KINGSTON, Jamaica – “Members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force must be commended for their expeditious action, both in responding promptly to the report and being present on the scene within 30 minutes to take statements and assure their guests’ safety and acting with dispatch to apprehend and eliminate one of the culprits and recovering some of the stolen property” says Minister Aloun Ndombet Assamba.
Furthermore, the citizenry of the Lethe community must also be recognized for their vigilance in keeping their eyes open for the other elusive assailants who have engineered this troubling situation.
The residents of the village have owned and guarded the niche tour as their livelihood, and take a defensive approach to any such acts that threaten the reputation and stability of the Estate that employs rafters and other support staff from the immediate community.
We are cognizant that the solution to crime is long term but in the meantime applauds those Jamaicans who observe Jamaica’s culture of respect for people of all nationalities and their property.
We remain adamant that all nationals should play their part in preserving Jamaica’s profile as a premier tourist destination and continue to throw their support behind us as we move to stamp out antagonistic acts that defy our efforts to leverage the destination.
The Ministry notes, with gratitude, the positive response from some guests who were robbed, one of whom publicly restated his willingness to return to and recommend Destination Jamaica. We reiterate that although the incidence of crime against visitors is marginal at 0.01% we maintain that any incidence of harassment is unacceptable.
Proprietors of the Lethe Estates Plantation Tour, Mr Francis Tulloch and Mrs. Doreen Tulloch, with whom the Ministry commiserates, have expressed their satisfaction with the performance of the police on the matter thus far.
Mr. Tulloch, a former Minister of Tourism, said yesterday’s occurrence was the first such incident in over 20 years and said he believed it was an orchestrated but isolated instance of petty theft. They said they were concerned about the age of the robbers, who appeared to be in their late teens.
Minister Aloun Ndombet Assamba
The Ministry of Tourism, Entertainment & Culture continues to condemn yesterday’s incident of aggravated robbery of the 17 cruise ship visitors during a Plantation Tour of the Lethe Estates in Hanover and anticipate thorough resolution and justice for the issue.
