the law grows some teeth!!! The government (and opposition) need to act in the public interest and increase the penalties for armed robbery, possession of firearms and other offensive weapons DRASTICALLY!!!! Anyone found with an offensive weapon should be seen to be intending to use it to harm or kill and they need to be sentenced to lengthy terms which deter this behavior!! Dominica needs to return to peace and love BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY!!!! MY GOODNESS…………WHERE ARE WE GOING??????????
Ministry of security need to start putting out rewards for the apprehension of these criminals. $1000 a head. Them criminals would start selling out their own partners and bring evidence the police would never be able to get otherwise.
Stop being a hypocrite.
You are merely a disgruntled idiot writing under the guise of an alleged American. Step forward and present your credentials.
Not good for Dominica!
We met a handful of nice Dominicans and saw a few beautiful spots in Dominica. And there are some bad things and places in the USA. But I stand by my statement. And the flight of the majority of expats from Dominica and the deteriorating conditions there bear me out. I stand by my words.
this kind if evil make me so sick, why , why, why.
“Visitors robbed by ARMED men”
When they get caught, their ARMS should be removed so that they will not rob again
Dominica will get bad name Because of what the citizens are doing to others especially visitors shame.
These perpetrators are brazen and wicked. They really give D/ca and nationals a bad name. For God’s sake, have a heart! Do you not have one? You know they are visitors to our beautiful island and you did this to them. You have spoiled their vacation. Now they will inform others of their bad experience who will be deterred from visiting Dominica. They may never return. Why did you not consider this and leave the visitors alone?
The devil is really in you. He spurred you on to steal. He knows what the repercussion for your crime will be. You will not escape the just punishment and even as you age. No one really gets away with committing crimes.
You can run and hide from the police but you cannot hide from God. This is our consolation and should be the consolation of these visitors you have wronged in a worst manner.
God is not amused with you. Turn yourself in to the police and turn to God that you may not mete an eternal fate.
Ps: Knowing that the world is headed towards environmental disaster if countries dont step up
Chemtrails… Radiation… Plastic Oceans… Chemicals in the food air and water…
Nature is threatened… Dominica should rename their country ” Nature Island”
Colombus who named the island Sunday has very little honor since the island
We have learned the truth about the evils that happened… I’m sure the Native
Caribs would not care since they suffered to the point of extinction…
I would name the capital Dominca or the national park dominica…
Nature Island sounds like a theme park… The Island should make the
National Park more then Half the island… Who wants an over populated polluted
Island full of crime and drugs… Only married couples should be aloud to have kids…
Single family homes increases the chances of kids falling into drugs and crime…
Like Dominican Republic. Which name will always be confused with Dominica…
“Nature Island” could be a beacon…
Why not add armed police officers at these sites? These are state lands after all.
Stealing from tourists is an extension of the hand-out economy that has been created on this island. No-one expects to work for anything any more, they just expect things to be given to them.
These are exactly the headlines that Dominica needs like a bullet in the head. Why can’t the police get a grip on these little scum bags???
No sooner the police would hold them, their lawyers are quick to request bail for them, so all the effort being made by the police go in vane
The police can’t because we all know who the criminals are but unlike the rest of the world we in Dominica do not assist the police with the necessary information so they can arrest the culprits and deal with them
I really hope those evil people are caught. I also hope that the penalty for these crimes will be harsher. No one should have to go through this sort of ordeal. And for us Dominicans they are destroying tourism and the livelihood of the whole population.
we ain’t see nothin yet. if body parts were not attached, people would find some of them were stolen by mask robbers. watch it
We are having a new crime culture of “Organised crimes” and if the Police and authorities don’t put a a crack down on it, its going to get really bad and worst, now they need to put a stop before other get the courage to do more crimes. Cramp down on organised crimes!
Quit publishing news such as these via dominicanewsonline. It’s got a negative impact on Dominica’s Tourist Industry.
It can be published elsewhere, e.g newspapers. Items/journals which can only be read while one is actually on the island.
Yeah, let’s not bother telling visitors the truth, eh. We don’t want to be doing that do we ?
di londoner,stop spewing rubbish
The News must be published. Whatever is newsworthy in any country is posted on the Internet. It cannot be hidden. People need to know about these matters so that others could be careful. In addition that they are alert and aware of their surroundings; also hopefully the thieves are caught. This is the reason why News such as this is posted for the benefit of also nationals.
