The killing of retired German couple Birgid and Hubertus Keil will have a backlash on visitors coming to Tobago, said Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Orville London yesterday. They were found chopped to death, metres apart, along Minister’s Bay, Bacolet Beach, Tobago, last Saturday. London was speaking to members of the media after delivering an address at the final day of the fifth annual mediation symposium at the Hyatt Hotel, Port-of-Spain.
The killing of the Keils have made international headlines with many condemning the attack. He added: “I would not say that in no way this would not have any impact. Obviously I would be naive. We are hoping the history of Tobago and the way in which the police deal with it and the level of sensitivity which all of us treat with the situation, will convince the visitors that Tobago is a safe place.
“But I am realistic enough to understand that there will be some fallout. We are hoping that the fallout will be manageable and that the tourism sector will not suffer permanent damage.” On the sentiments from visitors following the murders, London said he did not get the sense of any undue panic among them. “The statistics are still there. It is a very unfortunate incident but I think we have got to balance the incident and the horror of the incident and the realities.
“The reality is there has been a significant improvement in the security situation in Tobago and that is what makes all of this so ironic and tragic,” London added. He also called on Tobagonians to play their part to make the island safer. He added: “I have confidence that the police will be doing all that is possible. “I believe in the circumstances that there is an extremely good chance that the culprit will be apprehended.
“It will be a little premature of me to make a determination as to when but I know, based on what I have seen and what I have heard and what I know is happening, the Commissioner (of Police) is putting all the resources necessary into the process and I have confidence in that.”
On whether the number of Tobago’s police officers should be increased, London said that, along with suggestions of more patrols and the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, were recommended to acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams. But, he added, much more needed to be done.
“A lot of it has to do with the people themselves. We have to be more observant and be willing... sometimes even when we have information we don’t oftentimes pass on the information to the relevant sources. “This is a time for introspection and I am not one of those who believe when something like this happens you only blame one source,” London said. He added that security was not just about the police doing their work but required an effort by the community.
“It is also an opportunity for all of us involved in the process... the people, the organisations, it is up to us see what we can do to make the place safer,” London said.