LETTER: How Could This Happen in Antigua and Barbuda?

Dear Editor,

Our nation is grieving. The tragic death of American businesswoman Karen Johansson, following a vicious assault on Runaway Beach, has left Antigua and Barbuda shaken to its core. As we mourn Karen’s passing and pray for her family, we must also confront an urgent and painful question:
How could something so brutal, so monstrous, occur in our beloved country?

Antigua and Barbuda prides itself on warmth, peace, and hospitality. We welcome thousands of visitors each year, assuring them that our shores are safe. Yet this horrific attack, reportedly inflicted by someone Karen once trusted- has exposed vulnerabilities that cannot be ignored.

Karen was building a life and small business here. She was contributing to our tourism product, our economy, and our international reputation. She should not have paid for her ambitions with her life.

This violent crime is not just a “police matter.” It is a national crisis of confidence. Residents and visitors alike are now asking: Are women safe here?, Are business owners protected? Are we doing enough to prevent domestic violence and gender-based attacks?

The world is watching Antigua and Barbuda, but more importantly, we are watching ourselves. We cannot allow this sweet island to become a place where women are beaten into silence or death.

Authorities must act swiftly to deliver justice for Karen. If the alleged perpetrator is indeed the man she had recently separated from, then this was not a random act of violence, it was intimate-partner terrorism. And if we do not confront it forcefully, others may suffer the same brutal fate.

We owe it to Karen, to every resident, and to every visitor who steps on our beaches, to strengthen our laws, improve our security presence in vulnerable areas, protect women in abusive relationships, and ensure that no cry for help goes unheard.

Karen’s final act on Earth will be one of compassion — through organ donation, she will save lives even in death. What will Antigua and Barbuda’s act be in return?

This cannot be who we are. We must honour Karen by ensuring that no woman is ever failed in this way again.

Sincerely,
A Concerned Citizen

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