The Mullarnys were believed to have been shot during a robbery

The July 27 murder of a newly-wed doctor in a shooting that has left her husband in a critical condition has highlighted the safety of tourists in the Caribbean.

Police in Antigua believe Catherine and Benjamin Mullany were attacked in their honeymoon cottage at the Cocos Hotel on the south west coast after a robbery went wrong.

People on the twin island nation of Antigua and Barbuda are shocked by this double shooting and police say they have received a big response to a call for information.

Carnival

The carnival had been heavily promoted in advance but officials reported more caution in attending events during the last week following the shooting.

"We continue to ensure that we are beefing up security," the Chairman of the Carnival development Committe, Marlon Rawlins told BBC Caribbean.

Hear Jamion Knight's report on carnival preparations

PR offensive

However, many Antiguans are aware of the damaging effect of a murder of a holidaymaker in a country where the tourist pound, euro and dollar provide a livelihood for many.

The island's PR machine has swung into full damage limitation mode with them releasing details of how little tourists are affected by crime.

But people who live there say that their reality has changed a lot in the last few years and that crime is increasing.

The killing of the British doctor honeymooning on Antigua was felt likely to lead to tightened security at hotels.

Antigua and Barbuda's prime minister Baldwin Spencer reacted by saying that his government would not tolerate any behaviour which would tarnish the country's reputation.

Baldwin Spencer on Mullany killing

Without directly blaming the increasing number of deported criminals to Caribbean countries from the US and Britain, the Antiguan leader said his country would look again at deportee legislation.

	Antiguan PM invited Scotland Yard to help investigations

Several Caribbean countries have related recent crime surges to the growing number of criminals returned to the place of their birth after serving time for crimes committed in Britain and America.

Prime Minister Spencer announced a look at legislation on bail, rules governing security firms, and a tightening of stop-and-search legislation.

He also announced the introduction of closed circuit television at strategic points and consideration of wire-tapping of phones.

Baldwin Spencer on legal changes

"These times call for extraordinary measures," Mr Spencer said on national television.

Tourism is key

Business people and residents on the island have expressed concern about the implications of the incident on this tourism-dependent country.

The Board of Directors of Antigua's Hotel and Tourist Association met to discuss the shooting and its possible implications for the islands's tourism industry.

Our brand is based on people being safe - we will not tolerate any action that will tarnish the reputation the country Antigua's Tourism minister, Harold Lovell

Tourism is Antigua's main industry, accounting for more than 60% of the country's gross domestic product and officials have expressed shock and fear the ramifications it could have on income.

"They have just created a big mess for the country," said Kirk Browne, owner of Bigs Rent-A-Car.

Arlene Marsh, the newly-appointed general manager of the resort Halcyon Cove, said: "We have already increased our security and we are reviewing our plan."

The incident is particular of concern for businesses who depend on the tourism trade at the time considered to be the slow period (June to October).

The Antiguan government has been promoting festivals and events to boost business.

In June, it staged a music festival to coincide with its promotion of that month as the honeymoon destination.

The annual Carnival celebrations (now taking place from late July to early August) usually attract hundreds of overseas visitors from the UK and the US.

"Intensive investigation"

Police say they acting on intelligence in their efforts to capture the perpetrator(s).

Inspector Cornelius Charles said: "It is an intensive investigation. The crime scene is protected 24 hours.

"Crime sleuths have been going back to the scene and people are being interviewed.

"We continue to pursue this vigorously.

"We are concentrating in areas where we think we have people of interest. It is an intelligence-led investigation. Our guys are going at this in an intensive manner."

Dr Mullany's murder is the 10th this year.

19 people were killed in Antigua and Barbuda last year, but this is the first tourist killing in 13 years.

Nineteen homicides is too high for this size population. Gary Nelson, Antigua Police Commissioner

Commissioner Gary Nelson, the head the Royal Antigua Police Force, said it was unusual for a tourist to be targetted.

"A homicide is a terrible crime. Nineteen homicides is too high for this size population.

"I can tell you there were no tourists in that nineteen from last year but it's still way too high in my opinion and we have been refocussing the police service since we have been here to put a proper focus on solutions and work with the community at large for prevention."

