The British couple who were almost hacked to death by an attacker in their Tobago home intend to return to this country and make a donation to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope where they were treated.

Tourism Minister Joseph Ross, speaking at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s yesterday, read part of an e-mail from Peter and Murium Greene where they assured that their love for Tobago was still alive.

Peter, 65, and Murium, 59, who are originally from Reading, Berkshire, were savagely attacked at their Bacolet villa on the southern coast of Tobago on August 1. This attack sparked outrage and was condemned from all corners. The Greenes returned to London after initial treatments at Mt Hope.

Since then, Tobagonian resident Clint Alexis, 25, has been charged on two counts of attempted murder in relation to the attack.

In their e-mail to Ross, the Greenes said they will return, noting the actions of one criminal would not reflect on the entire nation.

According to Ross, the Greene’s e-mail stated, ’When we return, we will be visiting everyone involved in our recovery and assistance, to thank you all for everything you have done and to show that one person’s act is not a reflection of the nation. We continue to speak highly of the islands and always will do so as there are a lot more good people than bad.

’I plan to arrange a fund-raising event with the help of my other relatives, so we can make a donation to the Mt Hope hospital and present it when we return. This, in turn, will show the public that we are returning and further promote the islands. If there is anything that we can do to help promote the island’s tourism, do not hesitate to let us know.’

Ross said this was extremely touching, and he took the opportunity to extend thanks to all those involved in helping the Greenes to recover and to the large cross-section of the national community who expressed their sympathies over their incident.