By Ketricia Finch
St. Kitts Reporter
Another phase of shootings, murder and thievery seems to be stepping on the scene of the twin-island Federation, with St. Kitts being less than two weeks away from hosting one of the most phenomenal sports events in history, World Cup Cricket. Do you feel the frequent occurrences of murders and theft will affect the number of visitors who would be coming in for World Cup?
Urban Penny, Labour Spokesman and National Security – I don’t think the recent crime would affect the number of visitors who would eventually come to St. Kitts for World Cup Cricket because the visitors have already purchased their tickets, so whoever is supposed to come will come. To cancel their tickets would just make it harder for other people to get bookings.
Also, most of the crime that’s occurring is gang-related crime.
George Rawlins, Retired Cricketer – I don’t think crime would prevent anyone from coming to our island because there will be tight security at the games. I don’t have a doubt about that. I believe in Almighty God that the cricket will turn out to be the best and the tourists would come out in large numbers. I am a big fan of cricket and I used to play and represent the Federation long time ago.
Elisheba Rogers, Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College – The crime that’s constantly occurring will affect the number of visitors who are supposed to come for cricket because the tourists would be thinking that they are not safe. They might be saying if there is not control among we, the locals, imagine for them.
Maurice, Paris Drug Store – The people who are doing the killing know whoever they want and it can’t be every tourist who come to St. Kitts will get robbed. Some tourists just end up in the wrong section in Basseterre, like the ghetto sections. If they just stay on the main roads and the main areas of the activities, then they won’t go through any of that.
Paul Maynard, Construction – Most likely nothing will happen to them because it’s the local people robbing the local people really. When the tourists come in there would be more army man and better security. I don’t think much crime would happen around that time.
They would take more precaution with tourism than the locals. Most of these crimes are happening because of gangs and because of the high cost of living. Some of the youth are desperate and nothing is there for them to do. All these issues contribute to the situation we are in right now.
Cleon Lewis, Jenkin’s Corporation – As you know, the tourists are coming into the island looking to have a good time. But if they hear about the killings and the crime and violence that is going on, some of them are going to be afraid.
I heard some people talking, saying that tourists have money and them bad boys seem to have something in store. I give the police officers the credit. I see them patrolling in the area. I heard that the other day they were having a problem with somebody trying to rob one. So they need to continue patrolling for the well-being of tourists so that they could enjoy themselves and come back next time.
Smiley, Grand Masters – In any country, there would always be incidents. There is no place that’s incident-free in the world. With development, there are many issues and advantages that comes with it such as crime and jobs.
People are already aware of the fact that the place is developing so a lot of things would be happening and crime would be on the rise too. It’s just for the law enforcement officers to step up and do their work. So I don’t think World Cup will suffer because of the issues of St. Kitts.