Crime surge

In recent months, the country has been experiencing a surge in gun-related crimes, armed robberies, rapes at gunpoint and the shooting deaths of at least three young men aged between 17 and 24.

Tourism minister Harold Lovell, who penned a letter to all visitors at the resort, offered them the option of relocating to another property if they wished.

It was not clear if any of them took up the offer.

He said: "Our brand is based on people being safe. We will not tolerate any action that will tarnish the reputation the country.

"We have to be concerned about the impact of this incident. It will have an effect on our tourism but we have to ensure that our visitors feel safe."

He is suggesting stringent border control measures to capture would-be criminals.

"I don't think it should be a matter of someone just applying for an extension of stay and be granted. They should be asked to present a police report from their country," Lovell said.

	Antigua's Tourism minister plans a PR campaign for future tourists

Lovell said the government will be doing a public relations campaign, particularly in the UK and the US - Antigua's two biggest markets - to reassure people that the country is a safe destination, notwithstanding the crime problem.

Not surprised

A British woman living in Antigua - who asked to be known as Wendy to protect her identity - said she was not surprised by the attack.

She said: "It's awful that this has happened but, um, it was always going to be there, it was always going to happen.

"The crime here is spiralling out of control. The government seem either powerless or not concerned enough to do anything about it."

In the past when someone was murdered on the island it was such a rare occurrence that it would be reported for weeks and spoken about for months.

But the homicide rate in Antigua has jumped in the last few years.

The years 2004 and 2005 both saw three people killed on the island. However, the figure more than quadrupled in 2006 and last year 19 people died.

But Antigua is not alone in this growing trend in the region.

The criminals aren't intimidated by the police, they have no fear. Andy Liburd, Antigua journalist

The island has a murder rate of 23 people per 100,000. Its neighbour in the eastern Caribbean, St Kitts, has 33 people murdered per 100,000 and Jamaica in the north sees 59 murders per 100,000 people.

The UK has two per 100,000.

The last time Antiguan detectives had to investigate the death of a visitor to their shores was in 1995.

Commissioner of Police for Antigua and Barbuda, Gary Nelson said: "This is the first homicide in over ten years a situation we never want to see repeated.

Everything is being done to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice."

The struggle to bring crime under control has seen the island have three Commissioners of Police in the past five years.

Like many countries in the region Antigua and Barbuba struggles with being a developing nation with limited resources.

Last year over 90,000 Britons visited Antigua and Barbuda.

Security

The appointment of Gary Nelson, who had been with the Canadian Mounted Police, was seen by many as a way of modernizing the island's force.

However, according to Andy Liburd of the Antigua Sun newspaper, people want to see results and that means more officers on the street.

"They want to see a greater police presence," he said. "The criminals aren't intimidated by the police, they have no fear. People just want to see the criminals locked up. That's the greatest discouragement to crime."

The advice to tourists from the Foreign Office on Antigua and Barbuda remains the same as it is in many countries.

It urges visitors to "take sensible precautions and be vigilant at all times. Avoid isolated areas, including beaches after dark. Do not carry large amounts of cash or jewellery. Valuables and travel documents should be left, where possible, in safety deposit boxes and hotel safes".

Last year over 90,000 Britons visited Antigua and Barbuda, the vast majority of them were not affected by crime.

Some travel writers have been telling British media that tourists shouldn't be put off travelling to Antigua.

Regional ripple effect?

A former President of the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association has warned that gruesome killing of the British tourist in Antigua, could have a ripple effect on the Caribbean.

Anthony Bowen says the murder should help Saint Lucia to see the need to take security more seriously.

Mr. Bowen's own hotel is considering the introduction of a motion-activated CCTV system.

But he suggests that increased security on hotel properties could be a double-edged sword.

“We don’t want to have a situation where we create these enclaves and then because of fear, there’s no mixing.

"We want people to interact," he said.

Meanwhile, former Antigua and Barbuda diplomat, Sir Ron Sanders, who comments on regional issues has been speaking to the BBC about crime in the Caribbean.

Listen to the interview

Click on the External Links (top right) to read how the story is being covered in some of the British press.