Agreed, always avoid Sandy Ground.
Since we started going to the island in 2016, we have only driven through Sandy Ground one time, a couple of years ago - and it was in a taxi bringing us back to the French side after having dinner in Maho. I still had the heebie jeebies just because of all the warnings I'd read over the years to avoid the area.
Reading the article about the Grand Case shooting, it is very, very sad. This will surely impact many people who have always felt safe making that walk in the evening over the years. I always wondered at the inconsistency of GCBC with re: to guards and/or a shuttle (not to assume everyone would choose to take it). I feel like it's a "sometimes they do, sometimes they don't" thing. I wonder if this will change that.
Re: the general safety of walking that stretch of road, I know it's a question that often comes up in travel forums, and I question I had myself when planning our trip the year we stayed at Esplanade. I was on the fence about it before, but now, not so much. I get that things could happen anywhere, but, this was just always an area that felt good to us.
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