Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister E.P. Chet Greene has warned that continued violent crime in Antigua and Barbuda could prompt foreign governments to issue travel advisories, potentially damaging the country’s tourism industry and wider economy.
Speaking on the Beneath the Surface radio programme, Greene said the country cannot afford to treat crime as a partisan political issue because its consequences could affect thousands of workers and businesses that depend on visitor arrivals.
“Let me remind Pringle that we’re still a tourism-dependent country, and if this continues, somebody in the north will say travel advisory,” Greene said.
He warned that such an advisory would not only affect major hotels but could also hurt taxi operators, souvenir vendors, restaurant owners and other small businesses that rely on tourism activity.
Greene described those businesses as part of the tax base that supports the country, arguing that any reduction in visitor confidence would have far-reaching economic consequences.
His comments came amid a broader discussion about gun violence, sentencing and the need for a coordinated national response to crime.
Greene said Antigua and Barbuda cannot afford to follow the path of Caribbean countries that have struggled with sustained levels of violent crime for years.
He called for both sides of the political divide to work together, saying the current situation requires unity rather than attempts to gain political advantage.
According to Greene, crime and violence threaten the country’s peace, stability and economic future, making it necessary for the government, opposition, judiciary, law enforcement and wider public to support a common response.
He said allowing the problem to worsen could create long-term consequences for Antigua and Barbuda’s reputation as a safe destination.
Greene urged national leaders to “congeal” around workable solutions, warning that the country cannot afford to sit back and allow violent crime to become entrenched.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Greene Warns Crime Could Trigger International Travel Advisory.