Antigua Cracks Down on Crime

(Dive Travel Business News - May 10, 2010 ) -- Antigua reportedly is cracking down hard on crime in the wake of the highly-publicized of a cruise ship passenger earlier this year. Antigua's tourism minister, Jon Maginley says, "We have adopted a zero tolerance (for) criminals and their behavior," saying the country will do what it takes to make the country a "safe, secure and peaceful destination."

Industry watcher Seatrade Insider reports the tourism-dependent country has beefed up manpower on its police force, instituted a new community-based policing system and spent millions of dollars on a new communications system for rapid response by law enforcement in the months since the brutal killing of a Star Clippers passenger. 

Star Clippers passenger Nina Elisabeth Nilssen, 29, of the San Francisco area was found stabbed in the neck and was partially unclothed on Jan. 19 on a trail just off the island's famed Pigeon Point Beach. The San Francisco-based musician had arrived on the island on Star Clippers' 227-passenger Royal Clipper with friends and family and went to Pigeon Point Beach for a midday barbecue. Named one of the "world's sexiest" beaches in 2007 by Conde Nast, Pigeon Point is popular with tourists visiting the island.

The murder was just the latest serious crime against tourists in Antigua. A 38-year-old Australian man visiting the island last year on his yacht was shot dead while walking with his girlfriend and daughter, and in 2008 the island was the scene of a double murder of a honeymooning British couple -- incidents that have raised questions about the safety of visiting the island. The British couple were shot in their room at Antigua's Cocos Hotel.

Star Clippers announced soon after Nilssen's murder that it was dropping calls in Antigua, saying it would redirect the Royal Clipper to the island of Nevis.

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