Some people have been instrumental in providing the police of the whereabouts and description of perpetrators. Most of them are eventually caught. DNO provides such a channel. These thieves must be caught before they do any more harm and worst.
Londoner, stop and think for a moment. First, you want to hide the truth from the world, two you do not want news professionals to do their jobs honestly and most of all you seem to prefer more people to visit unsuspecting the dangers so that we have have more blood on our hands…open your brain….what we need is to correct the error and not hide it. This is the mentality that makes us keep everything bad hidden…
We are not living in your time wake up.We are facing a major crime problem in Dominica and SKERRIT NEEDS TO START ADDRESSING IT.
Thank God that no one was hurt. However, as bad as the economy is, these crimes will definitely make things worst, and tarnish the country’s image as a safe destination for visitors. Certainly when it rains in Dominica, it really pours. Is it because the island’s pregnant with issues? I’ll continue to comment, and you be the judge.
Not good news for Dominica
De country niceeeeeee
. Monkey see so monkey do!
I am totally disgusted at such criminal actions by folks who tend to forget that the visitors to our shores make valuable contributions to our economy. I have always advocated for crimes against visitors to carry twice the punishment under law.
I am sure someone from the neighboring communities will get information on who the perpetrators are and hopefully turn them over to the police.
Assertive, NOT Aggressive!
These thieves rob Dominicans as well. A criminal is a criminal. This stuff goes on more than anyone here wants to believe. For every article that appears in the paper, there are at least 20 robberies or thefts that took place.
They should start placing security at sites that tourists go to. Yes it might be costly, but it will make the criminals think before doing something.
Police should be all over the island, not only Roseau.
We began visiting Dominica in 1987, when the island was beautiful and much safer. We retired to Dominica in 2008 and lived there through 2014. We saw Dominica become more and more dangerous, more and more polluted, noisier and noisier, more and more racist aimed against Whites and Asians, and more and more stupid because of the influence of missionaries. We saw young people become warped under the influence of the crap they see and her on TV and the Internet. We watched the population become poorer and more desperate under the influence of both international business and local politicians we suspect of being thoroughly corrupt. Now that we have sold all we owned in Dominica and are safe and happy in the USA we can speak out.
are you SURE that you are safe in the US? ANYWHERE you go there will be crime. And I still think that dominica is one of the safest places one can live. It is a very unfortunate situation that a few low life scums are giving my country a bad name. But u are entitled to your own opinion because the same way you feel u had to run from DA is the same way I am planning to run from dangerous America and back to dominica where I feel safe.
Strong point Shay!!!!
Safe and happy in the USA?!! Tell me where and I’ll relocate!
As a Dominican I feel safety in the United States than in Dominica. Sorry.
Well, not bad idea. However I will wait a year to be sure of my decision. Depends on Dominica :-)
I wonder what part of America you live? You just can’t be serious to say you are safer in America than Dominica. To begin with you don’t sound like you even know where America is on the world map. All the negative things you brand Dominica with are manufactured in America. This place is more corrupt and racist than anywhere else. Don’t even mention about crime, this is a Trade mark.
lol Dan Tanner no a real tourist a Dominican that there fooling allu, check the way in watch his comment was written pure Dominican kix
What arcane and misinf0rmed c0mments! This island is 0NE 0f the SAFEST in the Caribbean, if n0t the entire w0rld!! And racism against whites? Since I have lived here I have NEVER experienced racism as a white man. I can’t speak re the Chinese.
And BTW, I have n0ticed that M0ST D0minicans are real decent pe0ple – e.g. I became “L0ST” several times while driving, and EACH time when I st0pped t0 ask f0r directi0ns, pe0ple were great in assisting me – and 0ften answered with a SMILE!
Regarding crime, c0mm0n sense has t0 dictate – e.g. I will never walk AL0NE in t0wn in the middle 0f the night, like I will never walk AL0NE in the middle 0f a large t0wn in Mexic0, 0r Miami, B0gata, Ri0, Caracas, etc.
And safe in the States? What a j0ke! Perhaps M0ntana, Maine 0r s0me 0ther smaller state!
Get a life pe0ple. and st0p degrading this magical emerald island!
