18 tourists Robbed in Bahamas

[sailingrose]

http://www.tribune242.com/11232009_robberyupate_news_pg1

People questioned over robbery of 18 tourists

Published On:Monday, November 23, 2009

POLICE over the weekend continued to question several people in connection with the armed robbery of 18 tourists.

A decision is expected tomorrow as to whether anyone will be charged.

In a case that has attracted significant attention and concern from Bahamians, the tourists were robbed and threatened with shotguns while on an eco-tour in Nassau on Friday.

The visitors, passengers on the Disney and Royal Caribbean cruise lines, were part of two separate groups touring the Bahamas Association for Social Health's (BASH) Earth Village in the former Perpall Tract Wellfield area when they were attacked by two men at about 1pm.

The gun-wielding thugs tied up the Bahamian tour guide with the first group and ordered them to the ground before robbing them of money, passports, cell phones, credit cards and other personal items.

During the robbery, a second group of visitors approached and were also held up.

The attackers also gun-butted a Bahamian woman during the robbery. Her injuries, however, were not life-threatening and she was the only person to be hurt.

Tourism Director General Vernice Walkine said incidents like the one on Friday make it "harder" for tourism officials "to promote the country as a place to consider for a vacation."

This sentiment was shared by many of The Tribune's readers, who on the newspapers' website expressed shock and dismay, fearing that the country's vital tourism industry will be negatively impacted by this and other crime incidents.

[murr]

Thanks Rose,

We are going there in May.

[sailingrose]

I'm going next month.........and we walk around there all the time. Guess we'll just have to be more cautious.

[coloradocruisers]

It said they were on an eco-tour, so probably in a remote place. The main drag is probably as safe as it's always been.

[deb1220]

That's what I was thinking, Kevin..... Very scary!

[sailingrose]

Debbie love the avatar.

Kevin recently there have been reports of several robberies in the Bahamas on the streets of downtown too. Sad since I always felt more comfortable there, just will go up a notch in vigilance this time around.

[coloradocruisers]

Jeez, we aren't safe anywhere!

Denver just arrested 32 thugs for roaming downtown Denver at night beating people up and video-taping it. They jumped a 6'4" chef right outside my office building. They sucker punched him from behind, then broke a bone in his face.

[DebbieandJerry]

Wow. That is unbelievable. Thanks for the information. We can't let our guard down at all

[RayColey]

I've been threatened before while in a foreign country, but never robbed or attacked. However, as we plow diligently through middle-age we become more attractive as targets. It pays to always be aware of your surroundings. It seems to be getting worse all the time - makes me happy that I won't be around to see the second half of the century.

And off we go to the Bahamas in 5 weeks...

[BSCorvette]

I'm going next month.........and we walk around there all the time. Guess we'll just have to be more cautious.

You can be as cautious all you wantbut when there's a shotgun in your face it won't do any good. I'm sure those that were robbed were cautious...and still got robbed. They will lose more tourism in their area.... sad.