St. Lucia official apologizes for attack on 3 gay Americans

(CBS/AP) CASTRIES, St. Lucia - The Tourism Minister of the Caribbean island of St. Lucia issued an apology Monday to three gay American tourists who were attacked and robbed at their vacation cottage two weeks ago.

Masked gunmen allegedly made anti-gay slurs against Nick Smith of South Carolina, his boyfriend Michael Baker of Atlanta, and their friend, Todd Wiggins, a former Atlanta resident who was living in St. Lucia, during the March 2 robbery at their mountain rental home in Soufriere, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

A written statement from the three men suggested that the attackers may have known one of the victims, reports the paper.

Tourism Minister Allen Chastanet issued an apology to the three victims, saying the tiny tourism-dependent Caribbean country is typically peaceful and a safe place for all kinds of travelers. Chastanet said the attack was "unacceptable behavior and our destination will not tolerate it."

Police announced Monday that they have arrested two suspects in the assault and are looking for three more.

Baker said he and Smith were showering when they heard Wiggins scream in another part of the home. When Baker stepped out of the bathroom, he saw masked men beating Wiggins.

Baker said the armed bandits ultimately beat all three and tied them up.

"They began to tell us that they hated white people. They hated (gays)," Baker wrote. "They told us they had been watching us, and they hated us, and wanted us off the island. They said they would kill us if we did not leave."

After the attackers left, the men freed themselves, hiked down the mountain and received help from some tourists, Baker said. Police said the robbers took about $1,800 in cash and some personal items. They said one of the men was treated for minor injuries at a hospital, and they all left St. Lucia soon after.

St. Lucia is not known as a volatile place for homosexuals, particularly compared with other, socially conservative Caribbean islands where many gays are not open about their sexuality.