Problems for visiting yachts continue in Canouan

by caribbeannewsnow.com on 16 Sep 2015 The situation for visiting yachts in Canouan in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has not improved, Caribbean Safety and Security Net CSSN) reported. CSSN said it has received yet another report of a boarding and theft against a yacht in Charlestown Bay (the tenth reported) for this small and not frequently visited location.

On September 8, while the owners were ashore for dinner at the Tamarind Beach Hotel, their catamaran was boarded and the outside refrigerator was emptied of foods/drinks. The incident reported by phone to the hotel, who indicated they would alert the Coast Guard.

“Someone had to board the boat when we went into the Tamarind Hotel for dinner just after sunset or when we entered the Wine Shop. Some food was eaten and the empty containers put back in the fridge and the majority of other items were taken. We were anchored where the boat could be seen from the restaurant, so it had to have happened right at sundown or when we went in the store because we could see the boat the majority of the time. Luckily the rest of the boat was locked and no other large items outside were taken (scuba tank or fishing pole),” the owners reported.

On July 20, 2015, CSSN emailed the SVG commissioner of police, Michael Charles, and copied a number of other involved SVG officials, including the ministry of national security, SVG Maritime Affairs, National Commission on Crime Prevention, and the SVG Office of Tourism outlining the problem, requesting assistance and asking for specific instructions about what victims should do in the case of a boarding/theft.

No response was received.

On August 3, the same email was resent to all the same officials and asked additionally for confirmation of receipt. The only response received was from the National Commission on Crime Prevention (NCCP) on August 6, and that same day CSSN asked NCCP to ensure all the other parties were informed and a response generated.

Again, no response was received.

On August 25, CSSN contacted Sally Erdle, the editor of the Caribbean Compass, asking for guidance and assistance. Erdle then sent an email to various SVG parties, (attaching the above content) including not only Charles, but also many governmental as well as business, press and tourism interests.

Again, no response has been received.

On September 7, CSSN contacted Godfrey Pompey, the permanent secretary for the ministry of national security, whose responsibilities include public affairs.

Again, no response has been received.

“It seems clear that, if you choose to visit Canouan, you should expect to be boarded, and that you should not expect any response from officials there or from those in SVG when you are. Whether SVG officials are uninterested or unwilling to respond to this persistent problem in the yachting tourism sector is impossible to know,” CSSN said, advising visiting yachts to plan their travels accordingly.