I will bet that you don’t own much of anything on this island. And how long have you lived here? Probably not very long. The longer that you are here, the more the odds are that something will happen, like theft or robbery. We all know that crime happens everywhere, not just in DA. And racism……..Mr. Robes comes from Africa yearly to teach the children the false history of slavery and make sure that racism endures.
Stay safe where you are. Good for you. Can you walk down your neighbor street as casually as you do it in Dominica – even with our myriad of problems. The situation at Syndicate is unfortunate and shouldnever have happened. I wish that authorities here take a dim view of the situation and take the correct corrective measures to reign in what is really getting out of hand. One such incident is too many for Dominica. There must be mandatory jail sentences of ten years and up for those found guilty of such heinous crimes. The law must be changed to reflect swifter appearance before a magistrate court and some very stiff punishment. We cannot continue to bury our head in the sand. The present situation is by no means reason enough for people who we welcomed and made to feel secure for six years living among us to now believe that they can stay in North America and criticize attempt to give Dominica a bad name. They will not succeed.
Keep your offensive post for yourself and go clean up your own backyard before you talk. There are enough Dominicans in the US to know this is not true. And as for the racism there…..should I start??? Have you really seen Dominica’s population become poorer? Or are you bitter about us flourishing and building big houses? I am sorry but you sound like a fool.
you my friend are an idiot….but keep thinking the way ure thinking if that floats your boat
I understand where u guys coming from. But the USA is not better my dear. I live in the usa,, I KNOW. Dominica has become dangerous yes! But my country can NVER be BAD as the states….. hold ur horses. And safe journey out EX WANNA BE DOMINICAN
Before you make such statements, you need to familiarize yourself with the word per capita. Crime ratio in Dominica is greater than that of any city or state in America. There are less than seventy thousand people in Dominica, whereas there are many millions of people here.
I reside in the city of Los Angeles, which contains more than thirteen million people, I assure you there is less crime here per capita in comparison to Dominica with less than a hundred thousand people! What is happening in Dominica is that relative are committing crimes against their very own families.
Too many crimes are committed in a place that small; I feel much safer in the bad streets of Los Angeles, than in the streets of Wesley were I was born. It is not too often you find a criminal goes out into the streets here and point a gun in anyone face and rub them with a vale over their face. That is an everyday thing in Dominica these days.
i have no difficulty being racist against Whites and Asians. These Whites and Asians have had their own racial biases towards their own kind for eons… all to their benefit.
Being racist against Whites and Asians means we get to minimize the influx of Whites and Asians into what our ancestors have struggled to cultivate… a uniquely Afrocentric Dominican identity. Our ancestors have created a unique “Dominicanness” that all “Dominicans” can identify and single out. This cultivated “Dominicanness” has made us into a “brotherhood” identifiable by our unique “Dominican” signature. What we have now is the Whites and Asians diluting this signature and reducing our identity to the first page on our passport.
The Whites I can understand, but the Asians have to logical reason for being here except that we have chosen to sell our souls for economic gain.
The first slave owners in Africa were black Africans. Every race of people has enslaved their own people first before going after other races. Your ancestors were rounded up in Africa by Africans (their own people) and sold to Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese slave traders who proceeded to drop these Africans on many shores for opportunistic and exploitive reasons. This island isn’t yours. Your own leaders have already sold you out to other interests. A country is only a place where you are born, live and die on planet earth. You don’t own it.
You only need to look at how “great” DA is doing since the British left……..a downward spiral. You won’t have to worry about any outside dollars coming to DA if things continue as they are. Everyone will be pulling out.
Your culture here is African based. Educate yourself.
I have to agree with you. Things are only getting worse. Everything you describe is what I have seen also. There is no place that is completely safe, however, there are places in the US and other countries that are definitely safer than DA. What DA used to be in terms of safety is not what it is now. Anybody that can leave……will.
Not much hope with the police, I reported a thieft, still waiting over a year for them to come and see me, such a joke.
