Acting Police Commissioner Thomas Bennett is mindful of the impact of another tourist murder and has promised increased police presence to ease safety concerns of residents and members of the yachting community.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC - In response to safety concerns raised after the shooting death of an Australian yacht captain, Police Commissioner Thomas Bennett on Saturday met English Harbour yachtsmen, residents and business operators for the second consecutive day.

 

In an emergency meeting on Friday, yacht operators and residents of the southern community complained that enough was not being done to ensure their safety, especially in light of Thursday night’s murder of Drew Gollan, 38.

 

But on Saturday, Bennett sought to allay their fears as he promised to increase the police’s presence in English Harbour and, in particular, Nelson’s Dockyard.

 

“There is now full 24-hour policing, which wasn’t necessarily in place before…not just police officers being at the police station but they will be on patrols, both on foot as well as vehicle patrol in the areas,” Bennett told a media conference on Saturday.

 

He added that a stop-and-search routine was among the plans for improving security in the area.

 

President of the Antigua & Barbuda Marine Association John Duffy said it was unclear as to whether the new measures would sway yachters from leaving. He confirmed that four yachts have left since the shooting, while others have already announced plans to leave.

 

The shooting, which came nearly six months after the murder of a honeymooning British couple, is feared to have far reaching effects for English Harbour that depends heavily on the yachting trade.

 

Gollan was shot three times at close range after following an altercation with an unknown gunman in the Nelson’s Dockyard area late Thursday night.

 

He died en route to the Holberton Hospital in the capital.

 

His girlfriend was struck in the foot during the incident, though the injury is not reported to be serious. An infant involved in the incident was unharmed.

 

Bennett said police were looking for a gunman described as a black 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, of slim in build with short hair. The suspect, who was dressed in dark clothing at the time of the incident, was seen getting into a dark passenger van before speeding away.

 

“Our investigation is ongoing,” Bennett said. “The crime has had a devastating effect on not only the local community within the English Harbour area but throughout the country. We are pursuing all avenues of the investigation.”

 

Bennett would not however comment on unconfirmed reports that the shooting was drug-related.

 

“I’m not prepared at this point in time to provide in depth information that could adversely affect the investigation so at this point in time I’m not prepared to provide that information – that of whether it is true or untrue. The investigation is ongoing,” he said when pressed on the issue.

 

Gollan was an experienced sailor, having started at an early age on Sydney Harbour. He has been sailing the world on superyachts since 1995 and most recently captained the 163-foot Perseus – a luxury yacht available for charters.

 

Police confirmed Gollan’s family, who were considering travelling to Antigua in the wake of the incident, had been contacted through the Australian consulate in Trinidad.

 

CMC/ak/bm/09