Update by AP 9 March 2016

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent (AP) — A German man has been killed aboard a yacht in the eastern Caribbean island of St. Vincent, and authorities say they have detained one person.

Police Superintendent Ruth Jacobs told The Associated Press on Monday that the unidentified suspect is being questioned but has not been charged.

She said 48-year-old Martin Arnold Griff was shot early Friday while aboard a yacht in southwest St. Vincent. She said another man and the yacht’s captain were injured.

Jacobs said a total of 10 Germans were aboard the yacht during the shooting and that some money and credit cards were stolen.

Posted Monday 7 March 2016

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves has expressed his “revulsion” at the murder of a German national and the injury to another after armed gunmen boarded their yacht anchored at Wallilabou in southwestern St. Vincent during the early hours of Friday.

The identity of the dead man has not been released, but he is reported to be in his 40s. The captain of the yacht was injured during the ordeal, but Gonsalves did not disclose the nature or extent of his injuries.

“I have seen the other persons who were on the yacht and I have expressed to them our profound sorry and, on behalf of the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, to say to them how sad we are at this event and that they are in our thoughts and our prayers,” said Gonsalves, who is also Minister of National Security.

“Our people are not like this in a general way, but you have one or two persons, we have some home-grown criminals and some who come in from overseas who are selfishly and wickedly disturbing the peace and tranquillity of our country, and, in this case, using violence,” he told radio listeners.

Gonsalves said that his government is making all the necessary arrangements to have the other persons, including the injured captain, flown to the neighbouring French island of Martinique from where they will fly out to Europe.

“This is a terrible, terrible stain on our country and this criminal act by these two masked intruders disturbing the tranquillity of persons on the yachts, it cost millions of dollars, because we sell peace, security, tranquillity,” Gonsalves said.

The attack took place early Friday morning at a sheltered cove that was part of the set for the Pirate of the Caribbean film that is a popular anchorage for yachts.

Gonsalves said that one of the occupants of the yacht who spoke English told him that the captain had been here “10 times before and had assured them that this is a peaceful place — could hardly find somewhere more peaceful.

“And then this incident has happened, which has shattered our sense of peace and tranquillity,” Gonsalves said, adding that those on board the yacht had praised the Coast Guard, which arrived within 20 minutes of being called.

“But the Coast Guard can’t be at every single spot all of the time. We, obviously, and I have spoken to the Commissioner [of Police], have to strengthen certain security arrangements which we have in place in certain areas and to extend even further in other areas, which means additional costs for us — for the government.

“And this is what happens. We do all these terrific things to bring the tourists here to help create jobs and then we have individual criminals who behave in this kind of a manner as we have had at Wallilabou.”

Caribbean Safety & Security Net Report

From: http://www.sat1bayern.de/news/20160307/bayer-von-piraten-der-karibik-ermordet/ (approximate translation from German to English)

Murder in Paradise:

A man from the Seinfeld (Lower Franconian) was murdered by pirates in the Caribbean on the island of St. Vincent. He was with his wife and children on a sailing trip.

Wallilabou Bay in the Caribbean is actually known for its paradise beaches. For the family of Martin G from Seinfeld, paradise has now become a curse. Two pirates boarded the yacht as the family was in the bay at anchor. They appear to have killed the Lower Franconian with a machete and then fled.

Wallilabou Bay is very popular with sailors but is now again a death trap for a tourist. There was a similar incident there 13 years ago.

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