The country’s economic bread basket, tourism, seems to be under threat by some criminal-minded people in the country as tourists continue to be the target of crime.

A British couple was attacked and robbed yesterday while on an outing in the Villa area.
It is reported that the couple arrived in Antigua earlier yesterday aboard the Boudicca cruise liner.

Further reports are that the couple later journeyed to the Villa area and while walking along Bay Street, they were approached by three young men, who suddenly appeared from out of some nearby bushes. The youths were armed with a piece of stick.

The couple was then robbed of a digital camera – the value of which is not yet known. 
During the incident, the female visitor received a blow to her head with the stick while the man sustained an injury to his hand, after being struck by the piece of stick. They were taken to the Mount St. John Medical Centre (MSJMC) where they were treated and discharged.

The police were quickly summoned to the scene, and according to reports, launched a search in the immediate area and surroundings for the trio, whom had reportedly fled the scene into nearby bushes.

Students from a nearby school recounted seeing the men running towards the Dredge Bay area. The police conducted a search of the beach area and a helicopter was also used to conduct air surveillance in an effort to spot the men.

Reports are that the police have since detained two men, who are assisting them with their investigations. The couple was expected to leave the island last.

The daring daylight incident reportedly took place about 10:45 a.m.

This incident occurred while the executive members of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) were engaging the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda and local Cruise Tourism Association (CTA) in talks pertaining to the future and economic viability of the tourism industry.
Efforts to get a comment on the incident from any tourism official proved futile.