Officials at the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) have expressed regret at the incident which resulted in a Canadian visitor being shot and paralysed.
In a statement issued today, the BTMI said such an incident was not representative of the “founding values” of the country, which has traditionally been a safe destination for visitors.
Kenneth Elliott, 65, was shot on Saturday night at Ealing Park, Christ Church. Three masked men, armed with a gun and a machete, entered the home where he was staying with his wife Linda Brooks and other family members.
He is paralysed from the clavicle down.
The statement said in part:
This falls short of the founding values of our small community, as we pride ourselves on being a proven safe destination with many years of encouraging visitors to enjoy Barbados as their home away from home.
We are therefore maintaining contact with the victim’s family and are assisting them where possible during this difficult time, both locally and through our in-market representatives overseas.
We are also in daily communication with the Royal Barbados Police Force who have assured us that this matter is being dealt with carefully and urgently.
As the country’s tourism marketing entity, our highest priority at this time is to reassure everyone that this regrettable incident is not representative of Barbados or our Barbadian people. (PR/SAT)
