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Lack of Government Repsonse to Murder in Antigua
I am frankly apalled by the news of the initial lack of response by the British Government to allow British police to fly immediately to Antigua, at the request of the President of Antigua, in order to assist police there to bring the offender(s) to justice.
The lack of response by the British Government is twofold: (a) The Home Secretary, Jacquie Smith, was on holiday and she had requested not to be disturbed. Therefore a junior official at the Home Office took the decision to delay procedures on the advice of the Foreign Office, which is given at (b) below.
(b) The decision to send British police from Scotland Yard was delayed on account of the fact that Antigua enforces the death penalty, and it was felt that the British police should not be employed on cases where the death penalty is enforced.
The dithering by the British Government has meant that vital clues leading to a successful prosecution will almost certainly have been lost, and the offender(s) will once again have escaped from the justice which the family and friends of Catherine and Ben Mullany should rightly expect.
The lack of response by the British Government is twofold: (a) The Home Secretary, Jacquie Smith, was on holiday and she had requested not to be disturbed. Therefore a junior official at the Home Office took the decision to delay procedures on the advice of the Foreign Office, which is given at (b) below.
(b) The decision to send British police from Scotland Yard was delayed on account of the fact that Antigua enforces the death penalty, and it was felt that the British police should not be employed on cases where the death penalty is enforced.
The dithering by the British Government has meant that vital clues leading to a successful prosecution will almost certainly have been lost, and the offender(s) will once again have escaped from the justice which the family and friends of Catherine and Ben Mullany should rightly expect.
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R1Geezer
I've actually been to Antigua (one night stop over on our way to St. Barts).
My impression was that it was an extremely beautiful, but ridiculously expensive place (�150 for our evening meal).
When did you go there, R1Geezer and where did you stay? Sounds like you must've had a pretty dodgy hotel.
PS. If you're ever flying from Antigua to St Barts - make sure you don't miss your bl**dy flight. They close the airport at about 18.00 and the locals are completely unbribable.
I've actually been to Antigua (one night stop over on our way to St. Barts).
My impression was that it was an extremely beautiful, but ridiculously expensive place (�150 for our evening meal).
When did you go there, R1Geezer and where did you stay? Sounds like you must've had a pretty dodgy hotel.
PS. If you're ever flying from Antigua to St Barts - make sure you don't miss your bl**dy flight. They close the airport at about 18.00 and the locals are completely unbribable.
Why do you think the President of Antigua made that request?
Because if British police are involved it draws attention and blame for a lack of results away from him.
Sending British Police around the world to investigate cases in other peoples countries where they have no juristiction or access to the facilities that they do back home is not a good precident to set (or enforce).
Because if British police are involved it draws attention and blame for a lack of results away from him.
Sending British Police around the world to investigate cases in other peoples countries where they have no juristiction or access to the facilities that they do back home is not a good precident to set (or enforce).
R1Geezer
Best to stay in more upmarket places.
Don't know where this poor unfortunate couple were staying or who they got talking to, but my abiding memory of the place was a) it was beautiful b) the staff at the boutique hotel we stayed at all looked like models and were all vaguely incompetent and c) hearing a drum roll just before I opened my subsequent credit card statement.
I reckon you can go to most places in the world and get targetted by locals simply because of 'wrong place, wrong time'.
For instance, I've always like Greece but you have to be pretty careful when the British lager louts are in town (Aiya Napa especially).
Went there once.
Never again. Not keen on seeing lads from the Old Kent Road with sick all over their shirts urinating in shop doorways.
Best to stay in more upmarket places.
Don't know where this poor unfortunate couple were staying or who they got talking to, but my abiding memory of the place was a) it was beautiful b) the staff at the boutique hotel we stayed at all looked like models and were all vaguely incompetent and c) hearing a drum roll just before I opened my subsequent credit card statement.
I reckon you can go to most places in the world and get targetted by locals simply because of 'wrong place, wrong time'.
For instance, I've always like Greece but you have to be pretty careful when the British lager louts are in town (Aiya Napa especially).