Police? I called to report a burglary that happened while my neighbor was away. They asked me all kind of stupid questions, never came, they burst the man window his car windows and stole stuff. The response was “you are not the owner, the owner should be the one reporting”; i said i am reporting a crime, the owner can say what he missing but i seeing a crime was committed everyone did except they. Police? See how long those guys stealing poor people cars, people who are hard working people looking to make lives better for themselves, try something for their families, those thieves and criminals stealing them cars over and over, not one the police ever caught or seems to be doing nothing about. I must say that there are good Policemen and women but many especially those placed to take reports and respond to threats or calls don’t do a an efficient job a lot of time. They can do better. I think they can do a bit better, and at those sites they need to have serious police not any one
Dominica now has Crime Stoppers.
It is disappointing to read of your experience. What type of police officer is that? As a national, you were well within your right to report a crime. This police officer should be fired. If not, is in need of re-training. Such an officer gives the good ones a bad name.
I reside in Toronto and we are asked to report crimes and if we observe suspicious people. We are told not to interfere with them or take matters into our hands.
Nationals help the Police to catch perpetrators. In December someone told me of two men who went to someone’s home with a gun and another weapon and were trying to break and enter. A neighbor saw them and called the police. The police soon arrived, caught them in the act and arrested them. I heard they are in prison. I hope they remain there.
Just as God is above although He sees everything, He requires our help on this earth. The police cannot be everywhere. They need the public’s assistance.
Maybe deputized citizens would do a better job than the police. That would probably be more effective than the current situation. The police have so much crime reported daily that they are desensitized and overwhelmed. I wonder how much crime reported on crime stoppers ever gets any results.
If people are murdered in broad daylight in Dominica, and the police cannot identify the murderers; how on earth are they going to catch thieves who committed a crime on devils mountain with their faces covered.
If they cannot solve Gong Emanuel’s case how are the going to solve this one?
The police operates by the information you and I gives them.I can tell u they could be disgusting most time, They have more transports ever than before but they are not proactive.
There are times those who know the perpetrators inform the police. I hope they are caught especially when they are seen with a lot of money and making transactions. People must be on the alert and provide the police with information, incognito.
This country has some really foolish peoples,
They are destroying their own country from within.
The ones complain about the government yet refuse to empower themselves.
they are short sighted individuals who don’t think of the ramifications their actions can have on the local
economy.
they are lazy and unwilling to do anything for free yet they always want a ride or two dollars or a favor.
shame on them.
They have no shame.
How do we expect our tourism industry to these when we arourselves are destroying it? What kind of message are we sending out when we committing crimes against them? Jah!! Help our people to live in peace and love. Help us to be our brothers keeper. Jah!!! Rastafari.
The visitors should carry weapons
It has just begun,so the tour guide could be robbed also,station officers @ the site,crime against tourist hits an island back with great repercussion,Skerrit let me hear your take on this,You have turned Dominica into a lawless country,your labour supporters lets hear them.
Grell, always bringing politics into it, where it does not belong, as if the PM sent them to steal from the people.
As God has heard you, one day you will pay for your words. Watch your hands and fingers as well.
This area is quite remote from the photograph. Motion censor cameras should be a must at this facility. As thieves on the island become more brazen, tourism stakeholders must also be more cognizant of more sophisticated crimes being committed and take action to both minimize and solve these crimes. This will help to reinforce the personal safety of all visitors to the island.
Are you going to pay for the motion sensor cameras that the thieves will steal anyway? I didn’t think so. That is a rather useless recommendation that I have heard from the police already that is why people get dogs.
Labour Ka Twavie. Its no excuse but people are desperate, no jobs. Even NEP program people complaining they getting paid a pittance $200, several have been told to stay home until being recalled!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There is no excuse. It gives no one the right to steal from others. You should know, “Thou Shalt Not Steal.” If you do not know or did not give it a thought based on your mentality, what they have done is a grievous/mortal sin against God most of all. The punishment for this will be a severe one according to God’s justice. One day they will get what they deserve. Keep that in mind.
There is no excuse for thieving.
I really think that’s what Kelver Darroux and the government should be looking into , changing the laws in reference to The Bail Act and implement stiffer penalties for people who commit these viscous crimes . We advertising our country and when people to visit these things are happening to them and the criminals are given a light slap on the wrist
This is what you Dominicans should lobby the government for, Laws that will assist Dominicans and visitors.
@ The Facts That’s what i tried to do last election but people like you did not help, so just shut your mouth. You forget all the crap you normally support ?
Disgusting. Hope they get caught.