SimonJ
Well-Known Member
This time in Marigot Bay where the Canadian boat on the mooring behind the one we had occupied 24 hours earlier was broken into on Saturday evening. No attacks but ...
Marigot Bay has normally been regarded as reasonably safe and secure with supposedly an intermittent patrol. No doubt this event regarded by the government here as another "unfortunate incident". With Moorings having pulled out of Marigot last November this harbour is starting to go down the tubes and as facilities available consequently reduce and visitor numbers drop.
Sadly the safety and security net these days does not get much support or feedback (and probably none from chartered who are often the victims) so the true,complete picture is hard to detect accurately.
Soufriere moorings particularly by the bat caves continue to be the targets and aggravating hassle from boat boys has not diminished.
Ashore in Rodney Bay Area there are many uniformed security people on the streets, outside shops, in banks and so on - hardly the sign of a secure, safe area! What a message to send out.
In the anchorages however no sign of security except for a brief period after the recent, terrible murder.
People are starting to march with their feet/boats which is probably all cruisers can do - or remain within the safety and security (?) of the marina area - in which case why bother to come to the Caribbean at all.
This point of view no doubt grates with my our good friend Kellyseye but these days St Lucia has become a place to b avoided if at all possible. There are plenty of other islands fortunately with much better records of behaviour.
One may want to BELIEVE St Lucia does not have a problem ( as I have said before) but the facts indicate otherwise.
It is up to ArC management, charter organisations, and cruisers to indicate their concerns. The situation ashore that leads to crime will not change in 10s of years but protection,policing and patrlols can be stepped up significantly and immediately. The authorities seem to remain complacent.
Marigot Bay has normally been regarded as reasonably safe and secure with supposedly an intermittent patrol. No doubt this event regarded by the government here as another "unfortunate incident". With Moorings having pulled out of Marigot last November this harbour is starting to go down the tubes and as facilities available consequently reduce and visitor numbers drop.
Sadly the safety and security net these days does not get much support or feedback (and probably none from chartered who are often the victims) so the true,complete picture is hard to detect accurately.
Soufriere moorings particularly by the bat caves continue to be the targets and aggravating hassle from boat boys has not diminished.
Ashore in Rodney Bay Area there are many uniformed security people on the streets, outside shops, in banks and so on - hardly the sign of a secure, safe area! What a message to send out.
In the anchorages however no sign of security except for a brief period after the recent, terrible murder.
People are starting to march with their feet/boats which is probably all cruisers can do - or remain within the safety and security (?) of the marina area - in which case why bother to come to the Caribbean at all.
This point of view no doubt grates with my our good friend Kellyseye but these days St Lucia has become a place to b avoided if at all possible. There are plenty of other islands fortunately with much better records of behaviour.
One may want to BELIEVE St Lucia does not have a problem ( as I have said before) but the facts indicate otherwise.
It is up to ArC management, charter organisations, and cruisers to indicate their concerns. The situation ashore that leads to crime will not change in 10s of years but protection,policing and patrlols can be stepped up significantly and immediately. The authorities seem to remain complacent.
