Increased Coast Guard patrols to address yacht break-ins – PM
There has been an upsurge in break-ins of yachts docked at local marinas and Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr Ralph Gonsalves says efforts are being made to curb this.
Speaking in the House of Assembly on Tuesday in response to questions posed by the Opposition Leader and Member of Parliament for Northern Grenadines, Dr Godwin Friday, Gonsalves, though not providing precise numbers, confirmed the increase in break-ins and expressed concern about the economic fallout to the “very important” tourism sector.
“That has come after the good news that we were recognized as the status destination for the preceding year in the Caribbean in respect of the Europeans.”
Back in 2015, the Caribbean Safety and Security Net (CCSN) published a report stating that there had been up to 10 reported cases of yacht break-ins in Canouan.
The Prime Minister said there has been an increase in police presence at areas where yachts dock both on mainland and in the Grenadines and steps have been taken to strengthen the Coast Guard base in Bequia.
“The Coast Guard has increased patrols … on land and on sea. And in the case of Bequia, for instance, the Deputy Director Grenadines Affairs has vacated his particular office to the Coast Guard and he’s been housed elsewhere so that we can better accommodate the base in Bequia for the Coast Guard officers. … There are some other things which have been done, which I wouldn’t speak about, but … there is a very concerted attempt to stamp out this particular species of criminal behaviour.”
The Prime Minister also said community involvement was necessary to address the situation.
“Not too long ago, there were two persons who were very much involved in break-ins, say a few years ago and the people in the community actually went and knew them, held them and took them to the police… I think it’s very important for us to have the involvement of the community and for them to report accordingly.”
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