ANTIGUA: Opposition reacts to decision by cruise line to drop Antigua from its schedule

Gaston Browne

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP) has called on the government to make crime-fighting a priority after a cruise line dropped  Antigua from it itinerary following the murder of one of its passengers last month.

“Antigua and Barbuda has now entered a death spiral which is threatening our very survival and overall development,” ALP Chairman Gaston Browne said.

“This is a real frightening development which will have enormous economic reputational consequences for our country as a safe tourist destination.”

Cruise ship operator, Star Clippers said that it would replace Antigua and Barbuda with Nevis as the new port of call because of security concerns here.

The body of United States national, Nina Nilssen, 30, was found along a nature path at Pigeon Point on January 19. She had come ashore along with other passengers but reportedly strayed from the main group.

Over the weekend police announced that Dominican national, Tishara Daniel, 24, had been arrested and charged for Nilssen’s murder. Daniel will appear in court later on Monday.

“…crime is now the most serious developmental challenge facing our country and should be the UPP (United Progressive Party) government’s number one priority; not overpriced fences, not ministerial sports utility vehicles, not car parks,” Browne said.

“A government which has a single largest responsibility to fight crime needs to prioritize funding for crime-fighting and to implement proactive policies and programmes to protect both residents and citizens alike.”

Browne said that everyone needs to come together to combat crime, adding that in so doing the country’s record as a safe tourist destination can be restored.

This is the second time a cruise operator has dropped Antigua from its schedule in recent years. Last year, Carnival Cruise Lines took a similar decision and the island’s image as a safe tourist destination has taken a beating over the past two years with three other visitors being murdered during that period.

In 2008, Benjamin and Catherine Mullany, a British couple honeymooning in Antigua, died after being attacked in their hotel room, while last year an Australian sailor was fatally shot in the English Harbour area while walking with his girlfriend and their daughter.

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9 Comments

  1. August 7, 2010

    Does anybody seriously believe that Antigua is safe? the list of murders and robberies grows by the day. The government is famous for expropriation of land, failing to pay international debt not to mention the odd bit of arms smuggling or selling it’s soul to the Japanese by supporting whaling in exchange for a fisheries being built.

  2. De man
    February 2, 2010

    Here we go again. One bad apple spoil de whole bunch, but we cannot put down a whole nation for one bad citizen. Crime happen all over the world, DE MAN DO HIS CRIME LET HIM GET HIS PENALTY TO THE MAXIMUM.

    • deb
      March 27, 2010

      You must get your people under control, we will not come to your country and spend our
      money if we are treated so hostile. Most of the islands love Americans, and our money….
      your cabbies also need to be honest. Give a set price for fare and stick to it, most cruisers
      need to go back to the ship so the price should always quoted as round trip to the ship unless specifically told otherwise. Our ship stops in Antiqua next month and my group has decided
      to stay aboard the ship for the day. We will not spend our money in a country where the
      Americans have been so poorly treated.

  3. D/can to the bone
    February 2, 2010

    What a disgrace of this young man ,if its true to do this in a foreign land he migrated in search of a better life I guess . It is now the current Antigua government will restricted or reform its immigration laws which will affects us Dominican and other CARICOM States.

  4. Fairplay
    February 1, 2010

    God bless Dominica.
    But wait until the Haitians start to show their true colours and begin to kill people like they do in Haiti.

  5. February 1, 2010

    the Antiguan government need to take drastic measures in ridding the country of the DOMINCANS let them go back to their cpuntry once and for all. their government should be able to meet their demands send them home .

  6. Ghost
    February 1, 2010

    Are things so bad for our people (Dominicans) oversees that they have to resort to these type of activities? Better they come back home and plant fig or go into agriculture. We have so much fertile soil and so much incentives for farmers rite now. shame..shame..shame………

  7. February 1, 2010

    this isssssssssssss. it. here we go again

  8. INDEGENOUS GYAL
    February 1, 2010

    HERE WE GO AGAIN. DOMINICA NAME IN THE LIGHT AGAIN. WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR PEOPLE WHEN THEY LEAVE THEIR COUNTRY? IS IT TO BETTER THEMSELVES OR TO PAINT A BAD PICTURE FOR DOMINICA AND THE GOOD ONES LIVING THERE. THEY COMPLAIN THAT THERE ARE NO OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM IN THEIR HOMELAND YET GO OUT THERE AND BRING SHAME AND DISGRACE ON DOMINICA. ANTIGUA GOVERNMENT SHOULD JAIL THEM FOR THEIR CRIME, DEPORT THEM TO GET MORE TIME IN DOMINICAN JAIL. SHAME SHAME SHAME, MA DOMINIQUE REALLY CRYING. BRING BACK CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

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