My family and I are looking forward to our two weeks in Tobago in a month or so, but we were alarmed to read what the British Foreign Office advice currently is. I'm referring to the "serious robberies" against tourists in privately rented villas in the South West of the island, precisely where we are going. If you read the current report you will read about even worse crimes being commited...
The report mentions that the Tobago police and government have been taking action. For my family's peace of mind I'd appreciate any info on any progress made into investigating and hopefully reducing the risk of these awful crimes. I'm a realist, and not one to panic, and understand that the FO must err on the side of cation, but this report has seriously taken the shine off for us.
Thanks
Nick
More Foreign Office concerns
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Steve Wooler
- myTobago Editor & Chief Anorak
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Hi Nick
You don't say what or where this Foreign Office advice is, so I can't really comment. Yes, there was what might be described as almost an epidemic of violent crime early this year. My understanding is that the culprits have been aprehended. I haven't heard of any incidents for at least three months, convincing me that as we all thought, all the incidents were connected.
You must remember that Tobago is an extremely small island. The entire population is only 50,000 - less than that of Chester. Violent crime is such a rarity that when it occurs it does tend to get maximum publicity. I would still maintain that serious crime on the island is still considerably lower than the incidence in ANY British town of equivalent population.
My advice always has and continues to be to take the same common sense precautions that you would here at home. Holidaymakers seem to have a knack of dropping their guard and behaving in Tobago (and other similar destinations) in ways that they wouldn't dream of at home. Apply basic commonsense and you will be at no higher risk than you would be anywhere else. Tobago is still a damn site safer than Britain.
You don't say what or where this Foreign Office advice is, so I can't really comment. Yes, there was what might be described as almost an epidemic of violent crime early this year. My understanding is that the culprits have been aprehended. I haven't heard of any incidents for at least three months, convincing me that as we all thought, all the incidents were connected.
You must remember that Tobago is an extremely small island. The entire population is only 50,000 - less than that of Chester. Violent crime is such a rarity that when it occurs it does tend to get maximum publicity. I would still maintain that serious crime on the island is still considerably lower than the incidence in ANY British town of equivalent population.
My advice always has and continues to be to take the same common sense precautions that you would here at home. Holidaymakers seem to have a knack of dropping their guard and behaving in Tobago (and other similar destinations) in ways that they wouldn't dream of at home. Apply basic commonsense and you will be at no higher risk than you would be anywhere else. Tobago is still a damn site safer than Britain.
Steve Wooler
myTobago.info - the definitive Visitor Guide to Tobago
myTobago.info - the definitive Visitor Guide to Tobago
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Joe King
Hi Nick,
I would have to agree entirely with what Steve has said above. Usually when you hear about tourists falling foul to crime in Tobago, it is because they have acted unwisely and completely differently than they would have at home ie. picking up strangers on the road, or befriending people of the opposite sex and inviting them home.
We went to Tobago in May, which was shortly after the spate of attacks on women, and we had seen the warnings on both the Irish and British foreign office websites. We had also read the reports here on the forum and had seen the online reports from the papers of T&T. Naturally we were a bit worried by these stories/reports but to be honest it is nothing different to what we read in our own papers every day. We had absolutely no problems. It was obvious from the amount of 'Stop Crime' posters on the streets that the people and authorities of Tobago are doing everything they can to remove the criminal element from Tobago. I am also lead to believe that the majority of crime on the island is committed by thugs coming over from Trinidad for some 'fun'.
Imagine what the T&T foreign office says about Ireland or Britain?? I would say you are a lot safer on the streets of Scarborough, Tobago than the streets of Scarborough, Britain late at night!!
(And before anyone from Scarborough, Britain starts throwing insults at me I am only using Scarborough because it has the same name
)
Go to Tobago with an open mind, and definately do not let anything you read on the foreign office website 'take the shine off' your holiday!! Be aware of what is going on around you, do not flash large amounts of cash, or expensive jewellery, and don't do anything that you wouldn't do at home. Enjoy yourself, I wish it was me going back
I would have to agree entirely with what Steve has said above. Usually when you hear about tourists falling foul to crime in Tobago, it is because they have acted unwisely and completely differently than they would have at home ie. picking up strangers on the road, or befriending people of the opposite sex and inviting them home.
We went to Tobago in May, which was shortly after the spate of attacks on women, and we had seen the warnings on both the Irish and British foreign office websites. We had also read the reports here on the forum and had seen the online reports from the papers of T&T. Naturally we were a bit worried by these stories/reports but to be honest it is nothing different to what we read in our own papers every day. We had absolutely no problems. It was obvious from the amount of 'Stop Crime' posters on the streets that the people and authorities of Tobago are doing everything they can to remove the criminal element from Tobago. I am also lead to believe that the majority of crime on the island is committed by thugs coming over from Trinidad for some 'fun'.
Imagine what the T&T foreign office says about Ireland or Britain?? I would say you are a lot safer on the streets of Scarborough, Tobago than the streets of Scarborough, Britain late at night!!
(And before anyone from Scarborough, Britain starts throwing insults at me I am only using Scarborough because it has the same name
) Go to Tobago with an open mind, and definately do not let anything you read on the foreign office website 'take the shine off' your holiday!! Be aware of what is going on around you, do not flash large amounts of cash, or expensive jewellery, and don't do anything that you wouldn't do at home. Enjoy yourself, I wish it was me going back
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David Watkins
- Bude Cool Boy
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Nick McFerran