Soufriere Foundation Attempts To Stop Tourist Harassment In Soufriere
Despite having several award winning resorts and visited by over 300,000 visitors annually, the scenic southwestern town of Soufriere is plagued by the problem of visitor harassment. Unfortunately, the acts of harassment though committed by only a few individuals, seriously affect visitor perception of the community as a safe area. The problem is so well reported that it affects local hotelier’s willingness to send their guests to dine and sightsee within the town centre, says General Manager of the Soufriere Foundation, Dominic Alexander.
In order to address the problem, the Soufriere Foundation is unfolding a multi-pronged strategy. On Monday, 12 individuals commenced training as Enforcement and Information Officers. The participants will be trained as Special Police Constables, charged with the responsibility of addressing the problem and disseminating information about Soufriere to visitors. Mr. Jimmy Haynes, Deputy Chairman of the Soufriere Foundation, and keynote speaker at the opening ceremony told the participants that they were being employed to be defenders of the community’s means of income.
At the end of the 4 week training programme, 6 participants will be employed as Enforcement and Information Officers with the Soufriere Foundation. The Soufriere Foundation urges all residents to provide their fullest support to the officers and to join in the fight against harassment by reporting any acts of harassment against visitors and locals.
