myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

It is with shock and very deep regret that I must report the murder of a German national in Tobago last night. Details are sketchy, but these are the facts as best I can determine them.

At around 6:30pm yesterday evening the Assistant Manager of the new Summerland Suites hotel, located behind the Shade nightclub in Bon Accord, was attacked in the street near the hotel. A man jumped out of a car that pulled up beside her and snatched the necklace she was wearing. At this stage there are no reports of a weapon being used, so perhaps the necklace cut her throat while being ripped off. The lady managed to run back into the hotel but bled to death before medical health could arrive. She had been living in Tobago since October last. It would be inappropriate to publish her name until we can be sure her family have been notified.

To say that I am horrified and disgusted by this latest incident is an understatement. I will say no more because I am in serious danger of saying things that I might regret later.

This is grim. Makes me nervous about going on holiday in a couple of weeks, not what you need. What are the chances of them catching the culprit?

Yep I agree.... I hadnt heard of anything bad in a while but now I am a bit anxious about a trip in March.

Hi Guys

What can I say other than that violent incidents are few and far between.

It is far too early to pass judgement on this case as the facts are still unclear. A man (non local) is in custody and helping police - but he may have been a witness rather than the felon. It does look like a robbery that went wrong. I guess the necklace could have acted as a saw/knife if pulled against the neck with force. We just don't know - but it goes back to the advice given in our Security article (Menu: Information > Personal Security) not to wear expensive/flash jewellery.

I probably shouldn't say this, but it does worry me that this incident took place so close to the Shade nightclub - a place with a notorious reputation and where lots of 'incidents' have taken place. It is clearly an area that tourists should avoid.

Thanks Steve, interesting to get your thoughts. Will avoid that nightclub! Is it OK to walk around the Crown Point area in the evening or do we need to get taxis everywhere?

Hi Simon

I can't tell you what you should do - only say what I would be prepared to do. Just as here at home, I would have no hesitation about walking around the streets whilst there are other people around and during 'normal' hours. The important thing is to apply common sense and don't "flash the cash" by wearing expensive bling or look like a stupid tourist waiting to be robbed. Many/most incidents are drugs-related.

This is really terrible news, how awful for her family. Your account Steve seems totally bizarre which would point to a drugs link I'd have thought. Just hope they catch the ba---rds.
As you say this is a rare incident and I do so wish it doesn't put people off holidaying there.

Terrible situations like this are always a dilemma from an editorial point of view. If I publish before all the facts are known, I may unnecessarily scare visitors and residents alike. If I hold back, some people will accuse me of burying bad news. If truth be told, I think our record speaks for itself and demonstrates our determination to keep visitors fully informed: I think I can safely say that news of every major incident on Tobago over the past five years appeared on myTobago.info before any other website.

With this in mind, I would ask readers not to jump to ANY conclusions about the terrible incident. The facts are still unclear. I can however confirm that a man of foreign extraction is currently helping police with their enquiries. He is being questioned as a suspect, not a witness. It would be very wrong to mention any names unless, and until, police actually lay charges.

The point I am making is that this horrible incident could be a non-local “domestic” rather than a robbery gone-wrong.

I will publish updates as information becomes available and provided that I can be reasonably sure that any such information can be verified and/or is relevant.

Hi Simon

I stay by peoples I know in Bon Accord since 1992, but I mostly take a taxi to Crown Point as it now a days can be a bad choise to walk down the road in the evening.
Since the Shade did open, a walk on the road during the evening passing that area isn´t always safe. But once in the Crown Point area, I walk to restaurants and so forth without problems. But, I keep an eye on the peoples around, just in case...

But I NEVER walk around with golden chains, golden rings, expensive watches or anything similar. I don´t even have a wallet, I split the money into different pockets and always the smallest amount outside when I pick it up. As Steve say, never flash the cash, I don´t even do so when spending time with peoples I know, you never know who´s watching...

