TT HC to London will try to meet Greens, says Tobago "relatively safe"

Trinidad and Tobago's High Commissioner to London, Garvin Nicholas, will try to contact Peter and Murium Green in London Wednesday to discuss concerns that the British couple have about safety for foreigners in Tobago and about compensation to them for a vicious attack on them last year.

The Greens were victims of a savage attack at their holiday home in Bacelot, Tobago last year. Both of them had to be flown to Trinidad for emergency treatment at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex. Murium suffered wounds to her face and jaw, while Peter's injuries were mostly in his face and head.

Murium underwent operations to rebuild her shattered face, while Peter spent two weeks in a medically induced coma to help reduce the swelling on his brain. Doctors didn't expect him to live.

The accused attacker is expected to go on trial on January 11, 2011.

The crime was widely reported in the British press and travel websites, cautioning visitors to avoid Tobago. The couple told the British press they were badly treated by support staff at hospital in Trinidad.

They also said the Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), Orville London, promised compensation but so far all they have got from anyone in Trinidad was a replica of a steelpan, a patterned beach wrap and an invitation to return for Carnival. They say this happened during a visit to their home by a man they identified as Farid Hinds.

On Monday they sent an email to the Trinidad Express stating that if they don't get word from about the promised compensation they would join their friends and supporters in demonstrating outside the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission in London.

In an email response to these development, High Commissioner Nicholas said, "I will attempt to contact the Greens tomorrow (Wednesday)."

Nicholas said the government of Trinidad and Tobago fully appreciates the need for tourists to feel safe and noted that Tobago remains relatively safe. He challenge, he said, is to make it safer.

"This government fully understands the need to provide a safe destination for tourists and citizens alike, especially as it strives to diversify the economy away from dependence on the energy industry into areas such as tourism," he said.

The attack happened during the Manning PNM administration and Nicholas noted that the present People's Partnership government was elected on its promise to deal with the crime situation which was totally out of control.

He noted that there has been a notable drop in major crimes in Trinidad and Tobago this year but "the government understands there is much more to do as one murder, rape or robbery is one too many."

With respect to the concern of the Greens about compensation, the diplomat said if the Greens were given a commitment by the previous government or the THA, "this promise should in my view, be honoured." 

He added, "I may even wish to suggest that it may be a practice that the THA should adopt for tourist in general as an incentive to tourist arrivals where fear may be a deterrent.

"Tourism is after all a very competitive, though highly lucrative industry. If we are to distinguish ourselves it should be positively. As this government's representative in the UK, I shall make every effort to communicate this to the Greens and the British and European public in general."