by CARLOS ATWELL

HOTELIERS are stepping up security measures to ensure their guests enjoy crime-free holidays.

Among other measures, hotel owners and officials plan to meet with Commissioner of Police Darwin Dottin this week to discuss setting up hidden surveillance cameras and increased patrols
in tourist areas.

This new all-out effort to fight crime comes after a number of attempted robberies and assaults on tourists in the past months.

"Some hotels are now utilising cameras and security audits, as well as security officers they did not have before," executive vice-president of the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association, Sue Springer, told the SUNDAY SUN yesterday.

"We need to ensure we have greater security with our home accommodation units and villas, as they are more isolated."

During his report in February at the Royal Barbados Police Force grand annual conference, Dottin said crime against tourists was on the rise, with
47 reports of crime against visitors, as compared to 23 in 2007, following a decrease in last year's figures which showed that there was a 31 per cent decrease in reported crimes against visitors – 178 as compared to 258 for 2006.

The statistics came on the heels of two separate attacks on visitors – one last month where six tourists were held up by a robber who made off with personal effects, including jewellery and bags, credit cards and cash, and the other in January when four men in a car attempted to stop and rob an Island Safari vehicle travelling with ten visitors.

"Security has come to the top of our minds; so we have increased our security officers and heightened our awareness. We do not have any major problems, but we are not waiting until there are," general manager of Divi Southwinds, Alvin Jemmott, said.

Managing director of The Sandpiper Hotel, Wayne Capaldi, also spoke about his efforts and concerns.

"We have not had any major security issues, but we have doubled our personnel and increased our patrols," he said.

"What we do have issues with are jet ski operators and vendors on the beach, as we are a beach destination.

"I think it is time Barbados had a dedicated police beach patrol with officers dressed and equipped to work on the beach to protect everyone, not just tourists. I believe the police have jet skis. Why can't they patrol the shore?" he added.

Jon Martineau, manager of Accra Beach Hotel & Resort, said he was upgrading his security with the addition of security cameras.

"We are looking at issues dealing with surveillance. We have been fortunate, but we cannot get comfortable with past performance. Barbados is not as innocent as it used to be."

According to the Barbados Tourism Authority's corporate communications consultant in Barbados Chay Davis, while crime remained low, there were "minor criminal activities" that continued to take place.

"We are working closely with the Royal Barbados Police Force and have had meetings working on heightening security in St Lawrence Main Road, as well as putting closed circuit television cameras in remote areas.

"We have unique selling attributes which distinguishes Barbados, not just in the Caribbean, but globally.

"However, we would urge visitors to take similar precautions to what they would take anywhere else in the world and this is what is posted on the websites."

carlosatwell@nationnews.com