Travel Advice to Tobago has changed.

[Helena]

My boyfriend and I have just returned from our 4th trip to Tobago to take possession of our new villa (and have our 5th trip planned for Sept/Oct). We were in Tobago when the Englishman's Bay incident occurred and were shocked to hear that the UK Government were advising holidaymakers to exercise extreme caution. We have never come across any cause for concern and I am thankful that these incidents (whilst terrible and shocking) are rare still.

However, on our last day, we did hear that a soldier had been stabbed to death in Scarborough on Friday night (?) I suspect that this has a lot to do with the sudden influx of visitors (from all over) for the Bank Holiday weekend. I was told by a local that the fight was gang related and the man killed was not Tobagonian but Trinidadian, but I can't be sure if this is accurate.

It is sad that this travel advice could put people off a place where I have never felt safer - when you consider that the murder tally in Trinidad is at 135 to date this year (climbing all the time) and you can add a few hundred to it for Jamaica.

Keep coming to Tobago, it really is a brilliant place and much safer than you might be led to believe.

[Paul Tallet]

Clarification?

Well ... according to an article in the Tobago News (27.05.2005) it seems that the Foreign Office advice has changed as a result of what appears to have been a targeted robbery on a villa which unfortunately included a fair degree of violence and nastiness.

But there is no mention of bandits manifesting themselves in a threatening manner from the rainforest behind Englishman's Bay ... there needs to be more substantiated evidence on this concept before it can be taken seriously.

However, the villa that was targeted was in the Englishman's Bay area and I hope this does not put people off going to Englishman's Bay.

The point is ... a targeted attack on a place in a certain area does not mean that the area is dangerous ... it just means that someone was targeted in that area.

Those that pursue the vocation of terrorising people in this way are unlikely to carry out such acts randomly on a remote beach ... they will probably get bored ... or caught pretty quickly.

So, having satisfied myself that Englishman's Bay is a safe place to go, I hope others will take some comfort from this.

I also have a sense from my readings of the local press (not meaning to be disrespectful to Trinidadians) that many of the recent crimes are committed by people from Trinidad as the previous post from Helena also indicates.

Regards

[Bob White]

Agree with this info Paul.

Our daughter and a girlfriend are travelling to Tobago next month to stay at our house and we have given them the usual information re staying safe. We haven't alarmed them with recent news.

Further to my last post on this theme..... some 'criminals' from Trinidad do head to Tobago for a break (usually weekends) from the Port of Spain activity and don't cause any problems. However there appears to be an increasing problem of firearms arriving in Tobago via the Scarborough port. Most of this info. I receive from local contacts so obviously not all can be verified.

I have to say though that I feel more apprehensive about my daughter catching the tube from London Bridge than a walk through Scarborough, Tobago.

Regards,

Bob.

[Paul Tallet]

Yes Bob

I found another article in the Tobago News where an International Relations Specialist, Walter Coppin, makes a rather poignant remark in response to the Foreign Office's travel advice ...

Slamming what he called postcolonial attitudes, Coppin pointed out that it was the very Britain that had been the source of a history of violence not only in Tobago but also throughout the entire Caribbean. He retraced historical events from as early as the 15th century claiming that the colonial presence was significantly demarcated in blood.

Interesting point, eh?

Regards

[Bob White]

Cue...... Bloody Bay??

Very interesting extract Paul. Opinions on this whole subject can become quite emotive. Think I will stay well clear!

Personally I think this site gives the most accurate and unbiased travel advice on Tobago.

Regards,

Bob

[Neil Roberts]

Dear All, Those of us with concerns about the safety of ourselves and our families and/or loved ones while on holiday on Tobago could perhaps usefully spend a few minutes on the website of dear ol' Auntie Beeb. The "UK News" section is yet again laden with such violence and unpleasantness that anyone in a position to leave should probably do so immediately for their own good, and Tobago doesn't seem to be a bad place to run to! Roll on July 14th when, if I can get to Gatwick without serious attack upon my person, I can take a break from it all !! Best wishes, Neil Roberts.

[David Watkins]

In the last week I have counted 23 murders/violent deaths,42 serious assults,18 rapes and that was just one national newspaper.How many more in the provinces not reported.
I definitely feel safer in Tobago!!!!!
Roll on December 15.
David

[Steve Wooler]

Sorry to be pedantic, David, but before I get a flood of emails from panicking visitors, as I did last week, may I clarify that you were quoting figures of murders and violent crime in BRITAIN, not Tobago - which, of course, is why you feel safer (like me) in Tobago.

[David Watkins]

Sorry yes that was in Britain NOT Tobago,silly me
David

[Steve Wooler]

Let me try to phrase my words carefully instead of blundering in my normal Yorkshire manner. Anybody reading your message properly would realise exactly what you meant. Unfortunately, a lot of people seem to look at the key words, assume the worst, and then bombard me with desperate pleas or challenges.

[Neil Roberts]

I assumed that those figures were just for Bude! Good Luck and keep your heads below the parapet, Neil Roberts.

[David Watkins]

Steady Neil,I'll set the Kernow Army after you!!!
David

[Lily Mel]

We have already booked our holiday to visit Tobago in October this year.
While surfing on the Internet and this forum we read quite few recent shocking news about that Crime against tourists in Tobago is a concern.