Mostly Tobagonians are nice friendly peoples, but peoples who hasn´t been there before can get in troubles by the feeling "Tobago is sooo nice". Now a days, with the fast ferries, it´s easy for criminals to cross over for "some business" in Tobago.

Enjoy your vacation, but remember, bad things do happen once in a while, even in Tobago.
Ronald

German woman stabbed to death
By Karl E Cupid and Indarjit Seuraj Saturday, February 21 2009

A South African man has been detained for questioning in the murder of German woman Claudia Maria Feldmeier, who died after being stabbed in the neck at Summerland Villas in Tobago on Thursday night.

The Ministry of National Security, in a statement yesterday, advised the man is assisting police in their investigation of the attack on Feldmeier, 45, who worked as an assistant manager and receptionist at Summerland, where she also lived. The ministry said the suspect knew Feldmeier.

Investigators said Feldmeier lived in Tobago for over four months and began working at Summerland, located at Robert Street, Bon Accord Development, just before Christmas.

They report Feldmeier had returned from a Chinese restaurant at about 6.40 pm when she was attacked and stabbed in her neck outside her apartment. She ran to a co-worker’s apartment but collapsed and died. District Medical Officer Dr Alana Quamina examined her body, which had a single stab wound to the neck, and ordered it removed to the mortuary at the Scarborough Hospital.

Before Feldmeier was attacked she was seen speaking to someone in a car, which slowed down beside her as she walked to her apartment, said sources. A South African man, who is in his 50s, was being questioned by police last evening. Police also interviewed several other persons. Feldmeier’s murder is expected to cause a stir in Germany and could affect travel by foreigners to Tobago, Deputy Head of Mission and Consul at the German Consulate Christoph Peleikis told Newsday yesterday. “Of course it will affect tourism...”

Feldmeier is from Southern Germany and her family has been informed of her death. Peleikis said the spate of murders in Trinidad and Tobago has now hit foreigners as well. He, however, remained optimistic that this latest killing was just an isolated incident and the perpetrator of the crime would soon be charged. “Tobago is a beautiful place,” he said.

Peleikis was in high praise of the local police and also confirmed a suspect has been arrested. He said if assistance was requested by the police, the consulate would not hesitate to deploy their own investigators but he maintained that local detectives were competent.

“I think they are very well equipped,” he said. As for now, he said, German lawmen would only do an investigation “on paper” as a formality. Coincidently, Feldmeier’s killing took place in the same district where Swedish couple, Oke Olsoon, 73, and Anna Sundsval, 62, were brutally chopped to death last October. They were killed in their villa at Anthony Charles Crescent, Bon Accord Development. Their murders remain unsolved.

- Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

I don't like the way that the location issue linking the Swedish couple is mentioned in the news article ... very poor and presumptive (even provocative) journalism.

Regards

I take your point, Paul, but one can't deny that 4 murders and a substantial number or robberies, muggings and assaults have taken place within 500m or so of that location - since The Shade opened and no problems at all before. We have all seen the low-life that hang around outside the nightclub during the late evenings and I think it fairly safe to assume that many of the druggies consider the area and tourists 'easy pickings'. Sure, the club seems to be doing a fair bit to control access, but I'm not sure they can be held totally responsible for the patrons they attract, much less those hanging about outside to pick on the drunken stupid tourists who stagger out in the wee hours. To me, it is the ONLY no-go area in Tobago (well, assuming one takes care leaving Sunday School late at night).

Anyway, aspects of the case now indicate that we could be looking at a case of white-on-white crime passional.

Not sure how to put this so please don't think I am having a go ... this is a discussion point

I don't know about the Shade. I have never had any personal experience of trouble either in Tobago, but I would not like to suggest that it is because I don't go to the Shade, let alone know where it is.

What I am saying is that the article was very presumptive to suggest this could be linked to the tragic murder of a Swedish couple. It is equally presumptive to suggest that it is linked to the Shade just because it has a bad reputation and happens to be within shouting distance of the incident or near where the victim works.