Went there once.
Never again. Not keen on seeing lads from the Old Kent Road with sick all over their shirts urinating in shop doorways.
-- answer removed --
R1Geezer
Hang on a second...you went on a complex holiday!!
I geddit now.
I wouldn't touch one of those holidays with a bargepole.
Same with the complex holidays in Mexico (Cancuan?)
Horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible.
Here's what you're not told before you fly out...in order to maximise revenue return, they are nearly always built adjacent to, or in, the poorest areas of the destination resort.
They can never afford the rents of the more upmarket sites, which means that you go there...stay there and then come home.
Butlins with sunburn.
Hang on a second...you went on a complex holiday!!
I geddit now.
I wouldn't touch one of those holidays with a bargepole.
Same with the complex holidays in Mexico (Cancuan?)
Horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible.
Here's what you're not told before you fly out...in order to maximise revenue return, they are nearly always built adjacent to, or in, the poorest areas of the destination resort.
They can never afford the rents of the more upmarket sites, which means that you go there...stay there and then come home.
Butlins with sunburn.
-- answer removed --
RevFunk
Four course meal with wine. It was actually something like �145.
To give you an example of the clientel there...later on, I went to the bar to buy a round of drinks, and when I came back, my mates were chatting to this rather portly American chap and his girlfriend.
I froze because I recognised him, but the rest of my party didn't.
After he left, I told them who it was.
Billy Joel.
Believe me...Antigua is absolutely not a sh*thole.
Weirdly, Seal and Heidi Klum were there too.
She's so tall that lying down, her head and feet were in two different time zones.
I'd never go back though. The prices were a bit rich for my pocket.
Four course meal with wine. It was actually something like �145.
To give you an example of the clientel there...later on, I went to the bar to buy a round of drinks, and when I came back, my mates were chatting to this rather portly American chap and his girlfriend.
I froze because I recognised him, but the rest of my party didn't.
After he left, I told them who it was.
Billy Joel.
Believe me...Antigua is absolutely not a sh*thole.
Weirdly, Seal and Heidi Klum were there too.
She's so tall that lying down, her head and feet were in two different time zones.
I'd never go back though. The prices were a bit rich for my pocket.
It's been intersting to read through all your responses, folks, but some of course don't even come close to the original post I set out above. But thanks anyhow !
Perhaps the main point at issue here is with Kev1, who raises the question about cost of the British police involvement. It amounts to some �50,000 to be precise, Kev, which, for your information, is to be paid by the Government of Antigua and NOT the British taxpayer !
Oh, and one more point, raised by sp1814... Not actually been to mainland Greece myself but I have been to St Tropez in the South of France (chiefly on account of its reputation among the billionaires) - and I have forever afterwards remained disappointed by the behaviour of the many English lager-louts, spewing forth the contents of their over-sized stomachs, to the general amusement of the German tourist.
Perhaps the main point at issue here is with Kev1, who raises the question about cost of the British police involvement. It amounts to some �50,000 to be precise, Kev, which, for your information, is to be paid by the Government of Antigua and NOT the British taxpayer !
Oh, and one more point, raised by sp1814... Not actually been to mainland Greece myself but I have been to St Tropez in the South of France (chiefly on account of its reputation among the billionaires) - and I have forever afterwards remained disappointed by the behaviour of the many English lager-louts, spewing forth the contents of their over-sized stomachs, to the general amusement of the German tourist.
Britons holiday all over the world, and unfortunately some of them are the victims of crime. Are we supposed to fly our police all around the globe to investigate crimes against British people, or just the cases that the tabloids take an interest in.
And will this arrangement be reciprocal? Next time a couple of french citizens are hideously butchered in the UK, can we expect a garrison of Gendarmerie to jet in and look down their noses at the clueless local police from Scotland Yard?
And will this arrangement be reciprocal? Next time a couple of french citizens are hideously butchered in the UK, can we expect a garrison of Gendarmerie to jet in and look down their noses at the clueless local police from Scotland Yard?
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