I went to school in the Caribbean in the late 1990's and loved the experience. However, even at that time, one could see the increase in crimes that were ignored for fear of losing tourists. I could see no evidence of an effective police force, health care or judical system. I will never go back.

ray luccasen, austin, tx, USA

This isa wake-up call for Antigua, St Lucia and Barbados....three countries in the Caribbean that hide crime under the blanket in order to protect the Tourism industry in their country. I have lived there for over18 years To say that this is the 9th murder in 12 months is A BIG LIE!

John Harry, St Johns, Antgua

I lived in Antigua for two and a half years.It is a different experience,when you reside in the country.I can honesty say,that crime is out of control.
The police are in desperate need of patrol cars and modern equitment, to do their job right.
Just maybe then , crime can be decreaed.

carmen, middletown rhode island, united states

The Government of ANTIGUA & BARBUDA is not a COLONY of BRITAIN where BRITAIN is the MASTER and ANTIGUANS & BARBUDANS are still SLAVES.

We do have our own SOVEREIGN TERRITORY and our own SOVEREIGN LAWS.
BRITAIN wanted to BLACKMAIL us - if we are TOUGH on CRIME - then no BRITISH police!

John Smith, London,

Most tourist visiting the caribbean thinks its heaven but its not. nevertheless the caribbean especially St Lucia, are the most beautiful and peaceful in the world. Where ever you go ...there are bad people so know who you dealing with. My sincere condolensces to the Families.

Ernest Noeline, Castries, St Lucia

"The increase has been blamed on the United States policy of repatriating criminals after they have finished their jail sentences. Critics have claimed that violent criminals with little connection to Antigua have been returned to an island with scant experience of coping with such people"

Wow!

Raul, Dallas, USA

Wait,,, criminals come from Antigua to the US.. They commit crimes against American citizens. The US locks them up and then sends them BACK TO WHERE THEY CAME FROM and yet the United States is BLAMED for the rise in crime??
jesus christ (in small capital meaning no disrespect) give it a rest!

Rual, Dallas , USA

Why should the US allow people who are here illegally to remain after committing a crime? No country should have to. That being said, my heart goes out to their families - no family should ever have to deal with such a terrible loss.

Helen Skor, Washington, DC, USA

280 criminals have been repatriated to Antigua in the past 10 years. The issue is that many of these "Antiguans" have not been in Antigua since their youth and so they return with limited ties to this country from which to make a new life and big city criminal minds that overwhelm the tiny island...

XPAT, St. Mary's, Antigua

I lived in the Us Virgin Islands in the early 70's specifically St Croix. It was very violent and the police corrupt. You were on your own if you needed the police. I was never so glad to get back to the US! All it takes to make you a better American is to live outside the US.

laura strom, olive branch, mississippi

I grew up near Coco's. This incident has garnished such publicity because it is a rarity. I grew up in The Bronx after leaving Antigua -- it is still very safe. Antiguans are extremely nice people, however, laxed borders and extremely open immigration has added to increase criminal element.

Terry Browne, Tampa, USA

This kind of violence is being "exported" to our shores.... nowhere is safe now....
England used to be safe and your children couldplay in the streets- holidays? well you never went to these far off violent places.

mary, London, UK

I've been all over the West Indies for holidays since I was a teenager and never once had a problem. Such a shame that this has happened to this couple but crime is in every town, city and country in the world.

Tom, London, uk

What's the point of releasing these photos exactly ?

Is that news worthy ?

Shouldn't the family be let to grieve privately ?

Am i the only one to find this kind of "news" reporting voyeurish ?

Julio, Nancy, France

S Bennett - I appreciate your "shock" but what a ridiculous (and patronising) comment. Do people judge all every English person on the actions of those few young thugs wielding knives? The Caribbean is a beautiful place, with law abiding people and a few criminals. Just like anywhere else.

Sarah, London,

My husband and I visited Antigua in May 2008. We stayed at the Sandals resort & found the security to be of an excellent standard. Guards lined the beach 24 hours a day to prevent non-residents entering the resort. We went on several excursions around the island and always felt safe & comfortable.

Erica, Cheshire, England

Perhaps before the press starts laying into 'violent and crime-ridden' Antigua we might consider how many tourist have been killed in Britain and America in the last ten years. Because it is ten years since one was killed in Antigua.

eric campbell, harrogate, uk

I'm originally from the West Indies and have been to Antigua, on holidays. It is one place I would not hesitate to recommend friends nad asociates. My husband thought nothing of leaving me to walk home alone at 2am. It is extremley sad that this should happen. Guns, too easy to acquire?

jean edwards, Wembley, England

I too have stayed at the Coco resort in Antigua. It was an amazing location, the stuff of dreams. I only hope that british tourist are not too put off going thier.

Jemma, Sheffield,

Heartbreaking incident. May she rest in peace.

Rick, Glos,

You cannot blame the United States for your crimes. I do not blame a country for sending criminals back where they came from. We deal with what we have to, handle what/whom we have to and we do not blame others nor the fact that they may (and many are not) our citizens. Please shelter your blame.

Patricia, New York, United States

For Brits they did not make such a big deal when the two French Students were murdered in London!

valda williams, florida, usa

"Antigua is a safe and stable destination, and this has come as a great shock to us."

Well then it should not come as a shock to you when your tourism industry completely dries up. Boycott these violent places until they clean up their act.

My sympathy to the husband and families.

