Hi
I'm new to the forums, just joined actually. I joined partly for the reason i'm about to list and I by no means mean it in an aggressive way, or to start a fight. I also realize that this is a three year old post, but as you may see something is a bit off here. The posts about whaling and Antigua is way out of proportion, as someone who was born and lives in Antigua, and is very open to conservation I think it needs correction. For what i have seen here, nobody I have met has the attitude of "Hey lets go kill this whale for food!" and we certainly do not go out like mad harpooning any whales we see. Come on, avoid an entire country because it is signed up for something but doesn't execute it as often as some people seem to think. For all the time i have been alive I have NEVER heard or seen of a whale killing. Unless it was waaay on the south of the island or not done with anyone's knowledge, as far as i know and are concerned: It hasn't happened. Even countries like the US sign and agree to things (like the Basil Convention which they haven't ratified) but hey, say what right? We are signed to whaling so we are all whale hungry and want to see the species go extinct right?(HEAVY SARCASM there). Dave is right about what he previously said, I think they also helped with a fisheries where the Barbudans can get scuba equipment safely filled (not entirely sure) but it looked like a nice facility, and for the record Barbuda has some really cool reefs and wreaks. But by all means: just because we are supporting whaling, and I wouldn't call it active, doesn't mean you shouldn't visit. No one with a bone of reason will look at you and say "HEY he/she went to a country that supports whaling! LETS OSTRACIZE EM'!! " That doesn't happen, so stop it. Visit Antigua and by all means PM me what you think. If you don't like it fine, I'll accept it everyone is entitled to their own opinion be it the atmosphere or the people or the food, etc (and no I'm not being contradicting because I am posting this then telling people they can have their own opinion. What was done above is like anti-advertising not an opinion-its harmful)
I should not have to type in my Country's name and see multiple posts like this. If someone willingly wants to avoid visiting a country based on what they are involved with on paper, they should look for the information and be aware of it themselves and not hear it from someone spouting out of proportion 'facts'. Base something like that on observation. I have been alive here for 17 1/2 years and have never seen a dead whale, killed by humans for food. I have never even seen their meat sold in stores or at the market. I have seen several live ones, free in the ocean and their sight was visually enjoyed by EVERYONE around me.......... Antiguans.
So yeah, unfortunately something negative like this was my second post ever on the forums, but it needed to be done.