Above: Antigua (CJ Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Antigua and Barbuda has established a Tourism Task Force focusing on visitor safety, the government announced this week.

The force is a product of cooperation between the Ministry of National Security and the Ministry of Tourism.

“Antigua & Barbuda is a tourist reliant economy and therefore, we have to be mindful of any criminal activity that is aimed at tourists,” said Minister of National Security Dr Errol Cort. “While we have been very fortunate in this country to have minimum criminal activity directed at tourists, we want to ensure that such activities are at a zero level.”

Superintendent Clement Solomon will be heading the task force, which will include trained police officers that will be charged with safeguarding public areas frequented by visitors.

“I don’t want anybody to think it is unsafe, but we need to maintain safety,” said Tourism Minister John Maginley. “We have the responsibility to our nationals, our citizens, our residents and everybody here. That is a major priority, the tourism sector needs special care and attention too.”