Robbing seems to be not rare and some of these incidents have been accompanied by, violence, including rape. Kidnappings also.

another link to the story what happened from "The Tobago News"
http://www.thetobagonews.com/index.pl/a ... id=2784833

What is your point of view of this news and what are the local authorities doing about this. Do you know if these people get caught for instance, are you well informed what is going on?

Can you reassure us, we are in doubt to visit Tobago.

Lily

[Paul Tallet]

Lily

I referred to that article earlier in this thread.

It was a targeted attack and has been debated fully in this forum.

What you are worried about is random attacks and these are very rare in Tobago.

Tobago is a very safe place to visit ... I cannot think of a safer place anywhere, unless you remove all the humanity and holiday alone.

Regards

[Steve Wooler]

Hello Lily

Welcome aboard the forum!

The incident you refer to in the Tobago News article is fully discussed above, as Paul says. Everything I have heard since has supported the views I have already expressed and I have little to add.

Like your country and mine, Tobago has an increasing drugs problem. This invariably turns out to be at the root of most incidents. Yes, the majority of perpetrators of serious crimes get caught – and are dealt with extremely severely when convicted. You would probably be shocked at the sentences given, by liberal European standards. The death penalty is still on the statute books and only this week the Trinidad government announced that hangings are to resume, having been suspended a few years ago.

You ask if we are well informed. If you mean are we well informed from official sources, the answer is a most definite NO. I have no official communication with the government of Tobago (the THA). Until recently they appeared to be in a state of denial about the rising crime situation. Fortunately, a short but severe crime epidemic just over a year ago seems to have woken them up. The crime situation on Tobago is still low, by any standards, but non-existent compared to the horrendous and worsening situation in Trinidad, so the powers-that-be in Port of Spain allegedly consider Tobago’s problem non-existent and do little to help. Fortunately, Tobago now has its own Assistant Commissioner of Police and this has made a considerable difference. However, the pace of change on Tobago is slow and you can’t change attitudes and train policemen overnight. They may totally lack forensic and other modern police techniques, but most crime on Tobago is solved through the simple fact that you can’t keep any quiet for long on an island of only 50,000 inhabitants.

We may not get any information from official sources, but that does not mean we don’t get information. I am in touch with literally hundreds of people on, or connected with the island. There are very, very few incidents that I do not hear of within hours of their happening. That’s why we reported the incident at Englishman’s Bay before it came out in local newspapers. That’s why Paul, who answered your post before me, posted news of the impending hurricane before any sources in T&T warned the inhabitants of the island.

So, stay tuned to myTobago for the true and current situation. I can only say that whilst the crime situation is of increasing concern, Tobago is still a very safe country to visit in comparison to any North American or European towns and cities.

[Paul Tallet]

Whilst I am only a mere mortal and possibly not worthy of the gracious credit Steve has given me ...

... I will certainly give my 100% endorsement of Steve's point.

If it happens ... you will be the first to know about it on the myTobago Forum.

If you are not there ... be here ... and know it !!

Regards

[Lily Mel]

Thank you Steve for your interesting information, you know what I meant.
MyTobago is a very beautiful site and has usefull info, my compliments!
Just because of reading this topic and newspapers I was very concerned.
If you count crime a square mile a person comparing to a town/city, Tobago still overwelms me.
I live also in a big city and know the do's and don't's, but I understand the comparison.
I will stay tuned to myTobago for the true and current crime/security situation.
So keep this topic alive!

Hearsay stories are bad, but trivializing also.

Lily

[Linda P]

We were in Tobago for our second trip between may 19 and june 2 this year, we did hear about the Scarborough incident, we heard it was to do with a feud between army and police.
Whatever the details we never felt at all threatened. We were staying just outside Scarborough, but regularly drove to Crown Point or Grafton area at night, also ventured into Scarborough a couple of times to get pizza (I love pizza boys!)
Throughout the whole two weeks I was never worried about our safety, we listened to the news on the radio each morning, and it did sound quite scary, until we realised it was a T&T station and most of it related to Trinidad! also the news seemed to keep repeating for the whole week, so we heard about the same incident 7 times, making crime figures seem higher than they actually were!
In truth I feel safer out at night in Tobago tan Northampton!
Linda

[Lily Mel]

According to Steves information you will not get the real things to hear what's happening immediatly and or informed from official sources.
I'm very happy for you, you have had a nice and good stay in Tobago.
But what you discribe about the radio and the news is an example that people are not informed honest.
Maybe it's indeed better this way, knowing almost nothing at all.

Lily

[Steve Wooler]

May I just clarify one thing, please.

I said that I did not get my information from official sources. That is true, but what I should have said is that I do not get information "officially". My contacts are mainly from the Tobago business community but do include people in government, trade and professional associations, etc., not to mention the host of private citizens, both local and foreign.

Yes, the THA are, and always have been, hell-bent on keeping information about the slightest incident under wraps. However, while Tobagonians don't want to damage their fledgling tourism industry, they are horrified and disgusted by these incidents and are raising their voice in no uncertain manner. That's why the local newspapers and and radio stations seem to focus on nothing but crime - it is the major issue of the time.

As much as the official departments may wish to keep things under wraps, it is impossible to achieve. As I said, you can't keep anything quiet on an island of only 50,000 people. Everybody knows everybody else. Word quickly spreads. Yes, if you listen to the THA you would think there is zero crime on Tobago. If you read the papers and listen to the radio, you would think that Tobago is down-town Port of Spain. The truth, as always in these things, is somewhere between the two.