It is one of the most beautiful islands in the world, repeatedly voted the Caribbean’s favorite honeymoon destination and famous for its twin Pitons — two forested volcanic spires which rise from the deep blue sea in postcard perfection.
However, there is an ugly side to St Lucia too, which became apparent this weekend after Donnie McKinnon, a British hotelier, 51, was shot dead in broad daylight while drinking in a popular outdoor bar in the picturesque town of Soufrière.
The island, home to just 200,000 people, has seen its murder rate soar in recent years, ranking it alongside Venezuela and Honduras in the top five most violent countries in the Latin America and Caribbean region. Last year there were 74 murders in St Lucia