Aplmac/Bajan Keith: Looking for thoughts regarding recent criminal events

[oldstubblejumper]

Guys, my wife and I were thinking about spending a day at your Brighton beach and while doing a little research, I came across several articles regarding the recent murder of a local man at Brighton beach (Dec 8th 2010).

http://barbadosfreepress.wordpress.com/2010/12/08/breaking-murder-at-brighton-beach-barbados/

http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/deadly-attack-elderly-man-succumbs-to-stab-wounds/

 

I had not heard anything about this event until now and decided to look closer at other recent violent events that have occurred in 2010.

I was surprised to find an article that described an event very similar to a situation that had happened to us while in a taxi touring Barbados back in 2008.

http://barbadosfreepress.wordpress.com/2010/08/23/boscobel-toll-gang-still-extorting-tourists-barbados-police-helpless/

Our driver did the very same thing as the driver in this article. He accelerated through the bunch of punks trying to stop the vehicle and then when in a safe area, apologized to us for their behavior. We carried on with our day and I had forgotten about the event till now.

 

As well, here is another article that caught my attention.

http://barbadosfreepress.wordpress.com/2010/11/13/boscobel-shooting-residents-in-fear-as-barbados-police-fail-to-respond/

 

I know that there is crime no mater where you go in the world but I was surprised to read about this sort of thing happening to this extent in Barbados. I thought after the murder of Canadian tourist Terry Schwarzfeld back in Feb of 2009, that the Bajan Police had tightened things up regarding tourist safety.

Guys, I look forward to your local and respected opinions regarding these recent events.

Regards,

OSJ

[Dartmoordan]

We were in Barbados this time last year and did't see any trouble anywhere or lots of police either. We have been to the Island several times and the only minor thing that has happened to us was when we were in Bridgetown.We were approached by a chap asking for money when we said no he followed us just repeating his request, he was polite but we just did't want to take any money out in the street, some older chap came along and shooed him off and we carried on to a local bar. I think generally if you stick to the torist areas you are as safe as anywhere

[floss]

Don't worrytoo much about it . Crime everywhere has increased. In Lucia 9 murders for the year, Trinidad 43 and jamiaca more

A local man form closeby area has been arrested and charged for that Brighton murder. It was not tourist related and most incidents are not related to tourists.

In some repects you will treated better as a tourist just be guilded by your instincts and be aware of your surrounding

[cruisingbajan]

Guys, my wife and I were thinking about spending a day at your Brighton beach and while doing a little research, I came across several articles regarding the recent murder of a local man at Brighton beach (Dec 8th 2010).

http://barbadosfreepress.wordpress.com/2010/12/08/breaking-murder-at-brighton-beach-barbados/

http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/deadly-attack-elderly-man-succumbs-to-stab-wounds/

 

I had not heard anything about this event until now and decided to look closer at other recent violent events that have occurred in 2010.

I was surprised to find an article that described an event very similar to a situation that had happened to us while in a taxi touring Barbados back in 2008.

http://barbadosfreepress.wordpress.com/2010/08/23/boscobel-toll-gang-still-extorting-tourists-barbados-police-helpless/

Our driver did the very same thing as the driver in this article. He accelerated through the bunch of punks trying to stop the vehicle and then when in a safe area, apologized to us for their behavior. We carried on with our day and I had forgotten about the event till now.

 

As well, here is another article that caught my attention.

http://barbadosfreepress.wordpress.com/2010/11/13/boscobel-shooting-residents-in-fear-as-barbados-police-fail-to-respond/

 

I know that there is crime no mater where you go in the world but I was surprised to read about this sort of thing happening to this extent in Barbados. I thought after the murder of Canadian tourist Terry Schwarzfeld back in Feb of 2009, that the Bajan Police had tightened things up regarding tourist safety.

Guys, I look forward to your local and respected opinions regarding these recent events.

Regards,

OSJ

 

OSJ....I totally understand your concern and you must always exercise caution as floss correctly indicated. As floss also indicated tourist were not targeted directly in any of these unfortunate incidents and the perpertrator of the murder is already behind bars and awaiting trial.

 

To be quite frank with you...this article you posted is the first I am hearing of this "Boscobel Toll Gang":eek:. I am not saying that it does not exist...just I have never heard of it.

 

To give you some context: Boscobel is a remote village in the north of the island in the parish of St. Peter. This is way outside the tourist belt and to be quite honest people only go to Boscobel if they live or have relatives there. The guy in the story seems to be a resident giving some friends of his a personal tour and ran into this unfortunate circumstance.

 

Barbados is by no stretch of the imagination an unsafe place to visit or live. I hope you will still visit us and just be careful as you would be at home.

[Host Caroline]

OSJ....Barbados is by no stretch of the imagination an unsafe place to visit or live. I hope you will still visit us and just be careful as you would be at home.

 

Thanks for that good advice, which honestly applies to any destination one travels to.. nowhere is without crime and you just need to exercise caution! If and when there have been safety concerns in the past the cruise lines generally make the passengers aware of it and/ or alter their itineraries until the port is deemed safe for its passengers.

[cruisingbajan]

Thanks for that good advice, which honestly applies to any destination one travels to.. nowhere is without crime and you just need to exercise caution! If and when there have been safety concerns in the past the cruise lines generally make the passengers aware of it and/ or alter their itineraries until the port is deemed safe for its passengers.

 

This is so true. I always advise people and I follow my own advice as well...Yes you want to experience new things and explore a different country but IF you would not put yourself in a particular situation if you were in your country...PLEASE don't do it in a foreign country.