Increase in Crime...

Recently Soundings Magazine reported an increase in crime in the Caribbean islands. It reported that a recent rape, and a growing number of assaults and armed robberies, and a surge in petty theft have sparked an outcry among cruisers in all of the Caribbean Islands.

We recently (early March) completed a 300 mile cruise through the islands from Martinique, through the British, American, and "Spanish" Virgins and did not hear of any unusual rise in crime. In fact, most marinas and anchorages were so crowded with yachtsmen that a thief would be asking for trouble to go mucking about there...

The large marina on the Dutch side of Martinique had security guards but as some of the largest megayachts in the world were tied up there, we'd say the security was on a par with Antibes, on the French Riviera. The British Virgin Islands were as relaxed and appeared to be as friendly as they have for the last 35 years.

The high fences topped with razor wire and double check points at the new Yacht Haven Grand Marina in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, speaks for itself. St Thomas has long been known to be the most unfriendly island in the Caribbean to tourists, but the new Yacht Haven Grand Marina is an oasis of luxury shopping and bustling pubs. The marina staff and dockhands are helpful and friendly, and among the most professional in the islands. And yachtsmen are certainly safe in the marina.

The Antilles are not the drug highway that they were in the 1970's and '80s, before the U.S. Coast Guard got serious and before the governments of the Bahamas and the Turks and Cacaos got straight. In fact, some recent reports indicate that the main drug route has moved to the east coast of Central America to Mexico.

In the islands, crime against yachtsmen seems to be spotty and isolated, driven more by unemployment and petty thievery than anything else. Nevertheless, according to Soundings Magazine, crime is on the rise there again, and drug trafficking might also be on the increase as the Coast Guard has been diverted to other missions since 9/11.

The islands have long been known for lethargic local police response and nothing seems to have changed much. As astounding as it may seem, there is still no trans-island police network to pass the word up and down the island chain of bad guys on the loose. Yachtsmen do the best job of accomplishing that job as anyone, but unfortunately the police probably do not monitor those frequencies.

Finally, the sheer number of megayachts cruising the islands these days offer increased security for all yachtsmen. The crews on these yachts are trained, vigilant, they communicate with each other, and are generally watchful.

If any of our readers have any crime stories from the Caribbean, send them to [email protected]. The Caribbean is a great place to cruise, but just like any place else, one needs to be aware of their surroundings.