Fine ... it is a no-go place, let's leave it at that ... I will believe anyone that says that, but suggesting that it is linked to this is presumptive.

Regardless of the caution under which this latest tragedy has been disclosed, certain assumptions/presumptions are coming to light in this thread and I feel that it is wrong ... there is no proof ... simple as that ... until the full facts are disclosed.

Hopefully, this is all about a nutter that does not originate from Tobago and we can put it all down to an undesirable thug from overseas ... again, no proof of that.

Let's wait and see ...

Regards

Hi Paul

I totally agree - there is no evidence to suggest that any of these crimes as associated with The Shade per se.

No, we must not assume anything. However, on the basis of information that I am unable to disclose here, I just want to stress that there is possibly a lot more to this story than meets the eye and that there is every possibility that this is NOT an incident that should be held against Tobago or which reflects on visitor security.

Hi Steve

I agree too ... there are 2 or more sides to every story and there are always people privileged to be 'in the know'.

In my opinion, this forum has been extremely informative and impartial about sensitive issues like this and this is a credit to myTobago ... I just sensed there was a bit of sensationalism seeping in on this particular matter.

Looking forward to a swift conclusion to this unpleasant incident. Thanks for keeping us informed.

Regards

S/African still in custody
German murdered in Tobago
Elizabeth W Allard Tobago Bureau
Trinidad and Tobago Express

Monday, February 23rd 2009

A South African national remained in police custody last night, assisting them in their investigation into last Thursday night's murder of 46-year-old German national Claudia Feldmeier.

The woman, who lived at Summerland Suites, Bon Accord Development, Tobago, was stabbed to death.

An autopsy is scheduled to be conducted on the body of Feldmeier. Police investigators told the Express that a knife has been recovered following the murder.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Nadhir Khan said that robbery has been ruled out as the motive for the killing and police are now exploring other angles. Members of the Special Anti-Crime Unit of Trinidad and Tobago are also assisting local police with their investigations. Police over the weekend revisited the crime scene handing out flyers urging persons with information to come forward to assist officers in their investigations.

One eyewitness reported that a man was seen fleeing the scene with a bag and a red and white hat on the night of Feldmeier's murder.

Reports also state that a small child stumbled upon the woman's body on the floor of her apartment at Summerland Suites. Feldmeier's body was found at Room 110 at Summerland Suites, Bon Accord Development, with her throat slit, shortly after 6 p.m. last Thursday.

Residents remain traumatised over the incident which has now brought the murder toll in Tobago to four for 2009. On October 9, last year the yet unsolved double murder of Swedish couple Anna Sundsval and Ake Olsson also occurred in the same area.

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and by the way, also in today's paper...

American shot dead
By ONIKA JAMES Monday, February 23 2009
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

A 29-YEAR-OLD American man, on vacation and in Trinidad for the Carnival celebrations was shot dead yesterday morning in full view of a police officer and several others, following the “Dawn” fete on Cipriani Boulevard, Tragarete Road in Port-of-Spain.

But in a swift move, police arrested a 30-year-old Canadian man and a 26-year-old British woman in connection with the shooting of the American identified by police as Leevurn Lyons. A gun and several rounds of ammunition were also seized.

According to a statement from the Ministry of National Security, the fatal shooting occurred following an argument between the three foreigners at about 8.30 am as they were leaving the fete.

It was during the heated argument that the victim, said to be a resident of California in the USA, was shot twice. Lyons was taken to the St Clair Medical Centre where he was pronounced dead-on-arrival. Police officers from the Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau (OCNFB) visited the scene and seized the illegal firearm. The Canadian and British nationals were at Police Headquarters up to late yesterday. Officers from the Port-of-Spain Homicide Bureau are continuing inquiries.

