security in st lucia
#1
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 30
security in st lucia
Hi there. Have just been reading a few posts about the recent security scares in St Lucia. My family are currently living in Kenya and we are thinking of relocating to St Lucia within the next year. The one thing I don't want to do is to move from one dangerous place to an up and coming dangerous place! Is the level of crime getting pretty bad on the island or is it only being mentioned because it hasn't happened before. In Kenya it is dangerous to drive at night, madness to walk around at night, and all of the houses are fully barres with security guards (at least in Nairobi). I can't believe it is that bad in SL?? We would not be able to afford to live in a gated community, however my daughter is 6 so the north of the island is the place for us with all of the schools in the area.
Lastly my wife will be by herself for up to 3 weeks a month as I work in the UK, so I really don't want to consider SL if it is getting dangerous at night inside your own house (we've had enough of that in Nairobi).
Thanks for any info
Lastly my wife will be by herself for up to 3 weeks a month as I work in the UK, so I really don't want to consider SL if it is getting dangerous at night inside your own house (we've had enough of that in Nairobi).
Thanks for any info
#2
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,165
Re: security in st lucia
Hi there. Have just been reading a few posts about the recent security scares in St Lucia. My family are currently living in Kenya and we are thinking of relocating to St Lucia within the next year. The one thing I don't want to do is to move from one dangerous place to an up and coming dangerous place! Is the level of crime getting pretty bad on the island or is it only being mentioned because it hasn't happened before. In Kenya it is dangerous to drive at night, madness to walk around at night, and all of the houses are fully barres with security guards (at least in Nairobi). I can't believe it is that bad in SL?? We would not be able to afford to live in a gated community, however my daughter is 6 so the north of the island is the place for us with all of the schools in the area.
Lastly my wife will be by herself for up to 3 weeks a month as I work in the UK, so I really don't want to consider SL if it is getting dangerous at night inside your own house (we've had enough of that in Nairobi).
Thanks for any info
Lastly my wife will be by herself for up to 3 weeks a month as I work in the UK, so I really don't want to consider SL if it is getting dangerous at night inside your own house (we've had enough of that in Nairobi).
Thanks for any info
Choose right area, don't flash wealth about, burglars bars and a dog and you should be OK. Check my other post regarding this.
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...=654809&page=2
Read my last contribution.
Last edited by pgtips; Feb 22nd 2010 at 2:31 pm.
#3
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 30
Re: security in st lucia
PGTips what would I do if you weren't around. Thanks very much for answering both of my posts so quickly. I've read your comment on the other thread about security and it was as I imagined. Nairobi is in another league, but I didn't want to go from the frying pan into the fire by thinking of relocating to st Lucia and then finding out that the threats are just as great in the caribbean. I'll keep on checking this post to see if anyone else has any other info on the general security situation, however if it is a case of securing the house and not dressing like a movie star then I think we will be OK. It's the random, life risking violence in Kenya that is growing, which is a great shame, however the situation doesn't seem to be getting any better around Nairobi so I'm beginning the search for another country to call home.
Thanks again
Thanks again
#4
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,165
Re: security in st lucia
PGTips what would I do if you weren't around. Thanks very much for answering both of my posts so quickly. I've read your comment on the other thread about security and it was as I imagined. Nairobi is in another league, but I didn't want to go from the frying pan into the fire by thinking of relocating to st Lucia and then finding out that the threats are just as great in the caribbean. I'll keep on checking this post to see if anyone else has any other info on the general security situation, however if it is a case of securing the house and not dressing like a movie star then I think we will be OK. It's the random, life risking violence in Kenya that is growing, which is a great shame, however the situation doesn't seem to be getting any better around Nairobi so I'm beginning the search for another country to call home.
Thanks again
Thanks again
#5
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 30
Re: security in st lucia
Very true, I think it's probably only Greenland where crime is not an issue, although the winter's are not the best there! I'm sure I will be asking you more questions about life in SL in the very near future if that's OK. Let me know when I start to become a pain!
#6
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,165
Re: security in st lucia
If you can take an extended break of about a month and try and live the local way of life to see if it suits you and your family.
#7
Re: security in st lucia
Pgtips is absolutely right. Crime is everywhere. I've lived in Africa for a short while, lived most of my life in the UK and visited St Lucia many times.
I'm can categorically say that the level crime of in places like Kenya is no where near that of St Lucia. However, from what I heard crime is on the increase but if you are used to living in Kenya, St Lucia will be heaven in comparison!
Just be careful, take sensible precautions and you should be fine.
I'm can categorically say that the level crime of in places like Kenya is no where near that of St Lucia. However, from what I heard crime is on the increase but if you are used to living in Kenya, St Lucia will be heaven in comparison!
Just be careful, take sensible precautions and you should be fine.
#8
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Re: security in st lucia
I'm sure it's nothing like the situation in Kenya. Just trying to do as much research now before I come out to visit. Thanks for the info and I'm sure I'll keep on pestering you guys with questions over the coming weeks!
#9
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 35
Re: security in st lucia
http://www.stlucianewsonline.com/?p=1032
"– Prime Minister Stephenson King says the imposition of a curfew and obtaining external assistance from friendly governments are options his government will have to consider should the crime situation get worse in St Lucia.
“I am now even now contemplating that if our efforts and that of the police do not bring about a reduction, we shall see external assistance whether from the British, the Americans, the Canadians or the Israelis to assist us in dealing with this situation,”
King said in a radio broadcast.."
I personally see this as the single biggest obstacle the government has to overcome down here before we are tarred with the same brush as more violent islands around this region. Things are not that bad yet but they are spiralling out of control. As somebody investing in this part of the world I should perhaps be singing praises but to be honest I think the best way to get this siutation solved is to first and foremost admit the problem exists. A lot of effort goes into shileding tourists and they are in my opinion well protected but those of us who live here year round need to take ridiculous steps to prevent crime, violent or otherwise.
Would I choose anywhere else in the Caribbean to live? No way! I love this island.
P.S. BTW I have also lived in Kenya and now live here. I have experienced both. In fact I was in the capital Nairobi during the violence after the last election.
#10
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,165
Re: security in st lucia
There is a new development in Cap Estate, right at the northern tip of the island, Mount Du cap if my memory serves me right, and the views from there are outstanding. Imagine you are high up, if you look in one direction you see the cool calm Caribbean sea, if you look in your other direction you see the rugged Atlantic ocean lashing the costline. You feel as though you are on the set of a romantic movie and the residents who are fortunate to live there will definately have their own piece of paradise.