Tragedy in Antigua; Captain Shot & Killed...

K1W1 · 01-23-2009, 10:02 AM

Hi,

This makes disturbing reading for everyone who used to know Antigua as a friendly and safe place to be.

http://www.ybw.com/auto/newsdesk/200...sailworld.html

nas130 · 01-23-2009, 01:58 PM

According to a few internet sources a captain was killed in Antigua:

The link:
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/...ht-Slaying.php

Australian skipper shot and killed in Antigua
The Associated Press
Published: January 23, 2009

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua: A gunman shot and killed the Australian skipper of a yacht in Antigua, police said Friday, stirring protests in the affluent boating community that has become a target of the Caribbean island's crime wave.

The victim was shot in the chest at close range Thursday night as he walked through a dockyard area near English Harbor with his girlfriend, Police Commissioner Thomas Bennett said. The motive was unclear and no arrests have been made, Bennett said.

A police official who could not be quoted by name because he was not authorized to speak to the news media identified the victim as Drew Gollan, captain of the 163-foot (50-meter) sailing yacht Perseus.

The shooting outraged boaters, business owners and local residents, who complained at an impromptu meeting Friday that the government has not done enough to protect the yacht-packed English Harbor area.

Louis Rich said that he planned to leave the island ahead of schedule on his yacht Alfa Nero. He said one of his own crew members had been robbed the previous week and he was concerned about their safety.
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Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer told the roughly 100 people gathered at the Abracadabra restaurant that police will increase patrols.

The twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda has been struggling with a rise in slayings, including the July shooting of British honeymooners Catherine and Benjamin Mullany in their cottage at a beachside resort.

"English Harbor draws a lot of these big yachts and money, and whoever is doing the crime is seeing the money," said Kristi Chesher, an American visitor who runs a Newport, R.I.-based boating concierge company. "The community is devastated really; not only the yachting community but the locals."

Gollan was among nine permanent crew members for the Perseus, which has a Steinway piano in the main saloon and is available for charters at $175,000 per week, according to a recent review by the online magazine CharterWave.

___

Associated Press writer Mike Melia contributed to this report from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

FISHTIGUA · 01-23-2009, 02:58 PM

With very sad regret and a heavy heart, having grown-up and worked in English Harbour for more years than I care to remember, this is no shock.

The feeling within the yachting and resident community in the last few years has been tense with a part of society where hard drug gangs and pushers have moved in. This was predicted for quiet a while.

Its not just Antigua that will suffer, many Islands of the Caribbean make a lot of tourist dollars from yachting but they think of it as an endless cash-cow. Poor security, mindless violent crimes and greed could very easily be the death of these 'paradises'.

As I said, it is with a very heavy heart that I write this.

Fish

Pascal · 01-23-2009, 04:47 PM

Many islands of the Caribbean have had a crime problem, often serious, for a long time. It's been a while since i left the Caribbean (mid 90s,used to live on St Barth and flew to the various islands a lot) but back then you'd have to be careful after sunset. st Thomas, St Croix, St Martin for instance. Some areas were ok, but sometimes go one block too far and you could find yourself in a very unpleasant situation.

back then the only island you could walk anywhere at any time of the day and night was St Barths...

This is tragic and going to seriously affect tourism.

FISHTIGUA · 01-23-2009, 05:59 PM

Yes Pascal, unfortunatly I've seen go on for the last 30 years.

Once in St Thomas as an 18 year old steward, I went ashore for some Egg McMuffins real early as a treat for the crew after a hard charter.

Just ahead of me while walking , passing the bar we had spent the previous night in, was a guy with a black case. From nowhere two punks jumped him and stole the case, luckily not using their hand guns as the street was busy. All this was before 7.30 in the morning.

This was when St. Thomas was 'nice'.

Throwing the Duchess of Westminster into the back of a pick-up at 4 in the morning in St Barts is another story.

Fish

Norseman · 01-23-2009, 11:23 PM

Quote:

This was when St. Thomas was 'nice'.

No changes..:

I lived in St. Thomas back in the mid 80s as well as St. Croix and Puerto Rico.

Nice place St. Thomas, but be careful. Very careful..The natives are restless.