Police yesterday remained tightlipped as to the American man’s identity although they confirmed that his American passport was in the hands of the investigator. Police sources also said that acting Police Commissioner James Philbert was briefed about the incident. * This is the second murder involving foreigners to have taken place in this country within the past three days. * (emphasis mine)

On Thursday, German national Claudia Maria Feldmeier was stabbed in the neck at Summerland Villas, Roberts Street, Bon Accord in Tobago. Feldmeier, 45, worked as a manager at Summerland Villas.

Feldmeier was returning to her apartment, after buying dinner at a Chinese restaurant, around 6.40 pm when she was attacked and dealt a single stab wound to the neck. Reports said, she ran to a co-worker’s apartment but, collapsed. A South African man was detained for questioning in connection with Feldmeier’s death. He remains in custody assisting Tobago Homicide Bureau detectives.

Acting Police Commissioner, via a release from the Ministry, continued his appeal to all citizens and visitors to be “vigilant about their own personal safety for the Carnival period,” and assured the public that “the police will continue to ensure a safe Carnival 2009.” The murder toll for the year now stands at 95.

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Hi everyone,

Tobago is one of my very favorite places on earth and its extremely sad to see the island deteriorate in this way. The police seem overwhelmed with the accelerating rate of cultural change in the islands, the breakdown of the family and the pervasive glorification of violence in the media (problems not restricted to the Caribbean as we all know). Sadly I predict things will get worse until Tobagonians and Trinidadians finally decide that they've had enough. It will be interesting to see what solution they choose when that happens.

That said, should I be invited again to Tobago this spring I' ll be there. Perhaps I'll just keep my head down a bit more.

It is, as Jerry says, a worrying time. I'm not about to get up on my soapbox and try to convince you all that Tobago is the peaceful haven of calm and tranquility that it was a few years ago. It has changed, and will, I'm sure - despite protestations - continue to do so. That said, it's worth noting that if the reports are to be believed, both the instances referred to in Jerry's report are by non-nationals.

Please don't misinterpret me - any loss of life is too much - whether it's caused by reckless driving, drowning, or (and especially) at the hands of another. ANY loss is tragic. I do, however, feel that Trinidad and Tobago can't be held entirely accountable for the actions of visitors to its' soil.

Tobago will be hit hard enough this year by the credit crunch, without all the negative and adverse publicity that - justifiably - surrounds incidents like these. My heart goes out to the relatives of the victims and I, like most of the people I know here, am still rocking from the news. It's crossed my mind recently, on more than one occasion, that it might be time to leave. Then I read the papers from 'home' and realise that with all her faults, Tobago still feels safer to me than Essex. Please God that doesn't change anytime soon.

Jerry..... I'd read the reports online that you quoted, but to my mind, the part of your report that says the most were your final two paragraphs. I sincerely hope that the "Powers That Be" get a grip on the situation in time for Tobago to be able to rise from this.

Lisa.

An other thing to remember...
I was told some years, that as many criminal T&T sitizens has been deported back to T&T, harder crime also get more common, as they bring their "business" with them.

An other thing about the crime in Tobago, some years ago there were no fast speed ferries, but now they can go across from Trinidad in the morning, make a "businees tour" and be back on next ferry. At that time, the police are still searching in Tobago into different areas as they does´t have any other information.

Ronald

Look at how many teenagers have been stabbed to death in London alone over the past I8 months or so. That's just a particular group in a relatively small area. It's now so common that headlines read along the lines of "The latest teenage stabbing...." and incidents don't stay headlines news for long. They will probably be restricted to local newspaper reports soon, if they haven't already, and then disappear altogether, along with the sorrow and outrage. At least murders still shock in Tobago.

Well, after spending five days on Tobago and two days in Port of Spain, have to say never felt remotely threatened in either place. That's not to say there's no problem of course, but in our limited experience there was no issue at all. Everyone was really friendly and even the vendors were not that much of a problem and backed off once we declined interest.

Such a shame the rep Tobago is getting, it really doesn't seem to be deserved.