AN, London, UK

Antigua is a pirate haven, whose population is made up of people who were once slaves of white man's imperialism. Like the UK, there is a deep sense of social anomie. It is not surprising that the most ignorant will thus seek money, and use any means at their disposal to do so.

R Stribling, Camborne, UK

It is really sad, but let's face it, murder happens in every country, some by citizens and some by visitors. As for drug pushing, while I was on assignment in London, respectable professionals with graduate degrees tried to pressure me into taking illegal mind-altering substances. Nowhere is safe.

Carol, New York, USA

I've been to Antigua now since i was 16 every yeard&never felt intimidated,having spoken to my closest antiguan friends it appears they are not out of reach of the gun & knife culture the uk is experiencing for all the same reasons... its a shame that things like this cause the locals to suffer !

Rachael , Lancashire, UK

Whoever would do this is a low-life coward. What a horrible tragedy. No one deserves this, especially two good people starting a new life together.

Lance, Toronto, Canada

My friendds went to Antigua and said it was a lovely place, with beaches and everything! They wanted to stay longer than a week but couldn't!
It doesn't really seem nice now!

H Grisley, Guildford, UK

It's a great shame to both families and my thoughts go out to them. Being a british citizen living in the Caribbean I have seen an increase in violence, not only towards tourist but also to locals. I'm sure that this is due to the state of the world and can not be isolated just to the Caribbean

Karen , Barbados,

Once referred to by the Holiday industry as an "Island Paradise for the rich and famous", The Caribbean, as the article states,is by now, a destination for Mr & Mrs Ordinary, Little wonder the islanders resent people parading 'credit-card' wealth.Who said 'Call someplace Paradise - kiss it goodbye?

Chris, Darlington, U.K

We have been there twice and both times felt uneasy. Often approached by dodgy looking people and harrassed so we stayed in the hotel grounds but were always watching our backs. Even the guards at the hotel were creepy . Very scary - is it getting like Jamaica where you stay in the hotel.

SusieQ, Lancaster, UK

I have been to the Caribbean twice per year for the last 3 years. All islands are deteriorating in terms of security and the police do not have the will to stop the perpetrators. I will not be returning there.

Toby, London,

When I lived on St. Kitts some years ago with my wife and family I visited Antigua on a three day golfing holiday.I was amazed by the outright rudeness of the waiters in the hotel restaurant.When I complained to the Hotel manager I received a similar rude "couldn't care less' attitude.

john topley, Beaune, France

In answer to Sedgwick...
Thankfully India is capable of extraditing Indians who have committed crimes overseas. Recently an Indian national was extradited back to the UK to face trial for murdering a British girl in the UK (he fled back to India after the crime). Right now he is in a British prison

Sandeep, Mumbai, India

I was just in Antigua with family & for a wedding. We thought it was beautiful & the people Very friendly. Indeed, we left our beach bags while we swam with few worries that they'd be stolen, unlike the UK. Yes, there is violence - in all countries. It's a tragedy, but let's not lose perspective.

mia, London, UK

sedwick, you are correct. methinks we would be more likely to give them a flat and a telly.

Tragic loss

gary, cheam,

Wendy Newbigging, a young Canadian tourist and a member of my circle of friends at the time, was unexpectedly shot dead on the Antigua beach in 1995. She might well have tried to warn Dr. Mullany that these island paradises are not all that safe.

Google "Wendy Newbigging" for her story.

Steve R, Toronto, Canada

Hey i had gone there for my Honeymoon.. it was nice back then

paul, Montreal, Canada

Oh sure, blame the US. What the heck, we're blamed for pretty much everything these days.

Kathy, Elburn, USA

In answer to Stan, sadly the UK is incapable of deporting any foreigner whether a criminal or not.

sedgwick, London, UK

Quite to the contrary of the previous comments, my partner and I recently returned from Antigua. Antigua is a beautiful, friendly and welcoming island. We are saddened to hear of the recent tragic events. We found it to have less crime than the majority of holiday destinations.

Alex Marshall, Manchester, UK

The more I read about violent crime the more persuaded I am that true Draconian law should be applied - simply kill all violent crimimals, drug pushers and dealers - zero tolerance of crime is needed - no more pandering to the world's do-gooders who make excuses for criminals - terminate them!

James, bangkok,

We called in Antigua as a port of call on our cruise in March and thought it was a lovely place, best of all the islands that we visited and no sign of trouble. This has come as great shock as we thought what lovely people the Caribbeans are.

S Bennett, Dartford, England

There is definite tension on Antigua that you become aware of as you venture out, which I normally like; but it seems drugs/violence are now at serious danger levels .8 years ago crack dens were plentiful with only minor investigation and drugs readily available without leaving the bar. What tragedy

Jim, China,

This is tragic, but is it really due to U.S. deportation of West Indian criminals? One stays in a foreign country at that country's pleasure; committing criminal acts will get you deported [or worse] from most countries. I think the operative fact is "criminals," not where they served time.

R Mellander, Ridgeland, SC - USA

I went to Antigua in 1992 for a romantic holiday. It was anything but - aggressive, predatory males made our life hell. My partner faced constant harassment especially when alone. Drugs were rife and we were told not to venture out of our gated compound at night. I'd never go back.

Henry Ritblat, London, England

"blamed on the United States policy of repatriating criminals after they have finished their jail sentences."

What is the US supposed to do to foreign criminals, doesn't the UK deport foreign crimials too ?

Stan ex-London, USA, USA