[dropcap]R[/dropcap]ecently we reported on the unsolved murder of Jane Tipson, an animal rights activist who was fatally shot near her Monchy home fifteen years ago. At 53, Tipson was the founder of the Saint Lucia Animal Protection Society (SLAPS), and at the time of her death had been assiduously campaigning against plans to open a dolphin park in Saint Lucia. She also worked alongside the U.S.-based Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in exposing the killing of pilot whales here. Following her death the organisation offered a reward of U.S.$25,000 for information leading to an arrest. So far there have been only rumours. Hopefully this will change.
Following our story two weeks ago Sea Shepherd decided to increase its reward to US$35,000. This week the group stated, “This is a cold case that needs to be solved. Jane was a courageous and passionate defender of animals. She had no enemies other than those who were intent upon building a dolphinarium or in illegally killing pilot whales.” On Wednesday Captain Paul Watson, founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, told the STAR he is hoping the additional $10,000 will jog some memories and result in the arrest of a person or persons responsible for Tipson’s murder.
“The $25,000 didn’t seem to work,” he said. “Perhaps an increased reward will prove an incentive. We have reward programmes around the world. Sometimes they work, and sometimes they don’t. We remain optimistic in the matter of Jane Tipson. Her passion was protecting the lives of threatened animals on land and on sea.”
He recalled that a reward of $30,000 had resulted in the arrest of individuals involved in a murder committed in Costa Rica back in 2013. The victim’s name: Jairo Mora Sandoval. As for the more recent proposed plans for a dolphin park in Saint Lucia, Captain Watson said: “I think it’s very disrespectful. It won’t do Saint Lucia much good. Dolphin Parks are certainly out of favour. Canada actually passed a law banning all dolphin parks throughout the entire country.” What Captain Watson alluded to was the passing in the Canadian senate on 24 October of Bill S-203 that bans the keeping of dolphins and whales in captivity, and carries a fine of $200,000.
