The owner of the 163ft Perini Navi ketch Perseus has put up a reward of US$20,000 for information leading to the conviction of the killer of his captain Drew Gollan who died last week in a shooting incident in Antigua.

John Duffy, president of the Antigua and Barbuda Marine Association issued a statement to this effect together with news that an unnamed skipper had offered an additional US$10,000 for the capture and conviction of Gollan’s killer and that ABMA had agreed to oversee the fund.

In a further attempt to prevent yachts leaving and to reassure yachtsmen and other visitors that more was being done to ensure their safety, Antigua’s National Parks department has pledged part of its rental income to investing in CCTV security cameras in and around Falmouth and English Harbours. Local police intend to instigate foot patrols to carry out regular ‘stop and search for vehicles and persons carrying illegal weapons and drugs’.

The Marine Association also said in a press release: “The Dockyard police station will be manned permanently. Zero tolerance will be applied to both dealers and users of illegal drugs – without exception.”

Sources in Antigua have told Yachting World that drug abuse among the local yachting community is widespread, something that needs to be eradicated to cut demand.