Tobago’s social canker

Yeah right! The reality for us in the Crown Point area is that the serpent is alive and well. Safe – we are not.

The violence that is Tobago’s social canker showed its ugly head, remorselessly, in the mindless and unwarranted beating of Cynthia Clovis a couple of days ago. This lady, more than many in Tobago actually lives the slogan of clean, green, safe and serene.

Her hotel, a small family business, melds into the environment and the community unlike many hotels.

It has a reputation, hard earned and representing years of constant dedication to high standards, for consistent quality of food and service which results in clients from all over the world, returning to Tobago regularly.

Her family hotel has helped put Tobago on the map as a tourist destination. If I was the Minister of Tourism and the Chief secretary and all the other Secretaries of the THA I would be worried because by now the word is out that Tobago may not be the capital of Paradise after all – safe and serene it is not. If there is not an advisory to stay away from Tobago after this I would be surprised – and if not we are a hair’s breadth away from it.

This tragedy for all of us in Tobago is that this attack is not an isolated event. The police, it is rumoured, do not record all the reports of robberies, etc, made to them because the figures, if made public, would scare away our bread and butter – the tourists. It is said on the ground in Tobago that the violence and robberies are because of the Trinidadians who come across on the fast ferry to do a “wuk”– or as a consequence of the drug trade on the island. If the perpetrators are Trinidadians then they acted on information supplied by local sources and one wonders if not for a cut. Frankly this is conjecture.

What is apparent is the lack of the most basic of preventive measures. The growth industry in Tobago is not tourism – it is the hardware shops selling fencing, lights and burglar proofing.

In the past 20 years as a regular passenger on the boat I have yet to see scanners for vehicles or the constant presence or use of sniffer dogs on the boats. True, I have seen the odd inspection of vehicles by security guards – for gas tanks.

Forget another $50 million blimp – help us with screening those who come to Tobago so we can reduce the number of guns and drugs.

C Herbert

Bon Accord