now t'dad turn's for travel advisory for tourist

Tourists warned to avoid Fort George
Saturday, February 25th 2006
Trinidad Express

TOURISTS are being warned to stay away from Fort George because of the threat of being robbed by bandits operating at the historical site. In a statement yesterday Fort George's Historical Committee warned members of the public about the "danger that may exist at the Fort George Site from a small group of thieves who are robbing visitors to the site". Both the United States State Department and the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office have warned their nationals about visits to Fort George and other sites around the country, including the La Brea Pitch Lake.

Recently both tourists and locals have been robbed while visiting tourist areas in Trinidad and Tobago. As a result of the increase in criminal attacks at the site, the committee considered it "prudent to issue this advisory because of the influx of so many visitors at this time of year". The advisory said: "The criminals operating at the site have so far been petty criminals lurking in the bushes and waiting for unsuspecting persons from whom they are taking their personal belongings."

No one has so far been seriously injured or harmed during the robberies. The committee has written to the Minister of Tourism Howard Chin Lee and Police Commissioner Trevor Paul asking for their "support in providing additional security over the Carnival period". The committee has asked that visits to the site after dark be "discontinued until further notice". There are plans to upgrade and restore the site inclusive of public facilities and security arrangements.