Quote:

Many islands of the Caribbean have had a crime problem, often serious, for a long time

Yup, yup..but don't tell the tourists, they think they are in disneyland but with a nice sunset.

K1W1 · 01-24-2009, 07:50 AM

Hi,

Someone sent me this, it is as close to what you will get as an ambulance in Antigua.

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-199068

NYCAP123 · 01-24-2009, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K1W1

Hi,

Someone sent me this, it is as close to what you will get as an ambulance in Antigua.

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-199068

DK how I'd feel with a heart attack, but with a gunshot wound it's scoop and go. Any vehicle will do.
Alfa Nero did exactly the right thing. Only when it becomes more expensive to leave crime than to stop it will action be taken. Once they have the rep of a muggers (or worse) paradise money dries up.

YachtForums · 02-02-2009, 10:53 AM

From IBI News...

Quote:

Man charged with murder of skipper in Antigua

Police in Antigua have charged a 21-year-old with the murder of Drew Gollan, the 38-year-old Australian skipper of the Perini Navi ketch Perseus, who was shot dead outside the Gallery Bar last week.

The following statement was issued by the police:

On 30 January, 2009, a 21 year resident of Potters, Sylvester Lindsey, was arrested and charged for the murder of Drew Joseph Gollan of Australia which occurred in English Harbour on the 22nd January, 2009. The individual will be brought before the Court on Monday for the homicide. A .32 calibre pistol has been seized which we believe was involved in the offence.

Three other persons were detained in relation to the murder. Investigation is continuing and we will further advise if more charges are to be laid.

The success of the investigation was due to a team effort between the police and public. The Homicide and Intelligence Units of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda with the assistance of Crime Stoppers, the media and the general public pulled together to help solve the case. Numerous tips were received and members of the public have come forward to assist the police.

(2 February 2009)

K1W1 · 02-02-2009, 10:58 AM

Hi,

Lets hope that he gets a fair trial and if found guilty gets his just deserts.

FISHTIGUA · 02-02-2009, 01:06 PM

We still have hangings in Antigua, though no longer public.

Has not been used since the Guernsey boat 'Comupter Challenger' was shot up in the early '90s. I helped solve that one due to having some Guernsey pound notes on me to show the Police to trace

K1W1 · 02-02-2009, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FISHTIGUA

We still have hangings in Antigua, though no longer public.

Hi,

Maybe it's time to bring this back to the public domain- maybe at the Rec Ground before a Cricket Test as a curtain raiser.

DocRon · 02-03-2009, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YachtForums

From IBI News...

Congratulations to the Antiguan Police on the swift arrest of the suspect. May he get a fair trial and justice be served.

One needs to get a grip on crime early as eventually it gets out of control and then almost drastic measures need to be taken to preserve the peace. (Hanging before a cricket match may be too drastic but I am sure a lot of Ozzies felt that way at the loss of their team in ODI and test series to SA.)

Unfortunately crime happens all around the world and I believe that it is going to get worse as unemployment continues to rise in the face of the world economic crisis.

How would you feel if you and your children were starving or at least battling to make ends meet and then you see a luxury yacht in the marina and the people living an exuberent lifestyle?

Lets hope we get a grip on crime soon.

My condolences to the family of Capt. Drew Gollan of S/Y Perseus.

Pascal · 02-03-2009, 11:08 AM

apparently the crew of one of the boat which left Antigua was attacked on St thomas... one crew member in the hospital. No detail yet on what happened and where they were. In STT, it's easy to go one block too far!

http://www.ybw.com/ibinews/newsdesk/...37ibinews.html

NYCAP123 · 02-03-2009, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pascal

apparently the crew of one of the boat which left Antigua was attacked on St thomas... one crew member in the hospital. No detail yet on what happened and where they were. In STT, it's easy to go one block too far!

http://www.ybw.com/ibinews/newsdesk/...37ibinews.html

Woosh! That's the sound of tourist dollars drying up. Obviously Antigua recognized that sound with the aid of Crime Stoppers. Hopefully other places that haven't had the problem hear it as well and put measures in place to stop problems before they start.
A recent employer who enjoys world travel told me he has stopped going outside the US (and that's not to say it doesn't happen here, but it's home) because of safety concerns. That's not a good thing for anybody.