The police in St. Lucia have been advised to take
a harder line against tourist harassment.
Tourism officials on the island have gone into damage control after a British newspaper Monday reported an attack on tourists there almost five months ago.
And the St. Lucia authorities are taking the issue seriously in light of the negative publicity arising from the Antigua incident.
The Times Newspaper story reports that the British woman was raped at gun point and her husband brutalized by a lone bandit who then made off with cash and valuables from their home.
According to the couple there was an air of menace before the attack with locals demanding money when asked for directions.
Tourism Minister Alan Chasetnet said the story is potentially very damaging for St. Lucia especially since people will associate it with a recent attack in Antigua.
As a result the Tourism Ministry is going on the offensive.
"We are going to be asking the police to take a harder line with regards to people who are begging and people who are acting in an informal way in terms of selling tours in an over-aggressive way and taxi drivers. there needs to be some organization in how these things are done. Because if not it gives a sense of chaos and lack of security," said Mr. Chasetnet.
Tourism officials on the island have gone into damage control after a British newspaper Monday reported an attack on tourists there almost five months ago.
And the St. Lucia authorities are taking the issue seriously in light of the negative publicity arising from the Antigua incident.
The Times Newspaper story reports that the British woman was raped at gun point and her husband brutalized by a lone bandit who then made off with cash and valuables from their home.
According to the couple there was an air of menace before the attack with locals demanding money when asked for directions.
Tourism Minister Alan Chasetnet said the story is potentially very damaging for St. Lucia especially since people will associate it with a recent attack in Antigua.
As a result the Tourism Ministry is going on the offensive.
"We are going to be asking the police to take a harder line with regards to people who are begging and people who are acting in an informal way in terms of selling tours in an over-aggressive way and taxi drivers. there needs to be some organization in how these things are done. Because if not it gives a sense of chaos and lack of security," said Mr. Chasetnet.
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